Central to our capability is our people, our IT and risk environments, and our strong focus on integrity. The ongoing development of PM&C’s capability ensures we can continue to achieve our purpose. Investments in capability also support the department to lead by example, and uphold public sector principles and values, while building sufficient flexibility and expertise to meet current and future needs.

People

PM&C employees seek to work collaboratively, in partnership with our many stakeholders, with an appreciation and understanding of the diverse Australian community that we serve. Healthy levels of curiosity and adaptability ready us to deliver on the current and emerging priorities of the Prime Minister and the government.

PM&C continues to support the implementation of priorities in the APS reform agenda, as well as anticipated changes in Commonwealth employment legislation, APS employment frameworks and strategies. PM&C is driving efforts to boost capability through its work on policy futures.

The PM&C Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027 will operate over the current year and first 2 forward years of this corporate plan, offering competitive and flexible employment conditions to attract a diverse and talented workforce. Work will continue, in consultation with staff and their representatives, to ensure that all aspects of the new enterprise agreement and APS common conditions are implemented and PM&C’s internal employment policies are fit-for-purpose and understood.

PM&C will launch a new Reconciliation Action Plan (aligned with Closing the Gap: Priority Reform 3 Transforming Government Organisations) to enliven commitment to the vision of a reconciled Australia. Under the plan, we will view our work through the lens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, valuing and respecting their knowledge, understandings and experiences as the custodians of the oldest living culture in the world.

The department will continue to deliver the PM&C Inclusion and Diversity Strategy and Action Plan 2023–26, to foster a workplace that is supportive, respectful, safe and inclusive – so everyone can thrive. Ongoing efforts will continue to ensure that staff can access a range of wellbeing supports, reasonable adjustments and channels to safely raise matters so they can thrive at work both psychologically and physically.

Investing in and growing critical skills and capabilities in areas such as cultural capability, policy, economics, communication, consulting, project and change management, gender analysis, and digital and data literacy continues to be high priority, aligned closely to the important work of the APS Academy.

Developing good leaders through ongoing management and leadership training offerings underpins a capable workforce. Our leaders are responsible for building high levels of engagement, and productive and healthy teams, so that we can collectively deliver high-quality outcomes.

Strategic Commissioning Framework

In October 2023, the Australian Public Service Commission published the APS Strategic Commissioning Framework. Under the framework, all agencies must prioritise APS employment and capability, and reduce their reliance on the external workforce by moving away from outsourcing work that is the core role of the APS or the agency. Targets to achieve these priorities must be published in APS agencies’ corporate plans. Progress against these targets must be published in future annual reports.

In 2024–25, PM&C will seek to reduce outsourcing of core work in line with the framework. Our target for 2024–25 focuses on reduced outsourcing of information and communications technology (ICT) and digital solutions staff providing direct support for the CabNet+ information system, with an expected reduction of up to $580,000 in 2024–25 in outsourcing expenditure.

PM&C will make appropriate changes to policies and processes to comply with the framework and ensure that core APS and PM&C work is conducted by APS employees.

Integrity

PM&C employees occupy a unique and influential position at the centre of the APS. It is important we lead by example, upholding the APS Values and operating with the highest standards of integrity. We recognise that integrity is fundamental to everything we do, including maintaining the confidence and trust of our ministers, staff and the Australian public.

Following the release of the APS Integrity Taskforce’s report, ‘Louder Than Words: An APS Integrity Action Plan’, PM&C is committed to actioning the report’s recommendations and continuing to enhance systems and processes that support our people to do the right thing.

PM&C continues to build on the work already underway to support our pro-integrity culture, committing to:

• understanding existing risks
• identifying new and emerging risks
• maintaining policies, processes and systems to support and guide officials in ethical behaviour and decision-making
• ensuring and enhancing a safe environment where officials can openly discuss integrity concerns and feel empowered to call out behaviours that do not support the APS Values and Code of Conduct.

PM&C has mechanisms in place to escalate integrity concerns and inappropriate conduct to relevant internal areas for assessment and action, and – where required – to refer concerns to external authorities. All PM&C workers are required to complete mandatory integrity training annually.

PM&C actively collaborates with external authorities such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Australian Federal Police on investigation, and, where necessary, sanctions and prosecutions.

Information and communication technology

PM&C strives to be a strategic and trusted adviser on digital and ICT services, to deliver reliable ICT services to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, portfolio ministers and the department, as well as to agencies using our shared service and managed services.

The ICT services and systems PM&C delivers are complex and require an understanding of future challenges and solutions, to ensure we have the technology and business services needed to deliver on government priorities. Our operating environment is fast-paced and requires us to be highly flexible in responding quickly to changing demands, ensuring ICT capability remains fit-for-purpose and addresses information technology requirements.

The cyber threat landscape is also continuously evolving, presenting increased risk to Australian Government systems and requiring a greater demand for resources, knowledge and hardened security. Strengthening PM&C’s cybersecurity resilience capability will enable us to be more responsive to cyber threats, and will maintain confidence in PM&C as a trusted provider of ICT services. PM&C will continue to work closely with and draw advice from lead agencies in this space.

By standardising core services, and taking an enterprise approach to new technologies, we can meet business needs and deliver technology and information solutions that are future-proof, flexible and secure, while continuing to maximise value.