The Role of Departmental Secretaries
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The Role of Departmental Secretaries
Personal reflections on the breadth of responsibilities today
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
1. Responsibilities of secretaries
2. Know and pace yourself: personal style and time allocation
Personal style
Allocation of time
Changes over time
Issues concerning styles and competencies
Lessons about time and pace
3. Know the boss: working with and supporting the minister
Elements of this role
Informing and educating the minister
Communicating to the department
Marshalling advice
Supporting the minister’s administrative responsibilities
Ministerial correspondence and briefs
Variations in the balance of roles
Changes in the role over time
Current issues and challenges
Lessons for successfully supporting the minister
4. Know the real boss: support to the Prime Minister and the whole of government
Elements of the role
Variations on these roles and activities
Changes in the role over time
Issues
Lessons in supporting the Prime Minister and whole of government
5. The lion’s den: respecting and working with the Parliament
Elements of the role
Differences
Changes over time
Issues of accountability
Lessons
6. It’s lonely at the top: management of the agency
Elements
Strategic planning
Management structures
Organisational performance management
Staffing
Culture
Systems
Managing policy advice
Differences
Changes over the years
Devolution and other issues
Lessons
7. The art of persuasion: management of the portfolio
Elements of the role
Differences among agencies and across portfolios
Changes in arrangements
Portfolio management issues
Lessons
8. Juggling the players: working with external stakeholders
Elements
States and territories
Advisory bodies and interest groups
Academics and international networks
Differences across government
Recent changes in the interaction
Issues arising
Lessons
9. Fourth estate or fifth column? Working with the media
Elements of the relationship
The daily routine
Proactive communications management
Speeches and publications
Freedom of information
Direct contact with journalists
Differences of approach
Recent changes: the 24/7 news cycle
Issues arising
Lessons learned
10. Dead poet society duties: promoting APS values and contributing to APS capability
Elements of this role
Promoting the APS Values
Participating in cross-APS activities
APS-wide career management
External professional development
Differences in approach
Changes over time
Values and capability issues
Lessons learned
11. Secretaries’ personal development, support and performance assessment
Elements
Career planning and development
Continuing professional development
Personal support to the office of the secretary
Performance assessment
Changes since the 1980s
Issues arising
Lessons learned
12. Inside or outside the tent: the role of the Public Service Commissioner
Promoting the APS Values and contributing to APS capability
Guidelines
Leadership development
The Management Advisory Committee
State of the Service Reports
Succession management
Working with ministers
Whole-of-government work
Working with the Parliament
Public Service Commissioner and the Parliament
Parliamentary Service Commissioner’s role
Management of the commission
External relations
Working with the media
Issues raised: inside or outside the tent?
Lessons learned as commissioner
13. Some conclusions
Improvements in public administration
Universal challenges for senior public servants
Particular Australian challenges
Final comments
Appendix A
Public service career
Appendix B
Career highlights
Appendix C
Key publications by Andrew Podger
Appendix D
References