A new review looks at the hierarchies of the federal public service. 

The Hierarchy and Classification Review by Dr Heather Smith, Kathryn Fagg and Finn Pratt looks for new ways to guide the future of the federal bureaucracy. 

It has a particular focus on reducing hierarchy in the Australian Public Service and finding more agile work for government employees.

There is a belief that inflexibility in APS work comes from unnecessary hierarchy and excessive layers of management and approval.

Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) leader Peter Woolcott says the bureaucracy needs to become a more effective and attractive workplace. 

“I strongly support the aspiration to modernise the way we operate in the APS, to better position ourselves to meet future challenges and provide more rewarding careers for our people,” Commissioner Woolcott said in a statement.

“As we rise to the opportunities ahead, our APS culture must continue to evolve — to better value people for their contribution regardless of rank, to actively grow great leaders, and to embrace flexible and modern ways of working.”

He says the APSC is focusing on strengthening culture and capability first, before considering “bold” and “complex” proposals for classification reform. 

“The panel makes a good case for its ambitious proposals around classification reform, but the timing and viability of such complex reform needs to be carefully weighed. We are not looking to make changes to classifications at this stage,” Commissioner Woolcott said.

“Any decision to proceed with classification reform in the future would need to be looked at further in consultation with staff, stakeholders and as part of the government’s reform agenda.”

The Hierarchy and Classification Review initiated last year has heard calls for a capability uplift for EL2 employees - over 13,300 employees of the total workforce.

The high proportion of EL2s are at the ATO, Defence and Services Australia with 1753, 1737, and 1,005 public servants at that level on their books, respectively. 

“The expectations placed on APS managers continue to change and evolve, as we respond to changing technology and more flexible ways of working,” Commissioner Woolcott says.

“So too we need to evolve our approach to growing and supporting managers as they adapt to new ways of working. 

“This will be an important focus for the [APS] Academy over coming months,” he said.