By Georgina Alsop and Emma Goodman, APS Reform
On 1 November 2023, the Minister for the Public Service, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, announced the Charter of Partnerships and Engagement, as a key driver of the APS Reform Agenda to put people and business at the centre of policy and services.
The development of a Charter of Partnerships and Engagement sets out principles for improving the way the APS puts people and business at the centre of policy, implementation and delivery. It aims to support all staff to build the capability to genuinely partner and engage with people and communities, non-government sectors, academia and industries, to develop more responsive policies and programs.
By realising the aspirational principles of the Charter of Partnerships and Engagement, the APS will:
- meet the Government’s commitment to genuine partnership and engagement in policy-making and service delivery with the public
- instil public trust and transparency in government institutions and processes, and embed integrity in public service culture and behaviour
- build on current best-practice frameworks for partnership and engagement and inform the development of future frameworks
- work across and within the APS, to genuinely partner and engage with all people, communities, non-government sectors, academia and industry.
The Charter will help realise the Government’s commitment to genuine partnership and engagement in policy-making and service delivery with the public so that policies and programs are more likely to be sustainable and deliver against government and public expectations. It will enable the APS to provide Ministers with a range of perspectives and the on-the-ground experiences of all Australians.
The Charter identifies six principles that guide both partnership and engagement:
| OPEN | Be open to engaging with a diverse range of perspectives to inform policy and program development, so that those affected can have a genuine and equitable opportunity to have their say. |
| RESPONSIVE | Be willing to try new approaches to make sure engagements are fit for purpose, culturally appropriate and adaptable, while remaining outcomes-focussed. |
| TRANSPARENT | Build public trust by acting with integrity, and being open and honest about expectation, roles and responsibilities, limitations, objectives and processes at the outset. |
| ACCOUNTABLE | Maintain clear and regular communication by sharing information, taking responsibility for commitments made and informing people and communities on how they have contributed to the final decision. |
| INFORMED | Underpin robust decision-making with the effective and ethical use of data, research and other insights, as well as informed by lived experience, history and context. |
| COLLABORATIVE | Encourage and build relationships through respectful collaboration, and partner with communities, businesses, academia, industry and other sectors, to achieve the best outcomes. |
The APS Reform team have worked closely with teams across the APS to ensure the Charter and its principles align with existing and emerging policies and frameworks; and builds on the knowledge and experience across the APS.
Over the coming months, there will be opportunities to learn more about the Charter, and what good partnership and engagement looks like in different contexts. The Charter of Partnerships and Engagement Good Practice Guidance will also be published to provide additional guidance on how to partner and engage effectively and to provide a range of further support for APS employees to build their capabilities. Be sure to check out the APSReform.gov.au for updates.
Explore more
If you would like to learn more about the Charter or APS Reform more broadly, including organising a presentation to staff within your agency, please reach out to the team.