Diploma of Government (PSP50122)

Nationally recognised APS training, contextualised to your agency.

McMillan Staff Development delivers the Diploma of Government (PSP50122) as a closed cohort for APS workgroups. Every program is built around the government context your team works in at APS4 and above — leadership, complex communication, risk management, and government processes — so assessment evidence comes from real senior APS practice.

RTO 88187 · Established Diploma of Government provider · Delivering since 2009

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Why contextualised APS training works

When a team of practising public servants learns together — and the assessment evidence comes from the leadership they actually exercise, the risks they actually manage, the complex documents they actually draft, and the stakeholder relationships they actually navigate — the qualification becomes the by-product of doing better senior APS work.

That’s the offer. Nationally recognised training, delivered to your APS workgroup, built around your agency’s actual work at APS4 level and above. Participants finish with a Diploma, and the workplace ends up with more capable leaders, sharper government practice, and stronger APS professional depth.

For teams earlier in their APS careers, we also deliver the Certificate IV in Government (PSP40122).

How we deliver it

Typical duration: 10–12 months. Timetables are set with the employer group before enrolment.

Closed-cohort delivery

Your team only, no mixed public groups

Contextualised content

Case studies, examples, and assessment tasks drawn from your workplace

Delivered by experienced trainers

Trainers and assessors with hands-on Commonwealth and public sector experience

Flexible format

Live online workshops via MS Teams, face-to-face in Canberra, or a blend

APS-contextualised practice

Participants apply learning to real APS work — leadership, complex communication, risk management, and stakeholder engagement at Diploma level

Nationally recognised on completion

Issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework

Why McMillan

  • Registered since 2009 — 15+ years delivering nationally recognised qualifications
  • 5,000+ students trained — across public and private sector workplaces
  • Trusted by public and private sector employers — including Commonwealth agencies, ACT Government departments, and private sector organisations — see the range of organisations we’ve worked with
  • Every program contextualised — no off-the-shelf delivery
  • Owner-operator RTO — the person you talk to is accountable for delivery
  • Canberra-based with national reach — face-to-face in the ACT, live online anywhere

What your team will be able to do

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

  • Promote the APS Values and Code of Conduct and lead compliance with public sector legislation
  • Uphold and support inclusive workplace practices across teams and stakeholders
  • Provide leadership — including managing team performance, developing others, and modelling professional conduct
  • Develop and use emotional intelligence to lead effectively in complex APS contexts
  • Manage risk — identifying, assessing, and responding to risks in government work
  • Contribute to workplace safety
  • Use complex workplace communication strategies for senior APS audiences and stakeholders
  • Write complex documents — briefs, submissions, and executive-level papers
  • Manage conflict at team and stakeholder level
  • Undertake and promote career management for self and others

These outcomes are aligned with the 11 units of competency in PSP50122 (see the full list below).

Delivery and pricing

Workgroup delivery is offered on a fee-for-service basis and quoted per engagement. Pricing depends on group size, delivery mix (online, face-to-face, blended), depth of contextualisation, and any agency-specific requirements.

Quotes include:

  • All training, assessment, and coaching
  • Materials contextualised to your agency
  • RPL assessment for experienced participants where relevant
  • Certification on completion

Total fee, inclusions, refund terms, and payment schedule are provided in writing before commencement.

Request a workgroup quote

How agencies engage us

APS agencies typically bring McMillan in through one of three arrangements:

Direct engagement

The agency contracts McMillan directly to deliver a closed-cohort program to their team. This is the most common arrangement and gives the agency full control over cohort size, timing, and contextualisation.

Through an established program

Some agencies engage us as part of a larger internal capability program. McMillan can integrate PSP50122 into your existing leadership or professional development framework.

Cross-agency cohorts

Where multiple agencies pool participants into a coordinated program, McMillan can structure delivery around a shared timetable while contextualising assessment tasks to each participant’s workplace.

Procurement

McMillan is set up to work through standard Commonwealth procurement arrangements — Commonwealth Contracting Suite (CCS) contracts, panel arrangements, or standard purchase orders for smaller engagements. Ben McMillan handles procurement discussions directly with your agency contact.

Request a workgroup quote

Frequently asked questions

Workgroup delivery is quoted per engagement based on group size, delivery mix, contextualisation, and any agency-specific requirements. Quotes include all training, assessment, coaching, materials, and certification. Request a quote for a scoped price for your team.

Typical workgroup programs run over 10–12 months, with workshops scheduled at a cadence agreed with the agency. Duration can be adjusted based on the group’s pace and agency scheduling. RPL can shorten timeframes significantly for experienced APS staff.

As a guide, participants should allow around 7.5 hours per week over 12 months to progress steadily through the program. Actual workload varies depending on prior APS experience, current role, assessment evidence, and support needs. Diploma-level competency requires sustained engagement with complex APS scenarios.

Yes — this is how we deliver the qualification. Agency-funded workgroup delivery is quoted per engagement and invoiced to the agency. Payment is typically arranged through the agency’s standard procurement process.

PSP50122 is pitched at APS4 and above employees — including APS4-APS6 staff moving into or in leadership roles, EL1 and EL2 officers formalising their leadership capability, and specialist officers with team, stakeholder, or program responsibilities. This is not a program for people new to the APS — participants need to be practising public servants who can genuinely engage with leadership, risk, complex communication, and government processes at Diploma level.

Manager endorsement is typically part of the enrolment process to confirm the participant’s role provides access to work that can support Diploma-level assessment evidence.

No prior formal qualifications are required. Participants should have workplace-appropriate reading, writing, and numeracy skills. LLN (language, literacy and numeracy) screening is completed at enrolment.

Participants must be employed at APS4 classification or above (or equivalent Commonwealth agency classification) and have access to APS work that can support Diploma-level assessment evidence — including leadership, complex communication, risk, and government processes.

Participants need:

  • A computer with reliable internet
  • A webcam and microphone for online workshops
  • Access to a workplace where they can apply learning and generate APS-specific assessment evidence

No other equipment, software, or materials are required at the participant’s cost.

Assessments emphasise practical application to real APS work at Diploma level. Methods include:

  • Workbooks and knowledge checks
  • Workplace projects — briefs, submissions, executive papers, risk assessments, stakeholder plans, leadership evidence
  • Case studies and presentations
  • Third-party reports verified by a workplace supervisor or manager

Diploma competency requires more complex, integrated evidence than Certificate IV. To successfully complete PSP50122, participants must demonstrate competence in all 11 units.

McMillan provides an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Participants can expect:

  • Trainer support within two business days via the LMS
  • Technical and study assistance
  • Reasonable adjustments for disability, health, or personal circumstances
  • Culturally safe learning and support for First Nations participants

Yes. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows existing APS experience and knowledge to be assessed against qualification requirements, reducing study load. This is particularly relevant for the Diploma — many experienced public servants have already developed competencies covered in individual units through their leadership and program work.

Credit Transfer applies equivalent units completed with another RTO toward this qualification. RPL potential is assessed as part of the initial quote.

Face-to-face workshops are delivered in Canberra. Live online workshops via MS Teams are available Australia-wide, which suits cross-agency cohorts and dispersed teams. Most programs use a blend.

Yes. PSP50122 Diploma of Government is a nationally recognised qualification issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework. McMillan is a registered training organisation (RTO 88187), listed on the National Register at training.gov.au.

Get course details, pricing, and eligibility

Tell us a bit about your team and we'll respond within one business day with course details, pricing, and funding eligibility where it applies. No obligation.

Units of competency

PSP50122 comprises 11 units of competency — 5 core and 6 electives — delivered across five progressive modules. Expand each module to see the units.

  • PSPETH008 Promote the values and ethos of public service (Core)
  • PSPLEG007 Promote compliance with legislation in the public sector (Core)
  • PSPGEN115 Uphold and support inclusive workplace practices (Core)
  • PSPGEN118 Provide leadership (Elective)
  • BSBPEF502 Develop and use emotional intelligence (Elective — imported from BSB)
  • PSPGEN135 Manage risk (Elective)
  • BSBWHS311 Assist with maintaining workplace safety (Elective — imported from BSB)
  • PSPGEN101 Use complex workplace communication strategies (Core)
  • BSBWRT411 Write complex documents (Elective — imported from BSB)
  • PSPGEN100 Manage conflict (Elective)
  • PSPGEN087 Undertake and promote career management (Elective)

Other qualifications we deliver

Not sure BSB50420 is the right fit? Here are three other nationally recognised programs we deliver to workgroups. If none of them fit, contact us — we’ll help you scope the right qualification for your team.

Certificate IV in Government (PSP40122)

Early career APS staff

View Course Details

Diploma of Leadership and Management (BSB50420)

Managers leading teams and operations

View Course Details

Certificate IV in Leadership and Management (BSB40520)

Emerging leaders and team leaders

View Course Details

Student information

McMillan Staff Development is committed to a supportive, transparent learning experience. Every student receives clear information before enrolment about fees, delivery, assessment, support services, and their rights and responsibilities. Reasonable adjustments are made for disability, health, or personal circumstances, and culturally safe support is available for First Nations participants.

Full details on assessment methods, learner support, RPL and credit transfer, refunds and withdrawal, complaints and appeals, and privacy are set out in our current Participant Handbook.

Download the Participant Handbook
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