An APS fund will make a $6.5 million investment in nine novel projects to enhance capabilities in the public service sector. 

The Australian Public Service (APS) Capability Reinvestment Fund has announced its second round of funding, designed to trial new approaches to skill development and organisational improvement across 24 departments and agencies.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will run three of the projects. 

One initiative focuses on integrating cultural knowledge from First Nations peoples into public service practices. Another project aims to enhance understanding of the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting Australia's strategic focus on the Asian century.

The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) will oversee a project to document and understand the lived experiences of APS employees, both culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and non-CALD, through anonymous storytelling. 

The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) will lead an unconscious bias program to “embed institutional change” in handling cultural differences within public institutions.

A multi-departmental panel selected the projects based on their potential to address one of five key priorities: data use, cultural safety and mental health, green economy, artificial intelligence, and Asia-Pacific engagement.

These initiatives are part of a broader effort to promote inter-agency collaboration and address skills shortages in the public service workforce. 

The Capability Reinvestment Fund, allocated $25 million over two years in the 2022 federal budget, aims to build a more capable and responsive APS.

In the first round of funding in 2023-24, ten projects received a total of $8.4 million.

These included a training program for executive-level staff led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to bolster understanding of the Indo-Pacific region. 

Additionally, the remaining $10.1 million from Round 1, combined with $4.2 million in existing funds, was used to establish Australian Government Consulting and a program to boost First Nations employment within the APS.

Senator Katy Gallagher, Minister for the Public Service, says a workforce capability boost is needed to deliver better outcomes for the Australian community. 

“The Capability Reinvestment Fund supports the APS Reform priority of building capability through innovative approaches. It addresses common capability gaps and is an investment in strengthening the APS’s capability to deliver for the Australian community, now and into the future,” Gallagher said.

Further details on the Capability Reinvestment Fund and its projects are available on the APS Reform website.

The successful projects are:

  1. AI for integration and inclusion: Delivering AI-powered tools to enhance policy development, inclusive design and community engagement across the APS; and building foundational knowledge in the use of data and AI. 

  2. APS integrity data framework: Creating a framework to measure and monitor the impact and effectiveness of the integrity system and reforms.

  3. Uplifting APS capability to work effectively with First Nations data and evidence: Enhancing APS officers’ understanding and engagement with First Nations data, knowledge and evidence.

  4. Building APS capability to draw strong policy insights through an integrated data tool: Piloting a digital integrated map of human service delivery. 

  5. Building safety and integrity capability across the APS: Building and strengthening integrity and psychological safety in leadership capability through programs and good work design.

  6. APS integrated unconscious bias training program: Mitigating unconscious bias across the APS through a capability program to support a culturally competent and inclusive APS.

  7. Greening government microcredentials: Developing and trialling internationally aligned microcredentials.

  8. Narratives of the lived experience: Addressing barriers to culturally and linguistically diverse employees in the APS through the collection, curation and publishing of CALD and non-CALD employee’s stories.

  9. Futures exercises for developing Asia and the Pacific expertise: Developing scenario exercises to increase regional understanding and inform whole-of-government responses to future challenges in the Indo-Pacific.