Enhancing the APS ICT skills base
The Review of the Australian Government’s use of Information and Communication Technology made several recommendations targeted at enhancing the management of the Australian Public Service (APS) ICT skills base. These have now been implemented and include:
- a whole-of-government ICT career structure
- a whole-of-government strategic ICT workforce plan
- a series of leadership events to promote greater understanding of ICT issues at senior levels of government
- a whole-of-government tele-working policy for ICT staff
- sponsorship of annual ICT awards
- reduction in Canberra-centricity of government ICT activities
Whole-of-government ICT career structure
As part of the ICT Reform Program, the Australian Public Service Commission, in partnership with Australian Government Information Management Office, has released the whole of government ICT Career Structure for APS staff.
The ICT Career Structure consists of a whole of government ICT capability framework and online career planning tool. Its purpose is to support ICT employees in the APS with their career planning and capability development.
The ICT Career Structure, called Career Navigator, is an interactive tool ]that allows ICT employees to:
- create their own profiles;
- perform self assessments;
- compare the skills required for their current role with another role to identify transition points; and
- view learning and development opportunities for both APS and ICT capabilities.
Whole-of-government strategic ICT workforce plan 2010-2013
The whole-of-government ICT Strategic Workforce Plan [
] was launched in April 2010 and provides a high level overview of the issues affecting the ICT workforce and strategies to address the future human capital needs of ICT employment in the Australian Public Service. Using this plan, agencies will be better able to plan, develop and manage a qualified, satisfied and flexible ICT workforce, while providing an attractive career path for ICT professionals within the APS.
The whole-of-government ICT Strategic Workforce Plan is underpinned by an ICT Capability Framework, which is built upon an internationally recognised ICT capability model – the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). This capability framework also forms an essential component of the whole-of-government ICT Career Structure, which is another key deliverable from the ICT Reform Program. The framework represents an anchor point for people management processes within agencies and for the career planning of ICT professionals.
ICT career structure & Whole-of-government ICT strategic workforce plan FAQ
Equipping organisational leaders to harness the benefits of ICT
To promote a greater understanding of ICT issues at senior levels of agencies, a suite of information and educational opportunities were established for non-ICT SES officers. These included workshops, articles and specific organisational events for senior leaders.
Whole-of-government tele-working policy for ICT staff
In January 2010, Finance released the Whole-of-Government Tele-working Policy for ICT Staff. The primary objective of the policy is to assist agencies with the attraction and retention of suitably skilled ICT professionals. Australian Government agencies have developed ICT tele-working implementation plans and established internal governance arrangements for oversight of implementation of the policy.Sponsorship of annual awards
To raise the professionalism of ICT, the Government sponsors annual awards to recognise outstanding professionalism in key ICT disciplines. The Australian Government ICT Awards Program (the Awards) recognises the most outstanding initiatives in eGovernment and category specific excellence The Government also sponsors the Women in IT awards and the Young ICT Professional of the Year Awards to help recognise excellence in ICTacross the industry.
Reduce the Canberra-centricity of existing agency ICT activities
Larger APS agencies are required to demonstrate how they will develop/increase their capability to manage ICT work remote from Canberra. This has included the development of 5-10 year plans to reduce the Canberra-centricity of existing agency ICT activities.
Contact information
Skills, Policies and Programs Team, AGIMO ICTSkills@finance.gov.au
Contact for information on this page: ICTSkills@finance.gov.au