Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite

To support consistent and high-quality procurement and contract management practices across the APS, the Department of Finance, with the APS Academy, offer the Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite.

The suite is based on the Commonwealth procurement framework and designed to build procurement and contract management skills and confidence across the APS workforce. It supports better decision-making and helps officials to achieve value for money outcomes.

The courses can be taken on their own or as part of a full program. They provide best practice guidance across the procurement lifecycle, from procurement planning to contract closeout.

The training suite overview provides a snapshot of the training suite, showing the list of courses, delivery options, and where to go for more information and registration. This can be printed and used to promote the suite to your staff and stakeholders.

Who the suite is for

Courses are available, for free, to non-corporate Commonwealth entities and prescribed corporate Commonwealth entities. Suite courses are also available to corporate Commonwealth entities who are preparing to become prescribed.

The suite is designed for officials who work in procurement, whether in IT, construction, or other areas. It is suitable for those who are new to procurement, seeking a refresher, or moving into a procurement role. It supports staff who manage procurement and contracts, whether occasionally or regularly, and includes those responsible for whole-of-government arrangements and limited tender procurements.

Training suite pathway

The training suite includes awareness, foundation, practitioner, and lead level courses. It gives a solid basis for those new to procurement, while also supporting those who need deeper expertise.

The Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite pathway is a practical guide to help APS officials navigate the suite.

It shows how the suite fits together, what to do first and what to learn next, based on experience. The pathway recognises that learning also comes from experience and you can move through the pathway based on what you already know and do, or what knowledge you need to refresh.

The pathway is a guide, not a mandate. You can follow it in full or use it to identify individual courses that meet your needs.

The pathway helps to:

build basic knowledge before moving into more complex topics
understand which courses are most relevant
plan to learn over time, rather than choosing courses in isolation
take ownership of professional development.

For managers, the pathway also makes it easier to support staff learning by providing a clear framework for capability development.

Officials can use the pathway in a few simple steps.

Identify your starting point: Consider your current role, responsibilities, and level of experience. The pathway clearly shows where most people should begin.
Check recommended courses: Review the courses listed for your level. These have been grouped to build capability in a logical and progressive way.
Plan over time: You do not need to complete everything at once. Use the pathway to plan learning over time or as your role changes.
Revisit as your role changes: As you take on new responsibilities or move into more complex work, the pathway helps you identify what to learn next.

To complete a course

Training is delivered through facilitator-led sessions, available both onsite or online (via Microsoft Teams), or as eLearning modules (self-paced). To complete a course:

login to APSLearn
search for Procurement
select the Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite
select the course you want to complete.

If you don't already have an account, go to APSLearn Login. Select the Register to APSLearn button and simply fill out the form and select Register.

Singe-entity training

Finance also provides single-entity training, where our team can deliver facilitated courses to a cohort from your entity, either onsite at your office or online via Microsoft Teams. Benefits of single-entity training include:

Flexibility: Available for all facilitated courses in the suite, this allows you to select the relevant courses for your entity.
Cohesive learning experience: Fosters a more cohesive learning experience, allowing participants to discuss entity-specific issues and collaborate.
Cost-effective: Training is provided at no cost to non-corporate Commonwealth entities and prescribed corporate Commonwealth entities, making it a cost-effective way to enhance your team's skills and knowledge.

Minimum numbers are required. For onsite training, a minimum of 10 participants is required, and for online training, a minimum of 20 participants is needed. This ensures the sessions are engaging and interactive.

Interstate onsite delivery is offered. Finance can provide single-entity training at your office outside Canberra, if minimum participant numbers are met.

If you are interested in arranging single-entity training, please email Finance at procurement.training@finance.gov.au with the course name(s), location, approximate participant numbers, and your preference for onsite or online delivery.

Fast-track initiatives

Procurement Capability Week

Procurement Capability Week is a short professional development program designed to build practical procurement and contract management capability across the APS.

Delivered by the Department of Finance, the program brings together the training suite into one intensive, connected learning experience. Participants progress through ten facilitated courses, delivered virtually, as a single cohort, building knowledge across the procurement lifecycle and applying concepts as they go.

To learn more about this program and to nominate to attend, visit Procurement Capability Week.

Pathways to Procurement

Pathways to Procurement is an eight-week program for APS officials who are new to procurement and contract management. It combines Finance-led training, a Certificate IV in Procurement and Contracting, and specialist guest speakers to build foundational capability and confidence. It provides participants with practical skills, recognised qualifications, and early exposure to best practice across the procurement lifecycle.

To learn more about this program and to nominate to attend, visit Pathways to Procurement.

Microlearning

The Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Microlearning Suite is designed to support APS officials to build practical, actionable knowledge and skills in procurement and contract management.

Microlearning includes bite-sized, responsive, targeted resources that complement the formal training offered through the training suite. Microlearning is ideal for all learners who need quick access to relevant information, practical tips, and expert insights.

Microlearning resources are free for APS officials and available at any time via the APS Academy’s APSLearn. Resources are being added regularly.

To find microlearning resources, log in to APSLearn and search for microlearning suite.

APS partner content

The APS Academy’s partner content feature enables entities to put suite courses on their internal ‘Acorn’ Learning Management System (LMS) and track attendance.

To access this feature, contact your internal Learning and Development or Human Resources team to confirm if your entity is already participating in the APS Partner Content feature. If your entity is already doing this, the Learning and Development or Human Resources team will liaise with the APS Academy to add courses to your LMS.

If your entity is not already participating, please contact the APS Academy to request access - Contact us.

More information or advice

For more information, email Finance’s Procurement Training team.