Trainer Richard Farrelly will address how to build trust, shape values and drive meaningful change at the VIC SES-Level Strategic Leadership for Outcome Delivery event from 5 — 6 August. Photo: Supplied.
Essential Writing for Executive Levels
Date: 27 July
Time: 9:30 am — 4:30 pm
Duration: One seven-hour face-to-face session
Location: ACT
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_loginW
Essential Writing for Executive Levels shows participants how to produce documents that are accurate, clear and consistent with government style requirements. This program is suitable for executive-level staff who are either undertaking writing tasks themselves, managing other employees on writing tasks, are new to the APS or have transferred into a role where higher levels of writing skills are required.
This learning experience has been provided by a third party in consultation with the APS Academy. The event is suitable for EL 1 and EL 2
MasterCraft Series — Evaluating Public Sector Transformation: Lessons from the APS Reform Agenda
Date: 28 July
Time: 1 pm — 2 pm
Duration: A one-hour face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
Major reform programs are designed to improve how public services operate and deliver outcomes for citizens. Yet, evaluating whether reform has made a difference can be challenging, particularly when change occurs across multiple organisations, over several years, and in a constantly evolving environment.
The APS Reform Agenda 2022-2025 brought together a wide range of initiatives intended to strengthen capability, leadership, integrity, workforce performance and service delivery across the Australian Public Service. Understanding whether these efforts made a difference required an evaluation approach capable of capturing change across a complex and interconnected system.
In this MasterCraft session, Antonia Quadara will share lessons from leading the evaluation of the APS Reform Program. She will explore the practical challenges of evaluating large-scale reform, including measuring progress, understanding contribution, and balancing accountability with learning.
This event is suitable for all staff.
Essential Writing for APS 5-6 Levels
Date: 28 July
Time: 9:30 am — 4:30 pm
Duration: One seven-hour face-to-face session
Location: ACT
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
Essential Writing for APS 5-6 Levels is designed for APS employees who produce documents involving analysis or evidence-based argument. It is aimed at APS levels 5-6, but is suitable for all APS and executive levels who need to improve their analytical writing. The program focuses on briefs and minutes (internal documents with advice and recommendations) and non-routine correspondence (letters and emails).
This learning experience has been provided by a third party in consultation with the APS Academy. The event is suitable for APS 5-6 and APS employees and executive levels who need to improve their analytical writing.
Leadership and Adaptation in the Age of AI
Date: 28 — 31 July
Time: 9 am — 4:30 pm
Location: Rydges Sydney Central
Email: [email protected]
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping business. AI is rapidly changing how organisations operate, make decisions, manage risk and deliver value. Across every sector, leaders are under pressure to move beyond experimentation and into real-world AI implementation.
The challenge is no longer whether AI matters; it is how organisations adapt fast enough while maintaining workforce capability, operational resilience, trust and responsible governance.
The AI Innovation Summit 2026 brings together senior executives, transformation leaders and innovators leading AI-driven change across some of Australia and New Zealand’s most recognised organisations. Over two practical days, delegates will explore workforce transformation and AI adoption, operational resilience and organisational adaptation, AI governance and leadership decision-making, productivity, trust and workforce pressure, as well as strategies for scaling innovation beyond experimentation.
Government Innovation Week: Digital Leadership Day New South Wales
Date: 28 July — 4 August
Time: 8 am — 4 pm
Location: Business Sydney, Chifley Square, Sydney
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Building on the momentum of 2025, this year’s Digital Leadership Day will kick off the NSW Government Innovation Week by empowering leaders to further drive transformation through AI, automation, secure digital systems and inclusive leadership. While innovative progress is underway, many agencies are still constrained by siloed operating models, uneven digital maturity and emerging AI capability that is yet to scale. This event is designed to support leaders navigating that transition, with a clear focus on building the leadership, structures and systems needed for more connected government.
Now in its second year, the event brings together senior public sector leaders responsible for digital strategy, policy, risk and transformation. With a strong emphasis on lateral systems thinking and a push towards a more connected Government 3.0 delivery, the agenda creates a practical forum to address cross-agency challenges, align policy with delivery, and responsibly advance innovation that delivers measurable public value.
MasterCraft Series — Envisaging Futures of APS Roles
Date: 30 July
Time: 1 pm — 2 pm
Duration: One 60-minute face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
The future of work across the APS is being reshaped by rapid technological change, shifting demographics and a more complex global environment, all against a backdrop of rising public expectations about how government should deliver. Yet, workforce data tells us where we have been, not where we are heading, and many of the forces that will shape future roles, from artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to changing service models, are only beginning to emerge. This masterclass introduces foresight as a practical discipline that helps planners move beyond forecasting to anticipate a range of plausible futures, and to make better workforce decisions today as a result.
In this session, you’ll be guided through simple methods to undertake environmental scanning, identify relevant trends and early signals, and trace how they might develop and impact on the workforce. More importantly, we’ll demonstrate how these insights can be translated into plausible futures for roles, and how these processes can help inform and prompt strategic workforce discussions with leaders.
Presenter Kristy Carey is the director of the Employment Policy section in the Australian Public Service Commission. This event is suitable for all staff.
QLD Public Sector AO7-8 Leading and Managing change
Date: 4 — 5 August
Time: 9 am — 4:30 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Lead your team through change with clarity, resilience and a shared vision.
- Strengthen your leadership skills to manage change across teams and projects.
- Create a supportive environment to help your team stay focused during transitions.
- Learn how to inspire resilience and engagement during times of uncertainty.
- Develop strategies to drive successful and sustainable change.
Trainer Michael Collins is one of the region’s leading talents. Michael is a leadership and change expert with more than 25 years of experience in roles across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
As a trusted adviser, thought leader and seasoned practitioner in leadership assessment and development, he 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.
VIC SES-Level Strategic Leadership for Outcome Delivery
Date: 5 — 6 August
Time: 9 am — 4:30 pm
Location: Cliftons Melbourne
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Critical strategic leadership and complex management skills for current and emerging SES-level leaders.
- Lead with impact through a clear understanding of executive expectations and values.
- Make high-stakes decisions with confidence and strategic insight.
- Navigate complex organisational and policy challenges proactively.
- Develop a strategic action plan to drive results and influence outcomes.
From policing the streets to coaching leaders across industries, trainer Richard Farrelly brings more than 27 years of frontline experience to his work in leadership and culture. Having led teams in high-stakes environments, he knows what it takes to build trust, shape values and drive meaningful change.
At Victoria Police, he modernised organisational values and facilitated leadership programs for more than 4000 employees. Today, Richard works with leaders to strengthen communication, shift mindsets and uncover the untapped potential within teams. He has a talent for turning everyday challenges into catalysts for growth.
Emerging Leaders & Managers Toolkit
Date: 11 — 12 August
Time: 9 am — 4:30 pm
Location: Adelaide
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Unlock your full potential and transform into a high-performing leader.
- Develop essential management and leadership skills.
- Master effective and influential communication.
- Enhance problem-solving and decision-making.
- Learn practical tools and strategies to achieve results.
The Women UNLIMITED Leadership Summit
Date: 18 — 19 August
Time: 9 am — 4:50 pm
Location: Hotel Realm Canberra & online
Email: [email protected]
We are leading in a time of sustained pressure across the APS. Resource cuts, shifting policy priorities and the early stages of the AI transition are reshaping the landscape. Alongside this, rising global uncertainty is increasingly landing in domestic agendas.
In this environment, leadership often means holding the line: delivering reform under constraint, supporting teams through change fatigue, and making decisions amid evolving priorities and limited certainty.
Women UNLIMITED creates the space to lead in exactly this context. In 2026, this landmark summit brings together leaders working through ambiguity and disruption. Headlined by the 40th prime minister of New Zealand, Dame Jacinda Ardern, it features voices who have led with clarity, empathy and courage under pressure, making high-stakes decisions when the path forward is uncertain.
Over two days, the focus is practical and immediate: staying steady through sustained disruption, rebuilding momentum in stretched systems and making confident decisions with incomplete information — while strengthening clarity, resilience and direction in leadership practice.
