Facilitator Steve Remington will lead An Introduction to Data Skills & Capabilities for Non-Specialists, an online workshop, from 12 — 13 May. Photo: Supplied.
SES Integrity Masterclass
Date: 11 May
Time: 9:30 am — 1 pm
Duration: One 3.5-hour face-to-face session
Location: ACT
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
The SES Integrity Masterclass is aimed at providing SES leaders with access to current thinking and practical applications towards embedding pro-integrity culture across the APS. The content addresses the importance of integrity in the workplace by examining current, real-world issues through a practitioner-led approach.
Developed by the APS Academy in partnership with key APS integrity agencies and academic partners, it has been recognised in the Louder than Words: An APS Action Plan as an “excellent integrity product”, with the recommendation for “secretaries to support all SES to undertake” this course.
Successful completion of this program involves both prework (available online at a time that suits you) and attendance at an interactive, facilitated workshop. This content is suitable for SES Band 1 — SES Band 3.
Lunch and Learn: Prompting Basics
Date: 12 May
Time: 12:30 pm — 1:15 pm
Duration: One 45-minute face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This session provides a practical introduction to prompting fundamentals for Microsoft 365 Copilot users. It explains what prompts are, why they matter, and how small changes in structure and clarity can significantly improve the quality and usefulness of AI-generated responses. It is delivered virtually and combines explanation, live demonstration and hands-on experimentation.
Participants are guided through common APS use cases, including research, drafting and analysis, with examples of weak versus strong prompts. The session also highlights the limitations of generative AI, responsible use considerations, and common mistakes to avoid, such as vague instructions or incorrect assumptions about context. This content is suitable for all staff.
Annika Anand is a senior change and digital enablement practitioner with extensive experience designing and delivering training for APS organisations. She currently leads change and enablement activities supporting the Microsoft 365 Copilot implementation at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, with a focus on building practical capability and confidence in the use of generative AI tools.
An Introduction to Data Skills & Capabilities for Non-Specialists
Date: 12 — 13 May
Time: 9 am — 1 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
This practical guide helps you understand and use data to drive decisions. Build the skills and confidence to use data to drive decision-making. Today’s ever-growing volumes of data and the easy access to tools to make sense of that data are driving organisations, both public and private, to use data to answer questions and support decision-making.
In this interactive workshop, you will learn the language of data and how to apply a simple, structured process that will show you how to ask the right questions, obtain the most relevant data, make sense of the data, come to conclusions supported by the data and present the results to stakeholders in a way that is easy for them to comprehend and act on.
The facilitator is Steve Remington, principal consultant and founder of Minerra. Steve is a consultant, architect, adviser and trainer with more than 25 years of expertise in analytics, business intelligence, data warehouse and decision-support projects. His background includes seven years of academic research and teaching at Melbourne Business School, Monash University and Latrobe University.
EL1 & EL2 High-Performance & Leadership Workshop
Date: 12 — 13 May
Time: 9 am — 4:30 pm
Location: Cliftons Canberra
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Master the strategic, people and performance skills to thrive in senior public-sector leadership.
- Step up from operational to strategic, system-level leadership.
- Strengthen decision-making, influence, and stakeholder management.
- Build authentic self-awareness and emotional intelligence for lasting impact.
- Drive performance, accountability and collaboration across teams and divisions.
- Lead confidently through complexity, change and transformation.
Trainer Sally Dooley is an engaging and experienced facilitator, speaker and executive coach. Over 20 years, she has worked with thousands of people in a wide range of leadership, team and personal development areas. Sally is passionate about excellent leadership and helping to shape cultures that facilitate high performance and high wellbeing for sustainable growth.
Practical Risk Management: More Than Just Ticking Boxes
Date: 13 May
Time: 9:30 am — 3:30 pm
Duration: One six-hour face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This course is designed for Commonwealth officials whose roles require them to engage with and apply their entity’s risk management framework to successfully deliver outcomes.
This learning experience was created by the Department of Finance in partnership with contracted service providers. The content is suitable for all staff, regardless of level or role, who need to understand basic risk management concepts and how risk is managed in the Commonwealth.
VPS 5-6 Strategic Thinking & Advanced Problem-Solving
Date: 13 — 14 May
Time: 9 am — 4:30 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Apply a structured systems thinking approach to analysing problems and formulating strategy.
- Apply practical, outcome-driven models for strategic decision-making.
- Explore a systematic approach for problem analysis and strategy formulation.
- Understand your role as a leader in empowering others to address challenges.
- Overcome common roadblocks to resolve complex problems.
First Nations Unlimited Leadership Summit
Date: 13 — 14 May
Time: 9 am — 5:10 pm
Location: In person and online
Email: [email protected]
Join us to listen, learn and lead alongside First Nations voices shaping change, strengthening culture, and giving power to our people. First Nations UNLIMITED is an essential gathering that amplifies the voices, wisdom and leadership of First Nations peoples. This summit serves as a platform for leaders, changemakers and allies to unite, share and learn.
It celebrates the vital roles First Nations individuals play as visionaries, advocates, mentors and custodians within their workplaces and communities, and on Country.
Through storytelling, truth-telling and deep connection, the summit strengthens a growing network of First Nations leaders and equips allies with the insight and integrity to walk beside them as they create a more just and inclusive future.
WFP Boost — Futuring and Scenario Planning
Date: 13 — 14 May
Time: 11 am — 2:30 pm
Duration: Two 3.5-hour face-to-screen sessions
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
The Workforce Planning Boost Program is a collection of modules that target the development of technical workforce planning skills. These units have been co-designed by the APS Centre of Excellence for Workforce Planning, with workforce planning experts and academics from across Australia.
This program is designed for mid-career workforce planners and those who have completed the Workforce Planning Start-Up Program, to further build their workforce planning toolkit. While each module is completed individually, they all form a wider program to build workforce planning skills.
This module explores futuring, which is about tools and techniques that explore the future of work, enabling agencies to make better decisions today about their future. Futuring is an important capability for any workforce planner, and critical for achieving strategic workforce planning.
This content has been provided by the Australian Public Service Commission. The content is suitable for APS 5 — SES Band 1 participants who have completed the Workforce Planning Start-Up Program and/or those with at least two years’ relevant experience in workforce planning, organisational design or job design.
Emergency Department Access & Performance
Date: 13 — 14 May
Time: 9 am — 4:15 pm
Location: Sydney Boulevard Hotel
Email: [email protected]
Learn solutions for access, flow and emergency care excellence, transforming hospital emergency departments with practical performance strategies.
Australia’s hospital emergency departments (EDs) are operating at breaking point, with chronic access block, ambulance ramping, and overcrowding placing pressure on timely, safe care. Services are seeking practical, evidence-based solutions that deliver measurable and sustainable improvements.
This conference brings leaders together to share proven strategies, operational models, and flow innovations improving access across Australia. With new hospital access targets and strategies to address ambulance ramping introduced nationwide, delegates will benchmark approaches, understand the impact of these targets, learn what’s working in other services, and gain actionable tools to strengthen demand management, streamline patient flow, and drive lasting performance outcomes.
8 Essential Skills for High Performance in Executive Support & Admin
Date: 19 — 20 May
Time: 9 am — 4:30 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Innovation and impact for executive support.
- Proactively manage yourself and your work to deliver excellence in executive support.
- Develop and maintain resilience in high-pressure, high-volume environments.
- Effectively communicate with and influence your manager, team and stakeholders.
- Balance your workload and plan your career.
