Engagement Awards

The APS starts giving out Engagement Awards to worthy recipients. These awards could be added into existing awards processes (like Australia Day awards; Public Sector Innovation Awards), or a new engagement awards process could be started.

awards


What it might look like: Awards could be presented at events.

 

 

Why the contribution is important

Feedback strongly suggests that if engagement is going to improve, it has to be rewarded. Awards would help this, would raise awareness of engagement and good practice, and help establish it as a legitimate core competency and expectation.

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Add comments: What do you like? What would you change?

Some people love an award; others find them hokey or cheap. What kind of award would inspire you?
 

by ProjectTeam on February 23, 2018 at 01:52PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.8
Based on: 6 votes

Comments

  • Posted by kleo7036 February 26, 2018 at 14:54

    Hi team,
    This is a great idea. Awards and prizes are easy to set up, are easily understood by participants and authorisers of the awards, and are cost-effective really - only pay the best on the field, rather than funding all the participants.
    Kevin

  • Posted by Tarek February 26, 2018 at 16:55

    Agree with Kevin's comments - quite effective for the cost. I would add that some of the value is in having cross-APS awards, to allow for inter-departmental cross-pollination.

  • Posted by milenaa February 26, 2018 at 17:42

    I like this a lot - everyone loves a bit of friendly competition and ambition! And you can generate a fair amount communications and awareness as a result of the event.

  • Posted by gkend February 26, 2018 at 20:04

    I like this idea too. Awards can be motivating - and it gets people talking. It might be a good way to spread the word to not only those already doing it, but their colleagues who hear about the awards...

  • Posted by WorkinginCivic March 05, 2018 at 13:09

    I'm not so sure about this idea. Other awards such as the Public Sector Innovation Awards or the Australia Day Awards work well because you can easily compare the success of various efforts, or because the achievements are obvious. Judging the success of public engagement seems much more challenging. One would hope that there would be a correlation between good public engagement and a successful policy, but other factors might determine whether a policy works or not. Therefore, I see the possiblity of an award for a policy that doesn't work very well.

    Although I think it's worthwhile to find ways to encourage more public consultation, I'm also a bit concerned about the public perception of handing out awards for something which many people would view as a (hopefully) routine part of our work.

  • Posted by aoulton March 05, 2018 at 15:34

    I don't doubt the research, but I think the rewards that come from job satisfaction and acknowledgment through promotion would be a more effective method to encourage good engagement. Senior Executive should be encouraging and rewarding good engagement practices by their staff as it happens. I think an award such as this wouldn't have a great deal of public support either, and might be perceived as a slap on the back for people for doing things they are paid to do.

  • Posted by ProjectTeam March 05, 2018 at 17:02

    Hello all - good points! When we tested this one in workshops, we really got a mixed reaction. Some people thought awards would be hokey, others would be totally stoked to win an award.

    Thanks for the feedback. Good points about we need to be careful in how this one might be perceived by the public - if it goes ahead, would need to make sure this isn't seen (or actually is) rewarding people just for doing what they should have done anyway!!

  • Posted by markimark March 07, 2018 at 09:32

    A public servant shouldn't need an award to do something well. This appears to be a distraction from some of the other good and tangible ideas that have been published
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