Immediate Supervisors Outperform Senior Executives in APS Staff Survey
Federal public servants in Australia have shown a clear preference for their immediate supervisors over senior executives, despite the government investing substantial sums in leadership development programs. A recent analysis of workforce data reveals this persistent "trust gap" within the Australian Public Service hierarchy.
The Canberra Times examination of Austender data shows more than $13 million has been allocated to leadership training, programs, and summits since 2022. Approximately $500,000 of this total was specifically directed toward Senior Executive Service leadership development.
Survey Results Highlight Communication and Leadership Concerns
The latest APS census results, gathered from an impressive 81% response rate with 151,771 staff participating, demonstrate a six-point gap between how employees view their immediate supervisors versus SES managers. While perceptions of senior executives have improved slightly compared to 2024, they still trail significantly in critical areas including trust, leadership, and communication.
The SES manager index score saw a modest one-point increase to 71 over the past year, yet public servants consistently rated them lowest in leadership and teamwork capabilities. Senior executives performed best in strategic thinking categories, with more than 75% of staff believing their work contributes to their agency's overall direction and APS objectives.
However, when questioned about leadership and communication effectiveness, SES managers received consistently lower ratings from their teams. Just over half of surveyed staff believed their SES manager worked effectively as part of a team, though this represents a slight improvement since 2024. Approximately two-thirds felt their senior manager could successfully steer staff toward desired outcomes.
Immediate Supervisors Earn Strong Employee Approval
In contrast to the mixed reviews for senior executives, immediate supervisors received overwhelmingly positive feedback from their staff. Across seven out of ten key performance measures, approximately 80% of public servants viewed their direct supervisors favorably.
Notably, 80% of public servants believe their supervisor effectively engages with staff about responding to future challenges, marking a slight increase from 79% in the previous year's survey. This consistent positive rating highlights the strong relationships developing at the direct management level.
The Australian Public Service Commission defended its significant investment in leadership development, describing it as reflecting "best practice" and essential for maintaining recent improvements. When questioned about the millions spent on leadership initiatives, the APSC redirected specific spending inquiries to individual agencies but emphasized that "building the capability of the Australian Public Service is part of the APS Commissioner's statutory responsibilities."
Despite the persistent trust gap between staff and senior leadership, the APSC pointed to positive trends in the census data, noting increases in both integrity and innovation across the public service. The commission stated: "Census results show real improvements in the APS, and we seek to lock those gains in through continued investment in our leaders."
The findings present both challenges and opportunities for Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher and APS leadership as they work to bridge the trust divide while justifying continued investment in executive development programs.
