Nominations for the Prime Minister’s awards for management excellence in the public sector close at the end of this month with the winners to be announced in October.
Hosted annually by the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) and facilitated by its ACT Division, the awards aim to encourage and recognise better practice and innovation across all levels of government in Australia.
They focus on specific initiatives and are based on organisations demonstrating success against four demanding criteria, drawing on the PIMMS methodology reflecting Plan, Implement, Monitor, Measure and Sustain.
The awards are designed to honour the achievements of public sector work groups, units and teams rather than individuals, with organisations needing to demonstrate that they are able to devise and implement innovative customer-focused initiatives.
IPAA said nominees must also demonstrate that their success was not accidental but the result of a methodical and sustainable approach to improving their organisation’s practices in client satisfaction, leadership, people management, change management, planning, governance and innovation.
The Gold, Silver and Commended awards will be presented for ‘Sustainable Excellence in Public Sector Management’ with two supplementary awards presented at the discretion of the judges, for Collaboration – joint nominations between two or more organisations; and People and Change Management – highly effective approaches in that area.
Any work unit, group or team within the Commonwealth, State, Territory or Local Government public sectors may nominate.
Initiatives that involve other organisations, private sector and-or community-based organisations, may be eligible if sponsored by a nominating public sector organisation.
Nominations that fall into that category must be endorsed by the Secretary or Chief Executive of the nominating public sector organisation.
Nominations close 30 May and more information is, including how to submit a nomination, can be accessed on the IPAA ACT website at this PS News link.
