Strategic context

This plan is primarily designed for leaders, human resources and workforce planning practitioners responsible for managing the data, digital and cyber workforce in Australian Public Service agencies.

It is not intended to replace individual agency workforce plans, but instead provide a clear action plan that gives agencies the tools to support internal workforce planning and development efforts. 

This plan has been developed through extensive consultation with APS agencies, industry and academia to ensure that the initiatives align with and complement those across the APS, Australian economy and the Pacific.  

In particular, agencies with specific whole-of-APS workforce responsibilities under the Data and Digital Government Strategy and the Cyber Security Strategy have played a key role in the development of this plan, including the Australian Public Service Commission, Digital Transformation Agency, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Finance and the Department of Defence. Together, these agencies have specific responsibilities to foster consistent workforce strategies, establish APS-wide rule-setting, and implement a system-wide approach to data, digital and cyber capability uplift across the APS. 

Uplifting capability across the data, digital and cyber domains will require effort and cultural change across the whole of the APS in order to create and leverage APS-wide workforce strategies and frameworks, rather than those unique to individual agencies. The objective of the plan is to establish system-wide settings and actions which support individual agencies to build their capability in a manner that is aligned to, and strengthens, overall APS workforce development.  

Agencies face unique workforce challenges, shaped by their size, structure and operating environment. No single solution will work for all and agencies should adopt this plan’s initiatives based on their needs.  

The APS closely collaborates with jobs and skills councils. Their vital role in our talent development pipeline includes working with the Future Skills Organisation to proactively address skill shortages and co-designing tailored university and vocational programs to engage potential talent. 

Engagement will continue to occur on a whole-of-APS basis during implementation to ensure that it continues to support a coordinated approach. Several APS agencies have chosen to sponsor and contribute to specific initiatives in this plan. Their contribution ensures this plan reflects the diversity of the APS and addresses workforce needs across different contexts and functions. 

Together, the APS and its partners will meet its capability needs, engage a more diverse talent pool and inspire people to build their careers working in the APS. 

The data supporting this plan’s analyses can be viewed at Workforce profiles and Data tables, unless otherwise noted. 

Data has primarily been drawn from the APS Employment Database (APSED), the State of the Service Report 2023-24 and the APS Employee Census. It is complemented by ‘best fit’ job family analysis, using the ‘ICT and Digital Solutions’ job family as a proxy for the APS digital workforce and the ‘Data and Research’ job family for the APS data workforce. A similar comparison cannot be made for the APS cyber workforce at the job family level, however the trends and themes outlined in this plan remain applicable. 

The data in this plan may not reflect different agencies’ unique experience, but it reveals general, APS-wide trends and directional changes. At the same time, this plan includes specific actions to improve the ongoing collection, analysis and reporting of workforce data in order to enhance APS capability planning maturity over time. 

Australians and businesses can use digital products and services from government that are secure, fit for purpose and supported by a capable workforce. 

They have confidence that government can appropriately use and safeguard their data. 

Australia has a digital government that is world class, trusted and supported by a highly capable APS workforce. 

Government improves its capability to use its data holdings and harness analytical tools and techniques, improving service delivery, evidence-based decision making and policy and program evaluation.