Working in the APS and Our Department

A half-day workshop building new starters’ understanding of the APS and where they fit within it.

This workshop gives graduates and new starters a foundational understanding of the Australian Public Service structure, including its portfolios, departments, and entities. Participants explore key publications like the Integrated Leadership System and Work Level Standards that underpin job roles, and build an understanding of DAFF’s structure, corporate planning, Enterprise Agreement, and key policies.

Duration: Half day  ·  Delivery: Online or Face-to-face  ·  Cohort: 8-20 participants

Aligned to the APS Craft Capability Framework and APS Workforce Strategy 2025.

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Short Courses → Working in the APS and Our Department

What your team will learn

A clear picture of where you fit within the APS and your department.

Participants build a deeper understanding of the structure of portfolios, departments, and entities across the APS, and how it all fits together. They come away with a working knowledge of DAFF, including its functions and annual planning cycles, and an understanding of the frameworks that underpin the work of all public servants, such as the ILS and WLS.

What we cover

    • Structure of the APS — Understanding the structure of portfolios, departments, and entities across the APS.
    • Working at DAFF — Understanding DAFF’s functions and annual planning cycles.
    • Common APS frameworks — Understanding commonalities across the APS, including the Integrated Leadership System (ILS) and Work Level Standards (WLS).

Workshop format

Half a day, delivered to your team as a closed cohort.

McMillan’s Working in the APS and Our Department workshop gives graduates and new starters a foundational understanding of the structure of the APS and where their department fits within it. Participants explore the frameworks that underpin job roles across the APS, along with DAFF’s own structure, planning, and key policies.

At a glance

    • Length: Half day
    • Audience: Graduates and career starters, DAFF new starters with no previous APS experience
    • Delivery: Online (live, facilitated) or Face-to-face
    • Cohort size: Minimum 8, maximum 20 participants
    • Approach: Facilitated instruction

Who the workshop is for

Suitable for graduates and new starters with no previous APS experience.

Working in the APS and Our Department is designed for graduates, career starters, and new starters with no previous APS experience who need to understand the APS structure and their department. We tailor content and examples to your cohort’s context before delivery.

Typical cohorts

    • Graduate program participants building foundational knowledge of the APS
    • New starters without previous public sector experience
    • Whole cohorts of career starters needing a shared understanding of the department and how it operates

When this workshop is a good fit:

    • You’re onboarding graduates or new starters into the APS or your department
    • Staff need to understand where their role fits within the broader APS structure
    • You want new starters familiar with frameworks like the ILS and WLS
    • You’re building a consistent baseline of departmental knowledge across a cohort

How we deliver

Evidence-based training grounded in adult learning principles, applied consistently to every engagement.

1. Initiate

Confirm outcomes, audience, schedule, and success measures.

2. Design and tailor

Shape content and scenarios to your workplace.

3. Deliver

Interactive, practical sessions online or in-person.

4. Evaluate and close

Capture feedback, measure impact, document improvements.

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Let's talk about your training needs

Tell us who you are and what you’re after — Ben or Lauren will get back to you.

Prefer to call? Phone us on (02) 6230 0266.

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