Assisting the Department of Defence to be the best adviser to government

The Department of Defence engaged Nous to design and deliver a two-tiered analytic and strategic skill development program to enhance the quality and timeliness of advice of the ADF and APS to the Ministers they serve:

• Tier one - Developing Complex Submissions - created for EL1 and EL2 levels, focused on theoretical and practical examples of complex communications between the public service and Ministers’ offices. 
• Tier two - Working with Ministers - was designed for the most senior ADF and civilian personnel (SES 1, 2 & 3) and had a more strategic focus.

The programs helped participants to examine and understand Ministers’ offices need for communication and advice from Defence. The programs improved the communication and advisory skills of senior managers when dealing with Ministers or senior ADF officers and public servants.

Since piloting the program in 2007, all 350 senior ADF and civilian personnel have attended the program. In 2010, Nous again partnered with Defence to redesign the Working with Ministers program with a whole-of-government focus. All 350 senior ADF and civilian personnel will attend the program.