The ACT Public Service restructure aims to provide better and more efficient government services. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A major restructure of the ACT Public Service will take effect from 1 July, with Directorate mergers and function transfers designed to streamline services, resolve bottlenecks, and assist the Barr Government in implementing its agenda, particularly in housing and health.
In an email to ACT public servants today (Thursday), Head of Service Kathy Leigh said the changes, some of which have already been flagged by Chief Minister Andrew Barr, flow from the findings of the ACTPS 2025 Taskforce led by Caroline Edwards, which reviewed the current structure and had now finalised its report on the way forward.
The report has made 13 recommendations, including mergers, the transfer of certain functions, and the establishment of a new directorate to manage digital functions. However, there will be no staff changes, other than adjustments to reporting lines, and few actual office moves are anticipated.
Access Canberra, Transport Canberra and City Services and the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate will merge to become the City and Environment Directorate (CED).
Mr Barr has said that bringing these agencies together would help the government achieve its housing target of 30,000 new homes by 2030, many of which will be built along transport corridors such as the light route to Woden.
The property industry has regularly complained of logjams in development approvals and red tape.
The Taskforce report recommended the creation of a new branch, Development Solutions, which will serve as the front door to government for building and development matters, providing a streamlined and coordinated process for entity referrals – a key area of concern for the property industry.
Other directorates to be merged include Health and Community Services, which will become the Health and Community Services Directorate (HCSD).
The report stated that this would mean closer and more collaborative service provision to vulnerable Canberrans whose health and special needs frequently align and currently overlap, as well as easing the administrative burden on service providers.
All infrastructure delivery, with the exception of strategic infrastructure planning, will move from ACT Health and CSD to Infrastructure Canberra (iCBR), including public housing growth, renewal and maintenance, and the Facilities Insourcing Taskforce.
The Health Research and Ethics functions at ACT Health will transfer to Canberra Health Services (CHS).
The Office of LGBTIQA+ will move from the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (CMTEDD) to the new Health and Community Services Directorate.
A new agency, Digital Canberra (DC), will be responsible for digital and information technology functions across the ACT Public Service (ACTPS).
The first phase will be the amalgamation of Digital, Data and Technology Solutions (DDTS) from CMTEDD and the Digital Solutions Division (DSD) from ACT Health.
Ms Leigh also flagged greater linkages between science-related functions across the ACTPS and a review of public-facing phone lines to make it easier for people to contact government services.
The ACTPS will also examine cross-agency interaction and the integration of support services for children, including the Child Development Service.
Other possible changes will be managed by Ms Leigh and Directors-General.
Next steps will involve recruiting Directors-General and Deputy Directors-General to lead the new directorates.
Ms Leigh said implementation teams would be established and she would soon be seeking expressions of interest in leading them, as well as a central implementation management team.
“Staff in affected directorates will then have the opportunity to be part of the teams,” she said.
“Regardless of your level or role, we are looking for a combination of perspectives to help achieve a well-rounded approach.
“If you are not part of the implementation teams, there will be other avenues for you to share your insights and feedback, in addition to the consultation required under the relevant enterprise agreements.
“It is important that those with the knowledge and experience of delivering programs and services to our community are involved in shaping the new directorates.”
Existing directorate structures and reporting lines will remain in place ahead of the changes.
A central Implementation Information Hub has been established on the WHoG intranet that includes the ACTPS 2025 Taskforce Report, the recommendations and a summary of key actions that will be taken, as well as information and guidance on the next phase.
