Former deputy secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, Marc Ablong, will lead participants through the fundamentals of policymaking at the Effective Policy Essentials Masterclass Series from 8 April. Photo: Supplied.
Excel Intermediate Workshop
Date: 7 April
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Use Excel more efficiently and effectively to improve productivity:
- Understand and use more advanced formulas and functions in Excel.
- Tackle complex calculations and use time-saving shortcuts.
- Optimise your workflow by automating manual tasks.
- Analyse, format and manage data using advanced Excel tools and techniques.
Trainer Mandy Vyner is an IT professional with more than three decades of experience in transformative technology training services, specialising in Microsoft Office solutions. She has led successful change initiatives in various sectors, collaborating closely with clients to design precise training programs.
With expertise in instructional design, coaching, mentoring, and project and change management, Mandy excels in facilitating training across diverse industries and has a proven track history of achieving outstanding results.
SES Unconscious Bias – Workshops
Date: 7 April – 3 July
Time: 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Duration: Four workshops of varying lengths. Workshops are scheduled over four consecutive months, with one workshop a month.
Location: Australian Capital Territory – MoAD (Old Parliament House)
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This four-part workshop series, consisting of two themes, offers SES leaders a deep dive into unconscious bias for organisational change. Supported by follow-up workshops, SES leaders can share personal reflections and action plans.
The two themes are:
- Addressing unconscious bias through authentic leadership and diversity and inclusion advocacy.
- Changing mindsets to improve the employment experience of First Nations APS employees.
Through exercises and self-reflection, participants will explore unconscious bias and cognitive dissonance and their impacts, understand how authentic leadership reduces bias, and create psychologically, psychosocially and culturally safe workplaces.
The aim is to apply an integrated framework to improve the employment experience of First Nations APS employees and lead organisational change for a bias-free APS workplace.
This learning experience has been provided by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and is suitable for SES Band 1 – 3.
Inside Look Webinar Series
Date: 7 April
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.
In each 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 savour a taste of the transformative insights offered in the Leadership Strategies Series 2025.
Delivering Great Policy – Foundations
Date: 8 – 9 April
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 package delivers all four modules of Delivering Great Policy. It defines the four core elements required for delivering great policy advice: being clear on intent; being well informed; providing solutions that are practical to implement; and influential advice. Participants will complete all four modules in sequence.
This content has been provided by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and is suitable for APS 3 – APS 6 and APS employees who are new to, or considering a career in, policy development roles.
Effective Policy Essentials Masterclass Series
Date: 8 April – 6 May
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Livestream
Email: [email protected]
A toolkit for designing and implementing good policy, this series focuses on building technical expertise in crafting, implementing, and evaluating policy. Developing effective policy requires more than a simple rote understanding of the policy development process.
The course will provide a grounding in the theory and practice of policymaking, provide exemplars of good and bad policymaking, and provide tools for developing good policy, evaluating policy options for their intended, unintended, and perverse outcomes, and writing effectively for decision-makers.
Marc Ablong, former deputy secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, will lead participants through the fundamentals of effective policymaking. Marc’s experience spans 31 years working at a senior level in the Australian Public Service, including 25 years working across defence policy portfolios.
Effective policy must be concerned with real-world problem-solving delivered in a volatile, complex, and ambiguous system, in which the government of the day and the officials of the APS are only two of many stakeholders that must be understood and whose views must be addressed.
Mental Health Access & Quality in Emergency Departments
Date: 8 – 9 April
Time: 9 am – 4:50 pm
Location: Batman’s Hill on Collins, Melbourne | Naarm & Online
Email: [email protected]
This conference aims to help participants implement effective, innovative models of care to enhance emergency mental health outcomes. Emergency department (ED) demand remains high, with mental health presentations among the most complex and challenging cases for staff.
As EDs remain the primary entry point for mental health consumers, the pressure on under-resourced public hospitals is becoming unsustainable. Without urgent attention, this will lead to longer wait times and greater challenges for staff.
As emerging models and approaches reshape how we tackle this issue, the Mental Health Access & Quality in Emergency Departments conference will uniquely bring together experts from emergency, nursing and mental health specialties to explore these solutions.
In its third year, the conference will showcase fresh perspectives and case studies on interdisciplinary, clinical and non-clinical solutions that reduce access block and improve consumer outcomes.
EL1 – EL2 Leadership, Capability & Professional Excellence
Date: 9 – 10 April
Time: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Hyatt Hotel, Canberra
Email: [email protected]
You will gain skills, strategies and advice from one of the most accomplished APS leaders if you attend this immersive program designed to strengthen and guide your public sector career. No-one understands these demands, and the skills that are needed to meet them, more than the facilitator, Rebecca Skinner.
Having led at the highest levels of the APS, including as CEO of Services Australia during its most challenging times, Rebecca knows exactly what it takes from you, your mindset and your skillset to lead in the public sector environment. She has a deep defence and national security background.
Rebecca was the associate secretary of defence and deputy secretary for strategic policy and intelligence. A long-term member of the Defence Committee, she has led Defence strategic policy, capability and technology investment and ministerial engagement, and driven transformed governance, human resource management and integrated service delivery.
Rebecca led Services Australia through the social security and health demands of the pandemic in the post-Robodebt era, setting the organisation on its customer-centric cultural renewal. She is a resilient, people-focused leader experienced in operating under intense pressure through international and domestic crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and defence operations. Rebecca was awarded a PSM in 2021 for outstanding public service in the areas of national security policy, intelligence, business transformation and service delivery.
There are two full days of learning and interactive activities to gain the perspective you need to lead at the top of your game. With an emphasis on capability, accountability and integrity, and a valuable blend of ideas, advice and practical tips, this is a learning and development opportunity that cannot be missed.
Learn how to lead, with tips from the top of the public sector. The more you climb the leadership ranks of the public sector, the more is demanded from your leadership. You will gain more responsibility, have more difficult and complex problems to solve, and you will need to understand the distinctions between your own ideas and the demands of the role.
Crafting Quality New Policy Proposals
Date: 8 – 9 April
Time: 9:30 am – 4 pm & 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Duration: One 6.5-hour and one 2.5-hour face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This program is aimed at employees seeking to understand the key processes and considerations for preparing a new policy proposal.
This content has been provided by the APS Academy, and is suitable for all staff.
Procurement-connected Policies
Date: 10 April
Time: 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Duration: Two-hour face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
The Procurement-connected Policies course provides APS officials with a basic understanding of procurement-connected policies (PCPs) and their use in the procurement lifecycle. It provides an overview of current PCPs referenced in paragraphs 4.9 and 4.10 of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) and their application for specific procurement activities.
This learning experience has been provided by the Department of Finance, and is suitable for all staff. It caters to officials who are new to procurement, may need a refresher, or want to move to a role in procurement. It will benefit officials working in procurement on an ad hoc basis, regular procurers, and delegates.
Leadership Strategies Series 2025: In-person
When: 6 – 7 May; 3 – 4 June; 17 – 18 June; 22 – 23 July
Where: East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston
Cost: Ticket prices vary. Find out more at Kim Vella Leadership:
As a leader in the public service, do any of these points resonate with you?
- I feel overwhelmed all the time, like I’m spinning plates that could drop at any moment.
- I’m always under pressure with competing priorities, limited resources, and an ever-changing geopolitical landscape.
- I’m worried the hard work I put in isn’t recognised.
- I walk into meetings and feel anxious about what to say.
- I don’t usually think about my wellbeing. I just want to make it through another week.
- I feel like I’m never enough, and don’t know what could change that.
If any of these resonate with you, you’re not alone.
The skills every public sector leader needs to thrive in today’s environment are next level – yet they’re rarely taught. Instead, we rely on outdated leadership models that will leave you feeling stressed, exhausted and helpless.
Join respected executive leadership coach Dr Kim Vella, with the support of esteemed industry professionals, for a new leadership skills pathway: The Leadership Strategies Series.
This workshop series gives you access to 32-plus hours of in-person collaborative learning, including:
- Cutting-edge leadership strategies
- Coaching from PS experts and industry professionals
- Advanced psychometric tools
- Personalised assessments
- Individualised feedback
- Tailored action plans.
The Leadership Strategies Series is delivered in two stages: Essentials level and Enhanced level. Each level comprises two full-day workshops, with a six-week break in between to apply your new skills. You’ll also have the opportunity to join a facilitated peer mentoring session during this time to discuss challenges and insights.
Become the APS leader you can be – confident, balanced, insightful, and authentic – by levelling up your leadership skills with the Leadership Strategies Series.
