The Government is establishing a new whole-of-APS function led by the Department of Finance: AI Delivery and Enablement (AIDE). AIDE is designed to help agencies move from promising trials to real-world impact with confidence. Finance
Senator Gallagher described AIDE as “a multidisciplinary expert group helping guide agencies to overcome common barriers, share lessons, and accelerate adoption.” Media Release
Finance was allocated $28.9 million over four years from 2025-26 “to establish a central AI delivery and enablement function” in the 2025-26 MYEFO. iTnews Canberra Times
Taken together, AIDE and GovAI represent a deliberate shift from ad hoc exploration to coordinated, responsible adoption across the APS. Finance
The AI Plan for the Australian Public Service was released on 12 November 2025 by the Minister for Finance at the Annual Statement of APS Reform. It guides the safe, responsible, and coordinated adoption of AI across the APS. Media Release
The Plan is jointly implemented by the Department of Finance, the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA), and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC). digital.gov.au
The Plan is structured around three mutually reinforcing pillars. Each pillar’s success is vital to the others: skilled people and clear policies are needed to use new AI tools effectively, and the tools and experiences gained will inform ongoing policy refinement. digital.gov.au
By 2030, AI adoption could lift public sector gross value added by 13 per cent, delivering $19 billion in annual value. Finance
The Productivity Commission assesses that broader AI adoption could drive up to 4.3% labour productivity growth over the next decade in the market sector (around $116 billion in GDP). digital.gov.au
GovAI is a centrally hosted, whole-of-government service designed to uplift AI capability across the APS. It is operated by the Department of Finance and provides secure, Australian-based infrastructure for APS staff, teams and agencies to learn about, experiment with, and apply AI tools. govai.gov.au
The Minister for Finance agreed to the GovAI pilot in May 2024, to help deliver strategic aims in uplifting AI capability across the APS. govai.gov.au
Anthropic’s Claude is set to become the next locally hosted AI model available through GovAI, as Finance pursues a technology-agnostic approach. Department of Finance Assistant Secretary Marcel Gabriel stated: “We want to be able to separate the model instances, from orchestration and management through to interface. So, as time goes on, we will bring as many as we can on board.” InnovationAus
GovAI Chat is a secure, government-controlled generative AI tool developed specifically for the APS. It is designed to operate within Australian Government infrastructure, ensuring all data remains within Australia and under government control, and to meet the highest standards of security and compliance including the Protective Security Policy Framework. govai.gov.au
Senator Gallagher stated: “The goal is for every public servant to have access to secure, supportive generative AI directly from their desktop or laptop through the GovAI platform, and through the staged development of GovAI Chat.” Canberra Times
Alpha trial launched April 2026. The alpha trial is open to all APS employees via GovTEAMS. Finance is covering service costs during the trial at no cost to agencies. Key features include: Finance govai.gov.au
| Milestone | Date | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minister agrees to GovAI pilot | May 2024 | Complete | govai.gov.au |
| GovAI open trial launches | July 2025 | Complete | Finance |
| GovAI open trial period | Jul – Oct 2025 | Complete | digital.gov.au |
| GovAI centrally hosted AI services | Nov 2025 – Dec 2026 | Ongoing | digital.gov.au |
| GovAI Chat — alpha trial (all APS) | April 2026 | Active | Finance |
| GovAI Chat — beta trial | July 2026 | Upcoming | govai.gov.au |
| GovAI Chat — full APS availability | Mid–end 2026 | Upcoming | govai.gov.au |
GovAI services require a GovTEAMS account. The service is currently available to all APS employees through an open trial. State and territory governments, corporate Commonwealth entities, and external partners are not currently eligible. govai.gov.au
The 2025-26 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) allocated $225.2 million over four years from 2025-26 for AI adoption across the APS, with a further $0.4 million per year from 2029-30. Canberra Times iTnews
| Measure | Allocation | Recipient | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GovAI platform expansion + GovAI Chat design, build and pilot | $166.4m | Finance / DTA | iTnews |
| Central AI Delivery and Enablement function (AIDE) | $28.9m | Finance | iTnews |
| AI capability work and AI Review Committee | ~$29.9m | Finance / DTA | iTnews |
Note: Separate allocations for AI training and workforce approach were provided to the APSC and DTA ($22.1m). iTnews The Department of Industry, Science and Resources received $30m for an AI Safety Institute. Canberra Times
Of the funding, $28.5 million is immediately available to Finance and the DTA. A further $137.9 million will be provided over a two-year period beginning from 2026-27, pending development of a business case and further assessments. Canberra Times iTnews
| Instrument | Effective Date | Lead | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Framework for the Assurance of AI in Government | June 2024 | Finance / Data & Digital Ministers | Finance |
| Policy for the responsible use of AI in government (v1.1) | 1 Sep 2024 | DTA | Media Release |
| Policy for the responsible use of AI in government (v2.0) | 15 Dec 2025 | DTA | digital.gov.au |
| AI Impact Assessment Tool | Dec 2025 | DTA | DTA |
| AI Procurement Guidance | Dec 2025 | DTA | DTA |
| APS AI Plan 2025 | 12 Nov 2025 | Finance / DTA / APSC | digital.gov.au |
Agencies are required to appoint one of their existing senior leadership team as a Chief AI Officer by 30 June 2026. CAIOs must hold an APS rank of at least SES Band 1. The appointment must come from within (not a new external hire), deliberately avoiding headcount growth. GovAI Finance
The two roles are deliberately complementary, not duplicative. The CAIO’s focus is less on technical detail and more on opportunity, transformation, and system-wide coordination. Separation of the two roles is preferred, though in smaller agencies one person may hold both. GovAI
| Role | Focus |
|---|---|
| Chief AI Officer (CAIO) | Leads the transformation — identifying opportunities and driving cultural change |
| AI Accountable Official | Enables responsible adoption — providing the governance frameworks agencies need to adopt AI confidently |
CAIOs are expected to take a systemic view of AI adoption, spanning technology, data, HR, policy, cybersecurity, and privacy. Their specific responsibilities include: GovAI
A companion page “So you’re a Chief AI Officer — what do you need to know?” provides onboarding guidance for newly appointed CAIOs. GovAI
The DTA is establishing an AI Review Committee comprised of APS experts to provide non-binding advice on sensitive and high-risk AI deployments across the APS. The Q1 2026 milestone for finalising the terms of reference has slipped; the DTA is now targeting mid-2026. The DTA has been actively recruiting a committee lead, with membership expected to come predominantly from within the APS. iTnews digital.gov.au DTA
The Policy for the responsible use of AI in government (v2.0) is mandatory for all non-corporate Commonwealth entities. It is structured around the “Enable, Engage, and Evolve” framework, with requirements covering strategy and oversight, preparedness and operations, and AI use case impact assessment. digital.gov.au
The AI in Government Fundamentals course is mandatory for all APS staff. It provides foundational knowledge of AI, the principles of safe and responsible use, and how to apply them in the APS. Agencies are required to monitor and report completion rates. APS Academy
The DTA has established a central register of AI transparency statements for Commonwealth entities, enabling public visibility of how agencies are using AI. This delivers on an APS AI Plan commitment and is now operational. DTA
The APS AI Plan sets out 15 initiatives across an 18-month timeframe, broadly aligned with two overarching milestones through to July 2026 and beyond. digital.gov.au
| Initiative | Jul 25 | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan 26 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul+ | Dec 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI policy & guidance updates | ||||||||||||||
| AI Review Committee | ||||||||||||||
| Expectations of external providers | ||||||||||||||
| AI strategic communications | ||||||||||||||
| Foundational learning | ||||||||||||||
| Staff consultation & engagement | ||||||||||||||
| AI Delivery & Enablement (AIDE) | ||||||||||||||
| Chief AI Officers | ||||||||||||||
| GovAI open trial | ||||||||||||||
| GovAI centrally hosted services | ||||||||||||||
| GovAI Chat | ||||||||||||||
| Public & enterprise AI guidance | ||||||||||||||
| AI tool procurement support | ||||||||||||||
| Re-using intellectual property | ||||||||||||||
| Central register of AI assessments | ||||||||||||||
Source: APS AI Plan 2025 — What we plan to achieve (digital.gov.au). Note: The APS AI Plan identifies a further initiative, “New whole-of-government cloud policy” (November 2025 – March 2026), listed under Tools. digital.gov.au
The National AI Plan was released on 2 December 2025 by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. It sets out the Government’s plan to grow the AI industry in Australia, structured around three pillars: Capture the opportunity, Spread the benefits, and Keep Australians safe. DISR
The APS AI Plan complements the National AI Plan. The APS AI Plan focuses on government adoption; the National AI Plan addresses economy-wide AI policy. Media Release
The Government previously proposed mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI systems. With the National AI Plan, this approach was replaced by a two-pronged strategy: uplifting and clarifying existing technology-neutral laws, and issuing guidance to promote responsible practices. There will be no standalone AI Act. DISR Piper Alderman
The Australian AI Safety Institute (AISI) was formally announced on 25 November 2025 with $29.9 million in funding. It sits within the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. The AISI became operational in early 2026, with most founding team recruitment closing January–February 2026. Its functions are advisory (not regulatory): safety evaluations, pre-deployment testing, upstream risk assessment, and publishing research. Australia is a member of the International Network of AI Safety Institutes. DISR Minister
The first implementation actions under the National AI Plan include two international MOUs:
The 2026–27 Federal Budget will be delivered by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on 13 May 2026. As at the date of this dashboard, specific AI budget measures have not been publicly announced. The budget is expected to reference the previously committed AI investment envelope and the fourth-economy productivity agenda. budget.gov.au
On 21 October 2025, the National AI Centre released updated Guidance for AI Adoption, articulating the “AI6” — six essential governance practices for AI developers and deployers. These replace the earlier Voluntary AI Safety Standard and establish a practical baseline for responsible AI use in Australia. MinterEllison
Making AI a national priority was a key outcome from the Economic Reform Roundtable in August 2025. Media Release
All factual claims in this dashboard are drawn from the following publicly available documents and reports. Each claim is individually linked to its source throughout the document.
Disclaimer
This dashboard is not an official product of the Australian Public Service, the Department of Finance, or any Australian Government agency. It has no official status and should not be relied upon as authoritative or as a substitute for official government publications. It was compiled from publicly available sources for informational purposes only. Users should refer directly to the original source documents linked herein for authoritative information.