This year is shaping is another year of change and uncertainty for the public service, with elections, resource constraints and economic and political volatility.
Public sector leaders need to juggle the daily pressures of their roles and the expectation that they build a long-term perspective into their work.
Investing in your skills and career has never been more important, and ANZSOG is continually refining its courses and programs – and developing new ones – for public servants who want to take the next step in their careers.
We were created by the state and federal governments of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and maintain strong links with our member governments, and with our 15 partner universities. We design programs specifically for public servants which are taught by experienced practitioners and world-leading academics.
The programs give a broad perspective on the work of the public sector while focusing on the current challenges it faces.
All ANZSOG programs draw their cohort from across the jurisdictions of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. This gives participants the chance to exchange ideas with peers in other jurisdictions, hear first-hand about different approaches and build a lasting cross-jurisdictional network.
The following programs are scheduled for the first half of 2025, and are in addition to our flagship two-year Executive Master of Public Administration which has already commenced for 2025, the Executive Fellows Program, Public Leadership in the Digital Age, and the Deputies Leadership Program both of which are to be delivered in the second half of 2025. A full calendar of ANZSOG programs is available here.
Upcoming Leadership Programs
Towards Strategic Leadership (25 March – 4 June: four days face-to-face in Sydney from 8-11 April, plus four online sessions and an online orientation)
Towards Strategic Leadership is specifically designed to meet the needs of senior public sector professionals at, or close to, executive level or those transitioning from tactical to strategic leadership roles. It is designed to be an opportunity to reflect, learn and grow to be able to carry out their roles with clarity, wisdom, and energy.
Program co-directors Professor Paul ‘t Hart and Robbie Macpherson – both have over two decades of experience training and coaching public sector executives in Australia. They have delivered the TSL program for over a decade. They will provide the tools for you to perform your roles with purpose, good judgment, and strategic nous. Under their guidance you will examine and question your assumptions about yourself, your leadership style, your role, and your organisation.
You’ll learn to identify the strategically important tasks among the noise of your day-to-day work and take meaningful action. You’ll leave with a tangible boost in confidence and capabilities, feeling prepared to face senior executive responsibilities.
TSL creates an atmosphere of trust where experiences and problems can be shared, and harnesses the knowledge and experience of all participants who, as professional peers, share a common language and a commitment to public service.
Emerging Leaders Program (29 April – 12 June: three days face-to-face in Brisbane 13-15 May, plus two online sessions and an online orientation)
This dynamic and transformative course is designed exclusively for emerging public sector leaders in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, who are already playing a role in shaping our societies.
It aims to equip middle and operational managers (whether experienced or new to the role) with the essential skills, knowledge, and support they need to thrive in their leadership role. Through a blend of face-to-face and online modules, you will embark on a journey of personal and professional growth, building your capacity to become the next generation of visionary and effective leaders in the public sector.
Led by experienced facilitators, Dr Paul Atkins, Dr Jill Charker and Jason Ardler PSM, and supplemented with expert guest presenters, this program offers practical insights and guidance to help emerging leaders to lead teams effectively and drive positive change in the public sector.
Upcoming Professional Learning Programs
ANZSOG also offers a range of shorter online only workshops which are designed to give exposure to fresh ideas and build specific capabilities which are in demand in today’s public sector. These include:
- Applying Leadership Values for Impact: A Public Leadership Masterclass Series (five online masterclasses 6 March – 3 April)
Unlock new dimensions of your leadership and cultivate the values that drive meaningful change in the public sector. ANZSOG’s Applying Leadership Values for Impact Masterclass Series is designed for public sector leaders committed to leading with integrity, inclusion, and purpose. Featuring five leading experts, each session focuses on a distinct, powerful aspect of leadership, from authentic leadership and change practice to dignity, inclusion, and ethics. Whether you’re looking to enhance your leadership impact or build resilience in a rapidly changing environment, this series equips you with the skills to apply foundational values for lasting impact.
- Working with First Nations: Delivering on the Priority Reforms (two deliveries, each comprising six online sessions plus orientation, 6 May – 19 June OR 14 October – 20 November)
Delivered by Geoff Richardson PSM and Professor Catherine Althaus, this program looks at the new skills, mindsets and capabilities public servants need to work effectively with First Nations peoples and communities and deliver on the promise of the Priority Reforms in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. It will help you to understand the capabilities necessary for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and building shared decision-making partnerships. These include cultural responsiveness, engagement, co-design and co-production, and place-based community development – including supporting communities to access, own and use data. The program adopts the Canadian Two-Eyed Seeing approach to respectfully recognise and embed the strength of Indigenous and non-Indigenous worldviews.
- Developing Policy Acumen (four deliveries: 18 February OR 5 June OR 24 July OR 28 October)
This one-day workshop led by Dr Zareh Ghazarian will guide you through the key aspects of policy-making and help you navigate policy design and development with greater confidence and capability. Designed for public servants new to policy roles it will provide you with a range of tools to tackle policy problems in contemporary society, foundational knowledge for strategic policy work, as well as how innovative approaches may be used to solve policy dilemmas.
- New Managers (three deliveries each of four online sessions: 26 March – 16 April OR 27 May – 17 June OR 13 August – 2 September)
Your transition from team member to team/project leader in the public sector is an exciting journey that brings new responsibilities and challenges. This four-part workshop led by ANZSOG’s Hamish Alexander will guide you through the common challenges new managers face and give you practical strategies for success. You will learn how to work beyond your technical domain, shift focus from individual performance to team performance, balance providing strategic direction and engaging in the operational detail, and managing relationships with senior colleagues and diverse stakeholders.
- Data and Storytelling in Policy (four two-day online deliveries: 4-5 March OR 3-4 June OR 3-4 September OR 29-30 October)
One of the most fundamental challenges for public sector leaders is positively influencing the policy cycle. To do this we know we need data, but we also need deep, intuitive, and empathetic understanding, meaningful story, and compelling narrative. This course led by communications expert Dr Zina O’Leary will show how to blend the two to successfully influence the policy cycle through policy development, implementation, evaluation, and reporting.