Download The Defence Core Capability Framework User Guide

Introduction
People in Defence: Generating the Capability of the Future Force sets out the vision and strategy for
what must be achieved by 2015 to ensure Defence has the people capability it requires to implement the
Government’s strategy for the Defence of Australia.
This strategy is important because growth in the Australian labour force is declining. Australia’s increasingly
ageing population means that there will be skill shortages in most technical and professional occupations.
To help build this people capability, Defence’s people strategy requires the implementation of a new
approach to career development and talent management for its APS employees.
As part of implementing the strategy for our people, Defence is working on a new approach to Career
and Talent Management (CTM) of its APS employees. In order to implement this new approach, People
Strategies and Policy Group (PSPG) has created a Defence APS Core Capability Framework (the
Framework) and is developing an APS Job Family Framework.
APS Job Families describe the specific technical skills and learning and development requirements for
each Job Family. Job Families are the major groupings of APS occupations within Defence. Examples
of Job Family groupings in Defence include Project Management, Engineering & Technical, Science and
Technology, and Information Communication Technology. The Job Family component of the CTM system is
expected to be made widely available to employees through an upgrade to PMKeyS in 2013.
The People in Defence strategy document states that three indicators of success in 2015 will be that:
“...people appreciate the opportunity Defence is providing to build a rewarding and satisfying career.”
“...people appreciate that Defence is delivering first class education and development that equips them for
their career inside and outside the organisation.”
“...Defence is one of Australia’s pre-eminent institutions for developing leaders.”
The Defence APS Core Capability Framework (referred to as the Framework and the DACCF throughout
this User Guide) was developed to contribute towards achieving these indicators of success.
What is the Defence APS Core Capability Framework?
The Framework consists of seven capability clusters. These are:
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Problem Solving
• Resourcefulness
• Planning and Organising
• Self-Management
• Learning
Each cluster has a number of items which describe different aspects of the capability. Collectively,
the Framework describes the core leadership, management and administrative skills, knowledge and
behaviours for each APS level in Defence regardless of an individual employee’s Group or geographical
location. Implementation of the Framework should positively influence attraction of future employees,
employee selection, learning and development, and performance management across Defence.
The Framework has been designed to organise and describe core capabilities which are meaningful
for APS employees across the Defence Groups. The primary objective of the Framework is to assist
Supervisors and employees in determining the learning and development requirements needed to ensure
Defence employees can acquire the capabilities they need for their current and likely future roles.
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DEFENCE APS CORE CAPABILITY FRAMEWORK – User Guide