Australian Institute of Training and Development Awards Finalist

By Tammy Sattler, Learning Experiences and Engagement, APS Academy

The APS Academy attended the Australian Institute of Training and Development (AITD) Excellence Awards after being named a finalist for its flagship program, Delivering Great Policy.

The AITD Excellence Awards recognise outstanding achievement in learning and development. The APS Academy was thrilled to be nominated a finalist among other private and public sector organisations.

The Delivering Great Policy program (DGP) was launched in November 2019 in a partnership between the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the APS Academy. DGP supports policy development capability uplift across the APS through a series of facilitated workshops, allowing participants to build an in-depth understanding of the core elements for delivering great policy: being clear on intent, being well informed, solutions are practical to implement and advice is influential.

The program was developed in consultation with 325 stakeholders across the APS, bringing together a diverse range of perspectives to understand past policy development issues and how policy development can be improved through an evidence-based model, to ensure better outcomes for Australians.

DGP uses real-life policy examples and experienced practitioners to engage participants in conversation about real-life issues and how complex problems can be addressed through good policy. The program provides participants with the tools to adapt DGP concepts to their own work and to support them to deliver government priorities through quality, evidence-based policy.

DGP is delivered by the APS Academy to all staff across the APS. To date, DGP has engaged 700 individuals, across 51 agencies.  Statistics across the three delivery channels for DGP Foundations – Mixed Agency; DGP Foundations – Single Agency; and DGP Level up! – Single Agency, are: