Connecting, Sharing and Learning Australian Government Approach to Coordinating and Supporting Public Sector Innovation

The Australian Context Australia has a federal system Within the federal government, the public sector innovation work is led by the Department of Industry and Science This specific work programme has been running since 2009

Some milestones: Empowering Change: Fostering Innovation in the Australian Public Service (2010) Public sector innovation blog (2010) APS Innovation Action Plan (2011) Public sector innovation toolkit (2011) DesignGov (2012-2013) Secretaries Board commitments (2015)

Main aims: Connecting public servants and others interested in how the public sector can do things differently and better Sharing stories and experience of the practice of innovation Providing guidance and tools Fostering and demonstrating leadership support

What are our main mechanisms? Established processes Being created Public Sector Innovation Network Network ‘Chapters’ Public Sector Innovation Toolkit (website) Innovation Snapshot Report Public Sector Innovation Coordination Group Innovation Awards Innovation Month Ideas Sharing Platform Innovation Champions Group Accelerating and Incubating Promising Ideas

Innovation Champions Group Secretaries Board Innovation Champions Group Coordination Group Innovation Network Supported by: Public Sector Innovation Team Public Sector Innovation Toolkit Innovation Month Being developed: Network ‘chapters’ Innovation snapshot report Innovation awards Ideas sharing platform Process for incubating ideas

Public Sector Innovation Network What is it? Established in 2009, now a network of over 2300 interested public servants, academics, and practitioners What is it for? To connect people To share stories, experiences and insights To provide information and news What does it involve? A relatively informal network Supported by a weekly email newsletter Involvement still mostly passive / receiving information

Public Sector Innovation Toolkit What is it? Established in 2010, a website dedicated to information, resources, case studies and news about public sector innovation (http://innovation.govspace.gov.au) What is it for? Provide information about what is being done (the blog) Share case studies of innovation (the showcase) Link to resources and tools (the toolkit) Calendar of events What does it involve? Has developed over time Development of content and seeking case studies and examples

Coordination Group What is it? Established in 2010, a committee of those involved with supporting innovation within their agency. What is it for? To help coordinate activity and share information To facilitate collaboration and learning To share challenges, issues and opportunities What does it involve? Monthly meetings to: Share information and updates Coordinate activities Plan for events

Innovation Month What is it? Begun in 2011 as ‘Innovation Week’ and then expanded in 2013, Innovation Month is a series of events and activities to connect, share and learn about innovation in the public sector. What is it for? To keep innovation on the agenda To help raise awareness and understanding of innovation To develop the ecosystem What does it involve? A number of events and activities held around the country Coordination and working with partners Demonstrate

Innovation Champions Group What is it? Recently formed committee of senior champions from each government department. What is it for? To provide coordinated leadership support To help champions learn from each other about supporting innovation What does it involve? Monthly meeting of the Champions Specific aims still being developed

Network ‘Chapters’ (in development) What is it? Currently in the process of being formed, the network chapters will be local groups in each of the other major Australian cities. What is it for? To help connect those public servants and interested others who are not located in Canberra (the Australian capital city where the Australian Public Service mainly operates from). What does it involve? Identifying and supporting people who can bring together interested people and run the occasional event.

Innovation Snapshot Report (in development) What is it? Currently in planning - an annual report highlighting things that happened in the last year. What is it for? To provide an annual update and highlight examples of innovation, of activities and lessons What will it involve? An annual online publication

Innovation Awards (in development) What is it? Awards that recognise innovation that has been implemented in the Australian Public Service. What is it for? To highlight examples that might be adapted elsewhere To recognise the work of those involved To identify and share more stories about doing innovation What will it involve? Working with a professional association (the Institute of Public Administration Australia) to run an annual awards process.

Ideas Sharing Platform (being explored) What is it? An online platform for staff from different agencies to share ideas. What is it for? To help increase the flow and stock of ideas To build more relationships between agencies Cultural change What will it involve? Currently trialling a platform This trial will inform the business requirements A longer term solution will be proposed by the end of the year

Accelerating and Incubating Promising Ideas What is it? A process for testing and exploring new ideas and making them into real proposals. What is it for? Innovative ideas often start out small and unclear – how can they be grown into well understood proposals? What might it involve? Currently looking at a number of models, from both government and industry.

Wider ecosystem – many players Digital Transformation Office innovationXchange State and territory governments Not-for-profit – e.g. The Australian Centre for Social Innovation Private sector Networks and initiatives

Some questions to consider How do you let people know what is expected of them? How do you given them opportunity to engage with innovation and to become competent at the process of innovation? How do you provide supporting systems for people to try innovative things? How do you celebrate it? Who plays the supporting role for innovation?

Thank you. Alex Roberts email: psi@industry.gov.au / alex.roberts@industry.gov.au Website: https://innovation.govspace.gov.au Twitter: @PSinnovate