Australia and New Zealand SFIA 9 Launch webinar recording and slides

The SFIA 9 AU & NZ Launch video below (on the SFIA Youtube channel) explains why Australia and New Zealand have taken out Whole-of-Country SFIA licences to enable skills-base workforce development across the economy.

If watched on YouTube, then expanding the description you can see the timings to the individual sessions (and jump straight to the sessions you are interested in)

The New Zealand and Australian governments have both recognised the significant value of SFIA in enhancing their digital and ICT workforce capabilities.

Assistant Minister Patrick Gorman highlighted the Australian Government's strong support for the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA).

He emphasised SFIA's critical role in defining and managing digital skills within the public sector, underscoring its importance in workforce planning, recruitment, and professional development. Minister Gorman noted that SFIA provides a standardised language for digital competencies, facilitating effective communication and collaboration across various government departments and agencies. He also acknowledged SFIA's contribution to aligning the public sector's skill sets with the evolving demands of the digital landscape, thereby enhancing service delivery and operational efficiency.

Key Government Representatives:

During the SFIA 9 launch event on October 30, 2024, key speakers from both governments included:

• Australia: Chris Fechner, CEO of the Digital Transformation Agency and SFIA Board member, who introduced SFIA 9 and discussed its implications for Australia's digital workforce.
  New Zealand: Ann-Marie Cavanagh, Deputy Chief Government Digital Officer at the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs, who spoke about SFIA's role in New Zealand's digital skills development.
• Both governments view SFIA as a strategic tool to enhance digital capabilities, streamline workforce planning, and foster collaboration across sectors.

Australian Government's Perspective:

Australia has renewed its whole-of-country SFIA license for an additional three years, underscoring its commitment to building a modern, agile, and digitally-capable workforce.

Australian Public Service Commission

The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) utilizes SFIA to:

• Develop Technical Skills: Support technical skills development, career planning, and workforce management across federal and state agencies, as well as private sector companies.
• Promote Consistent Skills Management: Encourage consistent skills management and mobility within the public sector.
• Influence SFIA Evolution: Participate in the ongoing development of SFIA, ensuring it remains relevant to Australia's digital workforce needs.

New Zealand Government's Perspective:

In 2022, New Zealand established a national SFIA license, led by a partnership between the Digital Public Service Branch (DPS) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). This agreement allows public and private sector organizations, educational institutions, not-for-profits, and individuals across New Zealand to utilise SFIA without the usual licensing fees.

The adoption of SFIA in New Zealand aims to:

• Standardize Digital Skills: Provide a common reference point for defining digital skills and competencies, facilitating clearer role definitions and career pathways.
• Support Workforce Development: Assist in workforce planning, recruitment, and capability development by identifying skill gaps and aligning training initiatives.
• Enhance Collaboration: Foster better collaboration between government agencies, educational institutions, and the private sector by using a unified skills framework.

Launch event slides as a pdf.

0:01:53 - Siobhan O'Sullivan, ACS  - Welcome.
0:04:43 - Chris Fechner, CEO Australian Government Digital Transformation Agency - Why Australia has adopted SFIA, their achievements to date and future plans.
0:13:44 - Minister Patrick Gorman, Government Minister - The importance of SFIA in developing the skills-based economy.
0:24:40 - Chris Fechner (Continued) - How Australia continues to has play a major role in the development of SFIA to drive SFIA in Australia and the region.
0:39:55 - Anne-Marie Cavanagh, Deputy Government Chief Digital Officer (NZ) - Why New Zealand has adopted SFIA , how they use SFIA to develop the public digital workforce.
0:50:15 - Daniel Merriott, MD Digital Skills Agency, NZ SFIA Council and Design Authority - Introduction to SFIA 9.
1:08:11 - Phil Lovell & Penny Coulter - Expansion of the Behavioural Factors in SFIA 9, illustrating the integrated of the SFIA behavioural and professional skills.
1:22:40 - David Masters, Atlassian - The important of the SFIA skills-based framework across the whole economy.
1:29:27 - Anthony Beitz, Defence Science and Technology Group, The benefits they have achieved onver the last 10 years of SFIA use within DSTG.

Additional resources are provided below, If you would like more information or to discuss any item further, please contact the person indicated.