Check out the latest public sector networking and education events. Photo: File.
WFP Boost – Organisational Design and Job Design
Date: 3 – 4 March
Time: 1 pm – 4:30 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 – external site 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 build their workforce planning toolkit further. While each module is completed individually, they all form a wider program to build workforce planning skills.
This module explores effective modern organisational design and contemporary job design in the context of workforce planning. Participants will also examine the impacts of smarter and different ways of working due to external changes and ongoing disruptions.
This content has been provided by the Australian Public Service Commission. It 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.
Inside Look Webinar Series
Date: 3 March
Location: Online (via Teams)
Cost: Free, bookings are essential
Kim Vella Coaching’s free Leadership Strategies Series will equip leaders with insights into leadership challenges and teach them how to close the gap.
In today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world, public sector leaders face unique challenges that demand more than traditional leadership approaches. The Inside Look Webinar Series is a monthly opportunity to explore one key “gap” holding leaders back from thriving in their roles.
Each session focuses on a specific leadership challenge, offering insights into why it matters and how leaders can begin to close the gap. Topics include:
- The Wellbeing Gap: Balancing performance with sustainable leadership.
- The Confidence Gap: Leading with clarity, courage and conviction.
- The Collaboration Gap: Building partnerships that create meaningful change.
- The Expert to Orchestrator Gap: Transitioning from technical expert to leadership orchestrator.
Why join?
In the webinar, you will:
- Gain clarity on the leadership challenges unique to today’s VUCA environment.
- Reflect on your own experiences and begin identifying ways to bridge the gap.
- Connect with peers and explore insights that empower leadership growth.
The Inside Look Webinar Series is your chance to step into a community of reflective leaders and gain a taste of the transformative insights offered in the Leadership Strategies Series 2025.
Persuasive Writing Masterclass Series 2025
Date: 4 March – 29 April
Various locations:
- Voco Brisbane, 4 March
- Canberra Rex Hotel, 12 March
- 65 Hindley Street, Adelaide, 19 March
- Crowne Plaza, Melbourne, 10 April
- Sydney, 29 April
Email: [email protected]
All writing should be clear, concise, and correct. Good-quality public sector writing should also be professional, persuasive, and polished. Public sector writing can be challenging and time-consuming. You have to contend with different audiences, rigid deadlines, and complex topics.
While the basic skills of good writing are critical, you need more to meet the demands of more involved government communication. You need to be able to present every case confidently and well, regardless of who you are writing to or what you are writing about. You must be able to use words, structure, flow, and more to deliver compelling arguments and convincing information that people will want to read.
It is about using writing to communicate complex issues clearly and with influence. This masterclass will help you to make the most of your existing skills and practise new ones. It will also offer tips and techniques to make your writing easier, faster, and more effective.
Facilitator Bev Sullivan has decades of experience running written communication workshops for public servants at all levels and from all tiers of government. Her specialty is helping people to use (and tweak) their existing skills and experience to make writing less of a chore and deliver better results.
With an extensive background in government, education and communication, she is familiar with the challenges involved in producing excellent public sector writing.
Briefing and Responding to APS Decision Makers
Date: 4 March
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Duration: One eight-hour face-to-face session
Location: Australian Capital Territory – MoAD (Old Parliament House)
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This program takes an in-depth look at decision-making and covers the skills required to design, develop and deliver a briefing. Understand the development and role of Question Time briefs, ministerial talking points for media engagements, ministerial adviser briefings, hot-issue briefings, ministerial submissions and second-reading speeches.
Experience ”real-life” briefing scenarios that simulate the high pressure and stakes of a government briefing. Learn effective briefing techniques and workshop approaches that build relationships with senior APS decision-makers, ministers and advisers.
This content has been provided by the APS Academy, and is suitable for APS 5 – EL 2.
How to Apply for Jobs in the APS – APS Levels
Date: 4 March
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Duration: One six-hour face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This program focuses on the job application process. Practical exercises help participants write applications and perform well in selection activities and interviews.
Note: For those who are currently outside the APS, use the Cracking the Code – external site resource to help you with the application process to enter the APS.
This content has been provided by the APS Academy, and is suitable for APS 1 – APS 6.
Building Relationships and Engagement
Date: 4 March
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Duration: One six-hour face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
Identify and examine internal and external work relationships, their relevance and the importance of achieving mutual success. Explore aspects of self-awareness, personal effectiveness and maintaining productive relationships – even during difficult times. Share and develop ways to plan for and participate in meetings.
This content has been provided by the APS Academy, and is suitable for APS 1 – EL 2.
Probity and Integrity in Procurement
Date: 5 March
Time: 9:30 am – noon
Duration: One 2.5-hour face-to-face session
Location: Australian Capital Territory – Department of Finance
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This course outlines how government funds are under constant scrutiny and uses real examples to demonstrate instances of poor management and decision-making by the 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. It is suitable for all staff, including officials who are new to procurement, need a refresher, or want to move to a procurement role. It will benefit APS staff working in procurement or contract management on an ad hoc basis, regular procurers and contract managers, and delegates.
Leading Successful Projects
Date: 5 – 6 March
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Duration: Two eight-hour face-to-face sessions
Location: Australian Capital Territory – MoAD (Old Parliament House)
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This program outlines the knowledge, tools and techniques required to lead projects and teams at the executive level. Understand the project management framework and consider the political and policy context for projects.
Learn project governance requirements and project leadership challenges. This content has been provided by the APS Academy, and is suitable for EL 1 – EL 2.
Essential Writing for APS 1-4 Levels
Date: 5 – 6 March
Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Duration: Two three-hour face-to-screen sessions
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This course is designed for APS employees who produce routine correspondence, such as emails and letters.
While nominally aimed at APS levels 1-4, the program is suitable for all APS employees who need to develop their ability to logically sequence information, use appropriate correspondence styles and improve the readability of their writing.
This content has been provided by the APS Academy, and is suitable for APS 1 – APS 4.
Engaging Men & Boys to End the Cycle of Violence
Date: 12 – 13 March, 2025
Time: All day
Location: Sydney, Australia
Email: [email protected]
Aimed at making men the solution instead of the problem, Engaging Men & Boys to End the Cycle of Violence will delve into the issues at the heart of practice.
There is no denying that we need to engage differently in work with men to prevent the stark statistics in Australia. The recent Man Box 2024 research highlighted that one in four men hold attitudes that minimise violence against women. In addition, 25 per cent of participants agreed with the statement that ‘’sometimes a woman can make a man so angry that he hits her when he didn’t mean to’’.
Over two days, 35-plus presenters will deep-dive into working with boys and young men, the challenges of inter-agency collaboration, how to provide better responses for men at the intersections of alcohol and other drug (AOD) misuse, mental health and violence, and more.
Connect with peers and be part of the drive for change at this thought-provoking and timely event.
Australian Cyber Conference 2025
Date: 17 – 19 March
Location: National Convention Centre, Canberra
Cost: Student $450, early bird $799-$1349, member $899 and non-member $1549
Tickets: Available at Cyber Conference
In an era when digital frontiers are continuously expanding and evolving, the Australian Cyber Conference 2025 embraces the pivotal theme: Transform to Evolve. This theme underscores the imperative for cyber security practices to adapt and innovate in response to the rapidly changing digital landscape.
The Australian Cyber Conference Canberra brings together some of the greatest minds in cyber and will provide business leaders with insights and best practices taught by the industry’s top experts through keynotes, thought leadership, panel sessions and live, in-person demonstrations.
Featured speakers:
- Dr Jordan Nguyen, Psykinetic
- Professor Sue Black, Durham University
- Chris Riddell, GREYMITT
- Paula Januszkiewicz, CQURE and CQURE Academy.
