Our Mission, Our Values
Introduction
'Our Mission, Our Values' has been developed by and for AusAID. It reflects AusAID as it is today and the agency we want to be.
This statement defines our purpose, mission and role; describes our people and how we work; and sets out our agency values, identified and agreed by staff:
- valuing people
- teamwork
- excellence
- accountability
- integrity.
The Government’s aid policy, An Effective Aid Program for Australia, Making a real difference—Delivering real results, sets the strategic direction for Australia’s aid program. The policy is underpinned by a four-year, whole-of-government budget strategy and results framework, the Comprehensive Aid Policy Framework, and a range of internal strategies and policies.
'Our Mission, Our Values' complements the aid policy, and recognises our need to continue to develop and grow as an agency, and as individuals, to improve the way we work and create an organisational culture of which we can all be proud.
The purpose of the aid program and the agency are the same—to help people overcome poverty. This statement is focused on AusAID staff, and the values, policies, systems and processes that support us to administer an effective aid program. This is important—as the aid program continues to expand, we need to ensure we achieve measurable results and that taxpayers’ dollars are well spent.
We want to be an agency that:
- attracts people committed to making a difference
- is an employer of choice
- retains good staff
- offers staff rewarding personal and professional development opportunities.
This Statement’s success will be determined by the extent to which we live the five agency values, and by the quality and effectiveness of the systems and processes that support us to do so. Parts of this Statement reflect the way we currently do business, including areas where we do very well, and others where we need to do better. Other parts are more aspirational, outlining what we want to achieve as an agency over the life of this Statement.
Who we are
Our purpose
Our purpose is to help people overcome poverty.
Our mission
We will administer an aid program that the Australian people can be proud of, which serves Australia’s national interests, and which is renowned for its effectiveness.
We will strive to be a leading Australian public service agency and a world leading international development agency.
We will manage resources effectively and efficiently to achieve results and value for money.
We will be an agency that values people and teamwork, demonstrates excellence, is accountable, and operates with integrity.
Our role
We work with our partners to make a difference to people’s lives, by delivering an effective and efficient Australian aid program.
We are accountable to our Minister, the Parliament, the Australian people and our partners.
We provide our Minister and Government with high quality, timely and relevant advice on international development issues.
We lead development policy and aid delivery within the Australian Government, and help to shape and influence international development thinking and practice.
Our people
We are passionate about our work—we are here to help people overcome poverty.
We have a breadth of skills and experience which allows us to administer a high quality, and effective aid program.
One third of our staff are employed locally overseas. Their local expertise, knowledge, commitment and skills are critical to our success.
We work in over 40 countries and in almost every region of the world, including in some of the most dangerous and difficult environments. We work in fragile and conflict affected states. We work at the national, local and community level, in capital cities, and in regional areas.
How we work
We work as part of a global effort to reduce poverty, by effectively administering the Australian Government’s aid program. Reducing poverty is critical to the future of our development partner countries and also key to Australia’s security and prosperity. It is in our national interest, as well as being the right thing to do.
We are committed to understanding and supporting our partner countries’ priorities and working with them to achieve results. We acknowledge both the benefits and responsibilities of being a good international citizen and regional neighbour. We continue to build strong and effective relationships with partner countries. We support effective global initiatives and multilateral organisations.
We apply our multi-disciplinary skills and broad international experience to all our work, and tailor the way we deliver aid to the local context. We recognise that while each development challenge is unique, we can learn from past experience and from others.
We work collaboratively with other Australian government departments and agencies, and ensure our collective expertise is used to deliver results. We utilise the talents of Australia’s non-government organisations, academic and research institutions, and business sector, as well as members of the wider Australian community.
Achieving results drives how we work, and the decisions we make. We monitor the quality and evaluate the impact of the aid program, and document and share learning and best practice. We make decisions that are transparent and evidence-based, and which achieve real value for money. When expected results are not being achieved, we acknowledge this and change our approach to improve outcomes. If necessary, we will cancel programs that are not delivering results.
We constantly seek ways to improve how we work, and ensure our systems, business processes, skills and knowledge keep pace with our evolving priorities and operating environment.
Our values
We are deeply committed to providing a fair, equitable and rewarding work environment that is accessible for all and builds on the breadth, depth and diversity of our backgrounds, experience and skills.
We are committed to the Australian Public Service Values.
We are also dedicated to those five agency values identified and agreed by our staff as being most important to the way we conduct our business, both now and into the future. Living these values will support us to achieve our purpose—to help people overcome poverty.
Valuing people
We value our workforce, their experience, skills, knowledge and commitment. Our people are important to us.
Teamwork
We work collaboratively, and develop and maintain productive working relationships based on mutual respect.
Excellence
We aspire to be leaders in our field, as individuals and as an agency. We have pride in our professional approach and in the quality of our work.
Accountability
We are accountable for our decisions, our actions and our results.
Integrity
We demonstrate honesty and transparency in our actions.
Valuing people
As individuals, we will:
- respect each other and treat others as we want to be treated
- be clear, honest and respectful in our communication and behaviour
- acknowledge each other’s contributions, experience, skills, knowledge and achievements
- recognise the importance of work-life balance, and demonstrate this through our work practices
- recognise that we have a responsibility to take care of ourselves and each other in the workplace.
As an agency, we will:
- recognise that our staff are our greatest asset
- encourage and celebrate the diversity, commitment and knowledge of all our staff and partners
- take a zero tolerance approach to bullying and harassment
- attract, retain, and develop our workforce by providing meaningful opportunities and experiences for staff development and career progression
- provide a fair, flexible, rewarding, and safe workplace, which supports work-life balance.
The policies, systems and processes that will support us include:
Teamwork
As individuals, we will:
- value diversity, and draw on the experience and capabilities of our colleagues and partners
- provide and seek clear, constructive and regular feedback
- actively collaborate, and share information and lessons with colleagues within AusAID, other Australian government departments and agencies, partner governments, and with our international development partners
- understand how our work relates to others, and to the achievement of the agency’s broader priorities.
As an agency, we will:
- celebrate innovation and respect diversity within the agency while also investing in initiatives to build team cohesion, leadership and mentoring capacity
- keep staff informed of agency priorities and major changes, and engage with them on issues that affect them
- work in collaboration and coordination with other Australian government departments and agencies on international development policy and programs
- actively and effectively engage with partner governments, international development partners, NGOs, the Australian business sector, and the Australian community.
The policies, systems and fora that will support us include:
- Whole of ODA Standards
- Development Effectiveness Steering Committee
- Individual Performance Agreements and Probation Agreements
- Civil Society Engagement Framework
- Multilateral Engagement Framework
- Strategic Partnership Agreements (with whole-of-government partners)
- AusAID Consultative Forum
- Thematic networks
- AusAID Social Club.
Excellence
As individuals, we will:
- give reliable, timely, evidence–based advice and information to each other, to our Minister and Government, other Australian government departments and agencies, partner governments, international development partners and the Australian community
- ensure the information we generate on the aid program is timely, uses plain English and is accessible
- be responsive, professional, efficient, effective, realistic and collaborative in our work practices
- continually seek to improve our knowledge of international best practice, and support new, more effective ways of working.
As an agency, we will:
- support innovation, initiative and effective risk management
- administer the aid program using systems, methods and partners that achieve results and deliver value for money
- positively influence the international development debate both in Australia and overseas.
- work in collaboration and coordination with our partners, including other Australian government departments and agencies, partner governments, international development partners, NGOs, the Australian business sector, and the Australian community
- foster a learning culture
- ensure our systems and processes keep pace with our requirements and priorities.
The policies, systems and processes that will support us include:
Accountability
As individuals, we will:
- establish and maintain clear roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for ourselves and our teams
- ensure that the principle of mutual accountability to our Minister, Parliament, the Australian people and our partners is embedded in all our work
- take responsibility for decisions, regardless of success or failure
- ensure we have a clear understanding of risk and fraud
- ensure our decisions are documented
- abide by the legislative framework that governs the Australian Public Service.
As an agency, we will:
- take a zero tolerance approach to fraud
- ensure our systems and processes are robust
- empower our staff to be innovative, make timely decisions and take appropriate risks, while being compliant with the legislative framework in which we work
- demonstrate real progress against the aid program’s goals, while ensuring our programs have clear and realistic objectives
- deliver value for money that balances effectiveness, efficiency and economy in decision-making
- be transparent and provide accessible information on the programs we fund and the results we achieve.
The policies, systems and processes that will support us include:
Integrity
As individuals we will:
- be professional
- be honest
- be consistent
- be resilient and maintain composure under pressure
- make open, transparent and evidence-based decisions free of bias or favouritism
- declare potential conflicts of interests.
As an agency, we will:
- demonstrate openness and transparency, internally and externally
- be up-front about our achievements and our failures
- encourage debate and contestability
- provide reliable and frank advice to our Minister and the Government
- engage in open dialogue, and share lessons with our partners, including other Australian government departments and agencies, partner governments, international development partners, NGOs, the Australian business sector, and the Australian community
- deliver against our international commitments.
The policies, systems and processes that will support us include:
