Collaborative Governance: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges – Part 2

Cross-functional and cross-border collaboration in government is the ultimate game-changer, blending diverse expertise to tackle global issues head-on. When governments unite, they unlock groundbreaking solutions through information-sharing that drives progress and benefits all. 

Australia has demonstrated success across international, national and state lines. Let’s continue our journey from Part 1 into Part 2 of public sector collaboration with a look into the Top Two:  

• International Success Stories 
• Australian Organisations
• States

These successes have proven that a cooperative approach to innovation and problem-solving have undeniable results when it comes to improving public service.  

Breaking Down Borders: 

Global collaboration is essential to unleash innovative ways of working, mobilise hard-to-reach-resources, create shared accountability and to ultimately achieve solutions to global issues like climate change and limited resources. 

Two International Success Stories: 

Australia has extended the benefits of collaboration beyond borders with the New South Wales’ Digital Strategy, launched in 2019, which involved collaboration with the UK government to leverage their experience and best practices in digital transformation. NSW accomplished this by: 

• Consulting with the UK Government Digital Service, an organization known for its successful digital transformation initiatives which provided insights into strategies, methodologies, and frameworks that had proven effective in the UK. 
• Adopting many of the UK’s digital service standards and design principles to ensure that their services are user-centric and efficient such as to “start with user needs”
• Utilising virtual collaboration was key to bringing these governments together. NSW held workshops and training sessions with experts from the UK GDS to build digital capabilities within the NSW public sector.  

GovTech Singapore: 

Australia actively collaborates with international partners to advance digital technologies and best practices for mutual growth and benefit through digital government transformation: 

• The Digital Government Exchange (DGX) - an international platform where like-minded leaders engage in information exchange, share experiences, and explore future collaboration opportunities
• GovTech hosts foreign delegations keen to learn from their experiences, participate in global forums for international cooperation on Digital Government by the United Nations, the World Bank, and the European Union. 
• The Singapore Government Developer Portal - participate in platforms by giving keynote talks and conducting workshops, benefiting a larger community of countries interested in learning from Singapore’s journey
• Singapore Government Tech Stack (SGTS), providing shared digital infrastructure, services, and tools for all government agencies

Australia – A Collaboration Nation: 

When faced with challenges like limited resources, climate change and global instability, Australia has begun to realise that fostering a culture of conservatism is insufficient. Collaboration instead, with an openness to experimentation is the key to our success in public service. 

Two Organisations Driving Collaboration: 

The Australian Cyber Security Center (ACSC): 

• Works with commonwealth, state and territory agencies and with the private sector to provide a hub for greater collaboration
• Goal - to facilitate information sharing, raise awareness of cyber threats and to minimise security risks surrounding the adoption of new technologies and services
• Forms multi-agency task forces with organisations such as the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), law enforcement, and intelligence communities, to conduct coordinated cyber operations to protect national interests and critical infrastructure from cyber threats
• Works closely with the Department of Home Affairs to develop and implement national cybersecurity policies and strategies, ensuring a coordinated approach to protecting Australia's digital infrastructure

Department of Finance: 

• Its core principle is to engage with stakeholders and the community on a regular basis on the development of meaningful performance measures
• Formed a community of practice for portfolio, program and project management across the APS and enables employees to share, learn and promote ideas 
• Implemented Data & Digital Ministers’ Meeting - to achieve cross-government collaboration on data and digital transformation to ensure smarter service delivery and improved outcomes

Two Australian States Leading the Charge in Collaboration: 

NSW: 

Cross-agency and the rise of cross-functional teams has been a key approach in NSW government: 

• ICT and Digital Investment team broke down the silos and boosted cross-functional collaboration to successfully develop the new ICT Investment Strategy. The teams followed principles of being respectful to work towards establishing a psychologically safe environment and used certain tools to help the team members collaborate virtually.

• Collaborated with local communities, industry, community organisations, and government agencies to help shape the state’s first Digital Inclusion Strategy which will provide equitable opportunities for people to access, afford and engage with digital technologies, services and online resources.

VIC: 

Victoria's pioneering collaboration efforts are helping to sett the gold standard for Australia in collaboration, transforming public services with innovative, cross-functional teamwork: 

• Participates in the Joint Cyber Security Centre (JCSC), a collaborative initiative that includes government, private sector, and academic institutions working together to strengthen cybersecurity through shared intelligence and coordinated responses to cyber threats.

• Digital Victoria, now part of Government Services is an initiative that promotes cross-functional collaboration by uniting various government departments to drive digital transformation, improve public services, and enhance citizen engagement through technology.

We're keeping our eyes on collaboration next week too – stay tuned for Part 3!