Public sector leaders say there is only a little bit of concern about the need for stewardship at the high end of the service. 

In a joint submission to the Public Service Act amendments, the Prime Minister & Cabinet (PM&C) and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) have dismissed any major worries regarding adding 'stewardship' as an APS Value. 

During the recent surveys by the APS Reform Office, the vast majority of respondents showed little concern, with just 5 per cent expressing reservations.

Held between March 24 and April 28, the consultation garnered feedback from 1,500 respondents, 97.5 per cent of which were APS employees. 

Among the concerns raised were doubts about translating stewardship into tangible actions, lack of awareness of APS Values among some employees, and the perception that secretaries and agency heads already embodied the essence of stewardship.

Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority, around 90 per cent of respondents, declared that they and their colleagues were already acting as stewards in their roles. 

According to these enthusiastic supporters, being a steward involves providing fearless advice, fostering open information sharing, meticulous record-keeping, and continuously supporting staff capabilities.

More details are accessible here.