Education's Role in Providing a Flexible Workforce for the Australian Public Service

Yesterday I talked to Lish Fejer on ABC Radio Canberra, about federal government plans to contract in. They were interested to hear about my own experience as someone trained by the public service, who then became a contractor. 

There is scope for the Australian Public Service (APS) to increase the recruitment of entry level professionals, through cadet and intern programs. Universities and the VET sector can assist with this by providing training while students are working. This can be in project and people management skills, as well as technical aspects. The problem comes at the upper level, retaining staff with advanced skills. 

The APS has difficulty paying such staff appropriately, as traditionally salary is based on how many staff you supervise. The Australian Defence Force uses direct cash bonuses to retain personnel with specialist skills, such as pilots. Something similar will likely be needed for high level internal contractors and consultants. 

A difficult problem which will remain is how to efficiently allocate staff to tasks. Agencies can currently use the market to decide the allocation. Whichever government department is willing to pay the most for contractors gets them. However, with an internal system, there is likely to be less scope for market based decisions.

Clear Future for Cloud

Greetings from the AWS Summit Canberra, where Pia Andrews is running the lunch discussion. Issues are around the Australian Public Service and technology. Interestingly the new government has not been mentioned. It is a very mixed audience for a Canberra event. On one side I have someone reforming the APS and on the other advising regional business in technology.

Covid-19 Has barely got a mention. Also cloud computing has not been mentioned, perhaps because it's assumed behind any government initiative.

However, while government can call on plenty of hardware can we get people to make it work? Also we may be able to secure systems from cyber-attack, but are staff ready for years of grey-zone conflict, between peace and war, where every agency is on the front line.

ps: Dr. Guido Governatori, will be speaking on "Digital Legislation", Thursday, 01 September 2022, 11am, ANU Building 145, room 1.33 and zoom.

Australian Public Service Digital Information Skills Matrix for Comment

The National Archives of Australia has issued a draft of "Digital information and records management capabilities: Skills and knowledge for Australian Government employees" (October 2013), for comment. This includes a matrix showing what skills information and records management professionals need, at levels in a government agency. Levels are categorized into APS 1–4, APS 5–6, EL 1–2 and SES.

As well as records management specialists, the skills which ICT professionals need in formation management and general staff are covered briefly.

NAA might usefully compare their matrix to the Skills Framework for the Information Age, which has a matrix of skills used in Australia and internationally. SFIA has seven levels of responsibility, which is probably too many (compared with NAA's 4). In 2010 I looked at SFIA skills relevant to records management. SFIA's Level 5 (which might equate to APS El1-2), has 8 Skills relevant to records management (plus Procurement and the Quality management skills):

1. Information management 
2.  Information policy formation 
3.  Information content publishing 
4. Methods and tools 
5. Business analysis 
6. Data analysis 
7. Database/repository design 
8. Usability evaluation 

Here are the skills listed by NAA, expected of ICT employees and information and records management specialists:

Agency Chief Information Officer — SES Band 1

Champions the agency’s vision to achieve strategic goals through effective management of all business information, wherever it is held, aligning the agency with whole-of-government directions for digital transition. Seeks opportunities to achieve operational efficiencies and improve service through appropriate and effective governance, policy and procedures that reduce risk and drive improvement Resources information management, ensuring the availability of skilled, flexible workforce and efficient and appropriate technologies. Engages with the broadest range of stakeholders using a range of communication channels to build an organisational culture that values information and embraces change as a positive and desirable aspect of agency information management.

Director, Information Technology — EL2

Interprets and implements government policies and standards by developing relevant organisational policies and procedures for digital transition, seeking opportunities to integrate information governance throughout operational business processes. Develops and manages strategies, key relationships and high-level work plans including projects, budget, staffing and performance management to deliver efficient and high-quality information and records management services Drives open, flexible, two-way communication to build an agency culture that values information as a corporate asset. Identifies and mitigates business risks associated with digital information and records management, including legacy information, wherever it is stored Promotes the relevance and value of information ownership and stewardship as essential for information and records management.

Project Officer, ICT — APS5–6

Understands information and records management requirements, assisting with the development of business processes that reflect better practice, demonstrating understanding of the requirements of relevant standards and translating them into policies and procedures. Develops and/or delivers systems training and information and records management advice and skills, tailoring advice and training to meet business units’ needs. Articulates the importance of open, flexible, innovative two-way communication and actively participates in building an agency culture that values information as a corporate asset. Understands the legal and policy issues related to the agency and its information assets, including whole-of-government initiatives, and works with others to achieve good outcomes....

From: Draft of "Digital information and records management capabilities: Skills and knowledge for Australian Government employees", NAA, October 2013.

Government ICT Apprentices & Cadets

The Australian Public Service (APS) is currently recruiting ICT Apprentices and ICT Cadets. The Apprentices work full-time in an Australian Government agency and study part-time for a Certificate IV or Diploma in ICT at a vocational institution. The agency pays the tuition fees and provides paid study leave to attend class. The Cadets work part-time in an agency, while studying for an undergraduate ICT degree at university. The program operates in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Perhaps the APS could expand the scheme Australia wide, with the student studying on-line and being supervised on-line.