How Australia is integrating commercial and community spaces

Instead, in Australia, the skills most in demand in public sector are entrepreneurial skills, and public sector innovation is at the forefront of public sector reform.

In March 2010, the Australian government's blueprint for reforming central government administration identified a perceived lack of strategy and innovation across the public service.

The vision identified for the future was of enhanced public sector capability though greater collaboration, innovation, and strategic policy capability.

Innovation action plans have been developed for the Australian public service and their state government equivalents.

These are broadly focused on:

• Building an innovation culture within the service.

• Building the innovative capacity of staff and public sector organisations.

• Co-creation by involving users and citizens in the design and development of services and policies.

• Strengthening leadership to ensure there is courage to innovate.

With budget funds increasingly hard to come by, there is pressure to work existing funding harder.

An innovative public service will be better able to mobilise resources to respond to challenges through collaboration, experimentation and ongoing learning.