Responsibility for Risk Management across the Commonwealth is a collaborative effort and involves staff at all levels of Government.
There a multiple dedicated risk forums and networks aimed at leveraging skilled staff to support the capability and maturity of risk management. These groups provide avenues to investigate, escalate and advise on best practice risk management to support government entities with appropriately evolving and targeted information.
The below diagram demonstrates the communication channels between different inter-agency groups that have indirect or direct responsibility for risk.
More information on Secretaries Board can be found on the PM&C Website.
The Chief Operating Officers (COO) Committee (the Committee) is a sub-committee of the Secretaries Board and is the operational management committee of the Australian Public Service (APS). The Committee also has an advisory role to the Board, alerting it to emerging and future strategic issues in relation to the operations of the APS.
The COO Committee has two primary roles:
- managing whole-of-government operational and implementation matters; and
- driving delivery of agreed initiatives under the Government's APS reform agenda, in line with the direction set by the Board.
More information on the Chief Operating Officers Committee can be found on the APSC Website.
The Commonwealth Risk Committee (CRC) is a sub-committee of the Chief Operating Officer’s Committee, responsible for providing advice on significant shared, common and emerging risks posed to the Commonwealth.
The role of the CRC is to:
- Advocate for the management of significant common, shared and emerging risks across the APS;
- Provide a platform for collaboration and information sharing between entities,
- Identify and escalate new and emerging risks to the COO Committee that may impact Government objectives or those of entities; and,
- Champion best risk management practices.
The Committee draws on its collective experience of its 10 current members, leveraging knowledge and networks to consider the management of APS risk.
To nominate a topic for investigation by the Committee or for more information, please contact commonwealthriskcommittee@finance.gov.au.
The Chief Risk Officers (CRO) Network is a community open to all CROs in Commonwealth entities.
Meetings are quarterly or as required and provide an opportunity to foster collaboration and connection among CROs.
The purpose of the Network is to:
- uplift risk management capability by sharing insights, experiences, and practical approaches to common and emerging challenges.
- promote best practice and innovation through open exchange of ideas, tools, and strategies that strengthen organisational resilience.
- empower risk leaders to learn from each other and drive continuous improvement in risk culture and governance.
- be used as an informal networking and mentoring platform.
All Commonwealth entities are encouraged to participate, with representation from their CRO.
The Policy Agency Working Group (PAWG) is a group of connected areas with policy responsibility for different components of risk in the APS. They meet on an adhoc basis to support changes in policy areas.
The Commonwealth Risk Managers Forum is an online platform for APS risk officers and practitioners to:
- Exchange ideas and experiences to improve risk management practices;
- Discussion common risk management challenges affecting the Commonwealth;
- Consider other entities' approaches to problem solving these risks;
- Share risk management frameworks, policies, tools and templates.
The forum aims to uplift risk capability, risk management awareness and address educational and capability gaps across agencies through facilitated discussions on relevant risk topics.
The CRMF is held every two months, available to all APS risk managers and practitioners, with a focus on Comcover Fund members.
