Facilitator Naomi Halpern will lead the How to Have Accidental Counsellor Conversations online seminar on 4 December. Photo: Supplied.
How to Have Accidental Counsellor Conversations
Date: 4 December
Time: 10 am – 1 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Support someone in emotional crisis with confidence, empathy, and capability. How to Have Accidental Counsellor Conversations is practical and supportive training designed for those who may find themselves in conversations with someone experiencing distress, without being a trained counsellor.
In today’s workplaces, being able to listen with care and respond calmly can make a vital difference. This course empowers participants to approach such moments with confidence, ensuring they feel prepared rather than overwhelmed, while still protecting their own wellbeing and professional boundaries.
Participants will leave with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to respond with empathy, have mental health conversations, apply trauma-informed strategies, and connect individuals to appropriate help.
Facilitator Naomi Halpern qualified as a social worker in the UK, holds a human rights graduation certificate and is a certified QPR trainer. She provides clinical consultation and training for mental health professionals around complex post-traumatic stress. Naomi is a consultant and trainer to the United Nations and law firms on mental health and wellbeing.
Brave Leadership & Daring Conversations: A Dare to Lead Seminar
Date: 5 December
Time: 9:30 am — 1 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Dare to Lead is an empirically supported, courage-building program based on the research of Dr Brené Brown. It is designed to be run by certified facilitators exclusively. Dr Brown has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy, and most recently completed a seven-year study on courageous leadership.
Brown is also the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers, including her blockbuster book Dare to Lead. This seminar is designed as a shortcut to Dr Brown’s extended Dare to Lead curriculum and will explore its key concepts in a compact timeframe to optimise your professional development.
A certified Dare to Lead facilitator, Tammy Coggan travelled to San Antonio, Texas, in 2019, and was in a cohort led by Dr Brown. Tammy’s expertise lies in helping leaders unlock their courage, engage in tough conversations, and build high-value work teams. This program focuses on humanising the workplace by exploring who we are and how we lead.
Thriving Through Change: Resilience, Performance & Mental Health
Date: 8 December
Time: Noon – 4:30 pm
Location: Canberra
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Empower yourself with practical strategies to navigate change and maintain mental wellbeing.
- Understand how change impacts mental health.
- Cultivate stress management skills for enhanced mental wellbeing.
- Explore resilience tools to effectively navigate setbacks.
- Shift your mindset to see change as an opportunity for personal growth.
Trainer Dr Karen Whittingham is one of Australia’s leading executive management development specialists, having worked with thousands of executives to transition them into senior leadership roles quickly and effectively. She is an organisational psychologist passionate about people’s success and facilitating their careers to rise. Dr Whittingham teaches organisational psychology at UNSW and works with ASX-listed companies and large public-sector organisations to drive engagement, inclusion, and performance.
Next-Generation AI Tools & Practices for Higher Education
Date: 8 – 9 December
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Boost productivity and support smarter decision-making through the effective use of AI.
- Use AI to streamline workflows, reduce manual tasks, and automate routine communications.
- Boost meeting productivity by generating clear summaries, action items, and reports automatically.
- Leverage AI to support strategic decision-making.
- Apply best-practice strategies to manage privacy, ensure accuracy, and mitigate bias.
Trainer Rabia Khan is a public health and data specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in the global health sector, spanning Australia, New Zealand and Europe. She excels in leveraging data and evidence to enhance health outcomes and reduce disparities. Rabia empowers individuals to drive positive change, make informed decisions, and amplify their impact through effective leadership, data utilisation, and evidence-based strategies.
Procurement for SES Delegates
Date: 9 December
Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Duration: Three-hour face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This course is a high-level overview of the procurement lifecycle and provides guidance to SES delegates on their roles and responsibilities in each phase, from planning through to contract management. This helps ensure senior executives are not only aware of their critical roles but are also prepared to lead their teams effectively, enhancing the overall performance and accountability of procurement activities.
There is also a focus on creating a positive procurement culture, emphasising the importance of ethical behaviour, transparency, and value for money, and support for staff by resourcing activities appropriately.
Suitable for SES Band 1 – 3, this learning experience has been provided by the Department of Finance.
Probity and Integrity in Procurement
Date: 9 December
Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Duration: 2.5-hour face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This course outlines how government funds are under constant scrutiny. It uses real examples to demonstrate instances of poor management and decision-making by APS in the procurement lifecycle.
With investigations and audit findings consistently identifying probity issues, this course equips participants undertaking purchasing activities with a set of tools and techniques to manage probity.
This learning experience has been provided by the Department of Finance, and is suitable for all staff, including officials who are new to procurement, need a refresher, or want to move to a role in this field. It will benefit APS working in procurement or contract management on an ad hoc basis, regular procurers and contract managers, and delegates.
QLD Public Sector AO 7-8 Strategic Thinking & Advanced Problem-Solving
Date: 9 – 10 December
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Cliftons Brisbane
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Master strategic thinking, empower teams, and conquer complex challenges.
- Apply practical, outcome-driven models for strategic decision-making.
- Explore a systematic approach for problem analysis and strategy formulation.
- Understand your role as an executive leader in empowering others to address challenges.
- Overcome common roadblocks to resolve complex problems.
Trainer Michael Collins is one of the region’s leading talents. He is a leadership and change expert with more than 25 years of experience in roles across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. He has served in executive positions within the Australian Defence Force and Coca-Cola Amatil. As a trusted adviser, thought leader, and seasoned practitioner in leadership assessment and development, Michael combines practical experience with academic insight. His credentials include an MBA and a PhD in neurocognitive leadership, allowing him to blend hands-on experience with scholarly expertise in his advisory and leadership roles.
Lunch and Learn — Session 17: Track government commitments with AI
Date: 10 December
Time: 12:30 pm — 1 pm
Duration: One 30-minute, face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
Explore how the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet uses AI to monitor and track election commitments across portfolios. This session will show how AI tools can be integrated into complex workflows to ensure comprehensive and efficient reporting and accountability on fast-moving and broad-ranging issues. It’s a strong example of AI supporting democratic processes and whole-of-government coordination.
This content is suitable for all staff.
First Nations Women in Leadership Masterclass Series
Date: 10 – 11 December
Time: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Location: In person
Email: [email protected]
Connect with your culture, values and strengths to grow and thrive as a leader. Realise and nurture your natural leadership. First Nations women hold vital roles as carers, teachers, healers and leaders in their workplaces, families and communities, so it is crucial that there are strong, capable and centred women in these roles.
The Hatchery has partnered with Ngemba woman and audience favourite leader, speaker and facilitator Lil Gordon to deliver a series of immersive and culturally informed masterclasses to ensure that First Nations women have the opportunity to reflect, connect and grow into the best versions of themselves and allow their work, life and community to thrive. Using Lil’s framework of “the five Rs”, Respect, Reflection, Responsibility, Relationships and Reciprocity, you will find your driving purpose, reflect on your values, grow your confidence and cultivate your networks to build your story as a deadly First Nations woman in leadership.
Find your centre, chart your goals, lead people authentically and step into your power at this unmissable learning opportunity. Join Lil to learn how to create the world that you want to live in, one that will continue to grow and thrive for generations to come.
Presenting to Boards & Executives Workshop
Date: 10 – 11 December
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: QBuild Brisbane
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Master executive-level presentations with confidence, clarity, and impact.
- Create a clear message, aligned with strategic goals.
- Manage stress, maintain composure, and present with authority.
- Communicate key points in limited timeframes.
- Handle tough questions with confidence.
Trainer Amber Daines has more than 25 years of diverse experience, bringing a wealth of expertise as a former business TV reporter, newspaper journalist, and PR consultant. Leading a team of five consultants, she serves clients in financial services, cryptocurrency, and industry associations. Presently, Amber focuses on media training, crisis PR and reputation management, and hosts her podcast, The Politics of Everything, which has garnered five million downloads and inspired an online course for podcasters.
MasterCraft Series – Stewardship and systems change – an anniversary of APS stewardship
Date: 12 December
Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Duration: One-hour face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This celebration of stewardship will inspire you through storytelling and the sharing of live examples from leaders at all levels through a panel conversation.
We will also invite you to rethink your own understanding of stewardship through the lenses of others’ perspectives and reflect and design your own stewardship actions for the coming year.
This content is suitable for all staff.
