No. 03

STRENGTHENING PUBLIC-SERVICE CAPACITY

Chief Minister and Treasurer Jon Stanhope today announced an investment of more than $1.7 million over the next four years to strengthen the capacity of the ACT public-sector workforce.

“This initiative aims to address the challenges the ACT Public Service faces in attracting and retaining skilled and capable staff in our workforce,” Mr Stanhope said.

“The Government will develop strategies that focus on investing in our staff, providing training and leadership development opportunities, improving workplace culture and recruitment and attraction strategies.

“Like other employers, the ACT Government is facing issues such as skill shortages and staff loss as a result of retirement.  We also face stiff competition from Australian Government recruitment drives.  

“The ACT public sector needs to be well positioned to respond to these challenges, and to maintain and recruit a workforce that continues to deliver quality services for the community and to help take the Territory forward.

“One of the great attributes of the ACT Public Service is that it offers a wide range of work experiences to match the diverse career paths and aspirations of the workforce. The ACT Government provides the opportunity for people to move across agencies and experience different areas of work, often with visible results of their contribution to the local community.

“We need to identify and promote the advantages which differentiate us from our competitors, and are most valued by the people we are seeking to employ and retain.” 

Mr Stanhope said the hard decisions taken in last year’s Budget were helping to keep the ACT’s books in the black and providing the funds required to invest in skills development in the ACT Public Service, making the Territory’s public service an even better place to work and to provide the policy and services needed to keep the Territory moving forward.

The Chief Minister’s Department, in conjunction with all Chief Executives, will lead this initiative across Government.