Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher says Labor’s investment in rebuilding the APS is paying off. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
More than 90 per cent of Australian Public Service employees say they are prepared to go the extra mile in their work, and a vast majority believe they are well supported in their roles.
That’s according to the first results from the 2025 APS Employee Census, which Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher released on Monday (22 September).
The more revealing data on just how well the public service is faring, however, won’t be released for some weeks yet, when departments and agencies publish their individual results.
Under the Public Service Amendment Act 2024, participating agencies are required to publish aggregate census results, along with an action plan responding to the results.
The APS Employee Census is an annual employee perception survey of the APS workforce.
It has been conducted annually since 2012, collecting employee opinions and perspectives on a range of topics, including employee engagement, leadership, communication, innovation, and well-being.
This year, more than 100 agencies engaging staff under the Public Service Act 1999 participated in the APS Employee Census between May and June.
A record 81 per cent of APS employees participated in the 2025 census.
Senator Gallagher said the high participation rate resulted in a clear picture of a service that is proud of its purpose, highly engaged, and committed to innovation and integrity.
“These results show what happens when a government values the public service and invests in its people,” the Minister said.
“The APS is more engaged, more confident, and better equipped to deliver the services and policies Australians rely on.”
According to the overall results, 91 per cent of public servants say they are prepared to go the extra mile, and 88 per cent say they strongly believe in the purpose and goals of their agencies.
Eighty-one per cent of employees record that they feel empowered to act with integrity, while 87 per cent said their immediate supervisor cares about their health and wellbeing.
Eighty-four per cent said their agency actively promotes an inclusive workplace culture, and 83 per cent of staff see continuous improvement as part of their responsibility.
Senator Gallagher said the figures reflect a workforce committed to innovation and better ways of working, and also demonstrate that investment in the APS is paying off.
“For too long, the public service was undermined and hollowed out,” she said.
“We’ve made it a priority to rebuild capability by strengthening systems, investing in culture, and recognising the importance of public servants as a trusted, professional workforce.
“Public servants are motivated, they’re innovative, and they’re delivering results.
“The survey shows a workforce that is committed to going the extra mile, that believes strongly in their purpose, and that is supported by leaders who value inclusion and wellbeing.
“That is exactly the kind of service Australians deserve.”
While these cherry-picked results paint a picture of a service in harmony and a happy workforce, individual agency results will expose how that is only true for some agencies.
Recently, past census results have revealed a deep level of dissatisfaction and mistrust in certain departments.
Senior executives are often rated poorly on their engagement with staff, with communication breakdowns reported as an area where the APS continues to struggle in the post-COVID era.
Additionally, some employees have not been happy with the state of flux that many agencies have been in, as vacant Senior Executive Service positions remain unfilled for too long.
Bullying and harassment continue to be a problem inside the APS, with increasing frustration expressed that not enough is being done about it.
The Federal Government is right, however, to claim a growing sense of pride among a majority of employees in the work being done across agencies in general.
Assistant Minister for the Public Service Patrick Gorman noted the census showed nearly nine in ten staff are committed to their agency’s goals and strongly believe in the value of their work.
“That tells us the APS is an organisation with purpose, where people care deeply about delivering policy which makes a difference for their communities,” he said.
“We know there is always more to do, but these results show the progress we’ve made.
“The APS is more inclusive and more committed to innovation. That is good for the workforce and it’s good for Australians.”
Agency-level 2025 APS Employee Census results will be released on each agency’s website in late November.
