Monday March 3, 2025
On a journey of continuous reform with Dr Rachel Bacon and Professor Janine O’Flynn – part 1
Launching our new ‘APS Reform in Action’ series, we hear from Dr Rachel Bacon and Professor Janine O’Flynn about enduring APS Reform and why public trust shouldn’t be taken for granted.
The APS Reform Agenda has been a major project for the Australian Public Service over the past years – so, where is it at and where will it go in the future?
Dr Rachel Bacon, deputy commissioner, Integrity, Reform and Enabling Services at the Australian Public Service Commission, and Professor Janine O’Flynn, director of the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, reflect on changes to the Public Service Act, the impact of capability reviews and long-term Insights Briefings, and the value of stewardship.
Together with David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, they also talk about protecting the APS as an ongoing institution and maintaining trust with the public, as discourse about the value of public services grows globally.
Key tips:
- To make change stick, you need a shift in culture, a fresh mindset, capability uplift, and patience
- Public trust is not a given – it takes continuous effort to maintain
- Stewardship sets the public service apart from the private sector – be an active steward for the service.
This series is produced in partnership with the Australian Public Service Commission.
Show notes:
APS Reform | Australian Government
Public Service Amendment Bill | Parliament of Australia
Long-term Insights Briefings | Australian Public Service Commission
Pathways to Positive Public Administration | Edward Elgar
Note about caretaker
The caretaker period commenced with the dissolution of the House of Representatives on 28 March. It will continue until the election result is clear, or if there is a change of government, until the new government is appointed by the Governor‑General.
During the caretaker period, successive governments have followed a series of practices, known as the caretaker conventions, which allow the business of government and ordinary matters of administration to continue, although the Government avoids:
- making major policy decisions that are likely to commit an incoming government;
- making significant appointments; and
- entering into major contracts or undertakings.
Produced in partnership between
