Australian Public Service (APS) Commissioner, Peter Woolcott has announced that all APS staff are to undertake mandatory integrity training in line with a recommendation from the Thodey Review.
Speaking at the APS Wide Conference in Canberra this week (11 February), Mr Woolcott (pictured) said the Commission was focussed on enhancing a pro-integrity culture across the APS.
“This will not be a simple tick-the-box exercise,” Mr Woolcott said.
“Rather, it will be designed to build employees’ understanding of integrity issues in their work environment,” he said.
“It will help to ensure that all APS employees are equipped to deal with a wide range of integrity-related situations.”
He said that while the findings from the 2019 APS employee census regarding integrity and ethics were broadly consistent with 2018 figures, the focus on integrity needed to continue.
“This is about giving you the practical tools you need to succeed in a complex environment,” Mr Woolcott said.
“This is not about compliance.”
He said an integrity training package would also be developed for new staff.
“This focus on integrity will be woven into and reinforced by the development and delivery of a whole of service induction for new recruits to the APS,” Mr Woolcott said.
“I see this as key to our ability to serve the Australian public – integrity is a driver of public trust.”
“We are already considering how best to ensure its accessibility, effectiveness and uptake.”
Mr Woolcott said public services in other countries such as Singapore had successfully used app-based ‘micro-learning’ for training and it was something the Commission would look into for the APS integrity training rollout.
“The Government has made clear its expectations of the APS, the Thodey Review has fleshed out the scope, direction and urgency of the change that is required, and the senior leadership of the APS – the Secretaries Board – is fully committed to leading reform,” he said.
