Trainer Natalie Lincolne will help participants enhance critical skills at the WA Public Sector 6-8 High-Performance & Leadership Workshop on 28 – 29 October. Photo: Supplied.
MasterCraft Series — Navigating Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
Date: 28 October
Time: 1 – 2 pm
Duration: One one-hour face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This masterclass will provide APS professionals with a strategic overview of Australia’s foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific — an increasingly complex and contested region. Panellists will examine the shifting geopolitical landscape, including the rise of regional powers, evolving security dynamics, and the implications for Australia’s national interests. The session will offer insights into the strategic imperatives shaping Australia’s engagement in the region and our foreign policy settings more broadly.
Participants will hear about the modern tools of diplomacy and statecraft that underpin Australia’s international engagement and highlight practical approaches relevant to APS professionals. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how contemporary diplomatic tradecraft supports whole-of-government efforts to navigate regional challenges and advance Australia’s strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific.
Speakers are Graham Fletcher and Charlotte Blundell.
Graham is a former public servant who was Australia’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China from 2019 to 2023. His final government role was as Deputy Secretary (International and Security) in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where he dealt with national security, defence, intelligence and foreign policy issues, retiring in August 2025.
Before this appointment, Graham’s career was spent in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where he focused mainly on China and the South Pacific. He was posted on four occasions to the Australian embassy in Beijing, and also served in Washington (2011-13) and Noumea.
Charlotte Blundell is one of six First Assistant Secretaries in DFAT’s Office of the Pacific. She leads the Pacific Economic and Infrastructure Division, with responsibility for a wide range of policy and investment programs in the Pacific across infrastructure, trade, media, banking, budget support, social protection, sports and aviation.
She previously represented Australia as the Deputy Trade Negotiator during negotiation of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and led the Indo-Pacific Economic and Supply Chain Branch in DFAT’s Trade and Investment Group. Charlotte served as the head of the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific for three years until early 2024. She has worked for almost three decades in senior roles in DFAT and AusAID, and across the Indo-Pacific region.
This masterclass content is suitable for all staff.
WA Public Sector 6-8 High-Performance & Leadership Workshop
Date: 28 – 29 October
Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Cliftons Perth
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Enhance critical skills to excel in level 6-8 roles and beyond.
- Make the move from micro to macro leadership.
- Explore practical techniques to make effective strategic decisions.
- Build capable and accountable teams.
- Engage stakeholders to proactively manage change.
Trainer Natalie Lincolne brings more than 20 years of experience and a diverse skill set dedicated to enhancing organisational performance. She is passionate about partnering with leaders to boost employee engagement, performance, and productivity, ensuring that top talent remains motivated and retained.
Since 2008, Natalie has worked and consulted across various public sector levels (state, local, and federal) after transitioning from senior leadership roles in the corporate sector with NAB and Ansett. She runs her own business, Incredible People, which offers leadership training, coaching and strategic facilitation, and contributes her expertise pro bono to several non-profit organisations.
Ending Coercive Control & Family Violence Conference WA
Date: 28 – 29 October
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Location: Whadjak Noongar Country, WA | Pan Pacific Perth & Online
Email: [email protected]
This conference is designed to deepen our collective understanding of coercive control in all its forms. We’ll explore its insidious nature and devastating impacts on individuals, families, and communities, grasp the nuanced realities, and invest in our capacity to drive change and keep women and children safe.
Through lived experience, expert insight, and collaborative discussion, this summit will enhance practical responses that identify, respond to, and ultimately prevent coercive control. The program tackles critical areas such as legal frameworks, technological abuse, economic impact, and the distinct challenges faced by First Nations communities and children. We’ll also address the crucial need for systemic change and self-care for those working in this challenging field.
Join us to drive meaningful progress in safeguarding those at risk.
Lunch and Learn — Session 11: Turn plain text into coded data using AI
Date: 29 October
Time: 12:30 pm – 1 pm
Duration: One 30-minute face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
The new API-based coding capability developed by the ABS makes coding textual data to ABS structured classifications easier, faster and cheaper. Using ML-trained models, the Coding Service uses cloud compute for power and scale to achieve highly automated, high-quality coding. This service supports improved, coherent data coding across the Australian data landscape, using the latest classification versions available.
The service can code single records in real time, supporting online surveys and website forms. It can also quickly and efficiently code (or recode) large datasets in batches, up to millions of records. The ML models make predictions by learning how the ABS applies the occupation classifications against the way Australian people describe their jobs and the tasks they do.
During the training process, the models learn to map certain words, or combinations of words, to return specific occupation codes for given input text. The models were trained on millions of de-identified occupation responses in the Census, so the service can recognise and code occupations described in the language and broad vocabulary used by Australians themselves — including misspellings and common colloquial terms.
Presenter Stirling Jones joined the ABS in July 2010. He worked in Census 2011, Qld State and Territory Statistical Services, and transport and tourism roles, before joining the Statistical Infrastructure Branch, managing the Demographic Standards and Data Coding Teams.
For the past two and a half years, he has been the product owner for the WoAG Coding Capabilities Project. He is responsible for establishing, maintaining and realising a clear vision for the product, and articulating this vision to the technical, operational and business teams involved.
This content is suitable for all staff.
Strengthening Government Systems: How IT & Security Leaders Can Minimise Vulnerabilities Before They Escalate
Date: 29 October
Time: 11 am – noon
Location: Webinar
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Australian Government agencies are drowning in a sea of vulnerabilities, struggling to keep pace with remediation. This webinar is a must-attend for anyone in government security and IT who is ready to stop playing catch-up and take control. Shift from reactive to proactive — using automation to quickly address vulnerabilities, reduce manual effort and slash labour costs.
You’ll discover how to easily identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure they never see the light of day, plus proactively remediate the vulnerabilities most likely to be exploited, while cutting through the noise of low-priority issues.
In this session, we will discuss how to confidently roll out updates without the fear of disruption, using smart deployment strategies backed by global intelligence. If you’re ready to cut through the vulnerability chaos and streamline your risk management, this session is for you.
Key discussion points:
- Proactive Risk Management: Stay ahead of the curve by identifying and mitigating risks before they escalate into major issues.
- Understanding Your Vulnerabilities: Get clear advice on the different types of vulnerabilities, and how to address them — while distinguishing between intentional configurations and real security threats.
- Smarter Remediation Programs: Build focused programs that target high-risk vulnerabilities most likely to be exploited, while reducing time spent on less urgent issues.
- Confident Patch Deployment: Eliminate the fear of updates — leverage deployment rings and confidence scores to roll out patches smoothly and safely.
- Automation that Works: Harness the power of automation to fix vulnerabilities immediately, prevent recurrence, and free up your team from manual tasks.
Don’t miss this chance to take control of your cyber risk management. It’s time to stop reacting and start getting proactive.
First Nations UNLIMITED Leadership Summit
Date: 29 October – 13 November
Location: In-person and online
29 & 30 October | Gadigal Land, Sydney & Online Livestream
12 & 13 Novermber | Garramilla, Darwin City & Online Livestream
Email: [email protected]
Empowering voices, honouring culture, and leading change. 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, serving 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, 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 in creating a more just and inclusive future.
Speakers include:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man, author, justice advocate and orator Thomas Mayo, signatory to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
- Assistant Secretary Sheryl Hedges, a trailblazing senior executive serving as the head of the First Nations Water Branch within the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
- CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) since 1999, Aunty Muriel Bamblett, who has advocated and advanced the interests of Aboriginal children and families, and has embedded culture in everything VACCA does to build resilience, self-esteem, connection and belonging.
- Selena Uibo, Member for the Arnhem electorate in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Selena was born and bred in the Territory. Her mother is Nunggubuyu from Numbulwar and Wanindilyakwa from Groote Eylandt, and her father is a second-generation Australian of Estonian and South African origin.
EL1 – EL2 Leadership, Capability & Professional Excellence Masterclass
Date: 30 – 31 October
Time: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Ngambri & Ngunnawal Country | Canberra
Email: [email protected]
This masterclass is an unmissable opportunity to gain skills, strategies and advice from one of the most accomplished APS leaders. Learn how to lead at the peak of your game, 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.
No-one understands these demands, and the skills that are needed to meet them, more than facilitator Rebecca Skinner, former chief executive officer of Services Australia. With a deep defence and national security background, Rebecca has led at the highest levels of the APS, including the extra-large agency Services Australia during its most challenging times. She knows exactly what it takes from you, your mindset and your skillset to lead in the public sector environment.
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. Join Rebecca for two full days of learning and interactive activities to gain the perspective you need to lead at the top of your game.
Embracing Neurodiversity: A Workshop for Managers & Leaders
Date: 31 October – 13 November
Time: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Location: In person
Adelaide, 31 October | Sydney, 11 November | Canberra, 13 November
Email: [email protected]
Gain a better understanding of neurodiversity and leading neuro-inclusive teams. Learn how to create environments for neurodiversity to thrive. The number of people who identify as neurodiverse or have been diagnosed as neurodivergent is rapidly increasing.
So, why is an awareness of neurodiversity and the ability to lead neuro-inclusive teams so important for managers and leaders? Because with it, managers and leaders are able to tap into team members’ strengths and preferences so that they feel safe and included and are able to perform at their absolute best. And when everyone is able to perform at their best, you have a high-performing team.
Join us for an essential full-day workshop that will build your understanding of the unique strengths of neurodiversity, how to harness them and how to lead a psychologically safe team. Discover how embracing different cognitive styles can drive innovation, boost productivity, foster inclusivity and promote retention in the workplace.
Facilitator Patricia Falcetta is a highly experienced facilitator with more than 25 years’ experience in the public and private sectors. Neurodivergent herself, she is a passionate advocate for neurodivergent people. Patricia is the founder and director of Social Living Solutions, which specialises in providing support for neurodivergent youth, families and adults.
APS 5-6 Women in Leadership Masterclass
Date: 5 – 6 November
Time: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Hyatt Hotel Canberra
Email: [email protected]
Build your confidence to lead by uncovering how your unique strengths and skills translate into the APS context. Stretch yourself, grow your confidence and lean into leading to make a difference in the APS. At this two-day masterclass, you will develop the skills and behaviours that become the foundations of your APS leadership career and prepare you for making the most of development opportunities.
Led by seasoned Commonwealth public service coach and facilitator Kylie Holyland, this engaging masterclass is designed to guide you through what is expected of leaders at the APS 5- 6 level, how to navigate the ins and outs of the APS workplace, and to develop the mindset to confidently back yourself in future leadership roles.
Specifically designed for women in APS 5-6 roles to build the capabilities and behaviours that the public sector requires of you, the masterclass will help you apply key tools to carve your own leadership identity, cultivate a network of peers at the same stage as you and set yourself up for success for the rest of your career.
You will walk away refreshed, inspired and more confident in your leadership and the path ahead.
Operational AI: Workflows, Prompts & Ethics for Higher Education
Date: 6 November
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Streamline workflows, automate routine tasks, and optimise your productivity.
- Understand the key tools that can enhance productivity.
- Automate meeting minutes, emails, and data entry.
- Structure clear prompts for tools to improve your workflow.
- Manage privacy risks and identify bias when using AI tools.
Trainer Rabia Khan is a public health and data specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in the global health sector, spanning Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Rabia excels in leveraging data and evidence to enhance health outcomes and reduce disparities. She empowers individuals to drive positive change, make informed decisions, and amplify their impact through effective leadership, data utilisation, and evidence-based strategies.
