Professional development

Finance offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities. These opportunities help you build skills that support your role and the Department’s goals.

Learning and development supports the Corporate Plan and forms part of the Performance Management Framework.

Finance offers:

leadership programs
on-the-job learning
executive coaching
professional skills training
studies assistance
seminars and guest speakers
entry level programs

Opportunities for all staff

Leadership programs

You can take part in leadership programs designed to build skills through practical experience and reflection, supporting your development throughout your career.

Programs align with the Australian Public Service Commission Senior Executive Leadership Capability Framework.

Available options include:

short internal courses
multi-day residential programs
programs for Finance staff only
programs with participants from the public and private sectors

If you are an SES employee, you can access programs ranging from SES Orientation to residential courses delivered by the APSC and other organisations. Some programs include overseas travel.

You can discuss your individual development needs with your manager.

On-the-job learning

You can build your skills without attending formal courses. On-the-job learning is a valid and valuable development option. You and your manager should discuss on-the-job opportunities that support your development and complement formal training.

Coaching

You can access executive coaching through a panel of external professional coaches. Coaching is tailored to individuals or small groups.

Coaching can help you in three key areas:

strengthen leadership and management skills
think strategically
improve professional effectiveness

Coaching goals may include:

enhancing management and leadership capability
leading through change and strategic thinking
team performance, performance / behavioural management (including difficult conversations) and employee engagement
managing upwards and delegating
wellbeing (including managing stress), resilience
emotional intelligence and self-awareness
conflict resolution, negotiation skills, influencing skills and stakeholder engagement
communication skills (including for employees from non-English speaking backgrounds)

Professional skills training

At Finance, we are committed to building a capable, agile and future-ready workforce. Our Learning and Development Framework supports this by aligning learning opportunities with business priorities and individual career goals, and by fostering continuous learning through structured programs, on-the-job experiences and targeted development initiatives.

Finance provides a learning and development catalogue which focuses on building core skills for staff at all levels.

The catalogue offers learning and development opportunities across the following capability areas:

professional capability, such as communication, writing, and policy skills
leadership and management
career development

Study assistance

As part of Finance’s commitment to capability development, the Study Assistance Program offers you support to undertake tertiary education, that is relevant to your role and the department's business goals and strategic direction. The program also supports professional accreditation of a recognised profession, for example Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) accreditation.

Your proposed study will be considered in the context of individual development, departmental needs, business priorities and available budget, and is to be incorporated into your performance agreement.

Study Assistance can be financial assistance, study leave (paid or unpaid), or both. The program is coordinated and centrally funded by the HR Branch.

For eligibility you must be an ongoing employee and have successfully completed your probation.

CPA Australia Recognised Employer Partner

Finance is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) Australia Recognised Employer.

CPA Australia associate members receive practical experience requirement (PER) recognition. This means you meet the CPA Program PER while you work at Finance.

Entry level programs

Our Entry Level Program participants bring new skills, ideas and fresh perspectives, which supports Finance's agile approach to work, and our ability to adapt and respond quickly to changing priorities and challenges. These programs are important pathways, ensuring we have a diverse workforce that is well prepared for the future.

Finance participates in several Whole of Government programs:

Finance also designs and delivers the Finance Graduate Program.