CONTESTABILITY CASE STUDY: Department of Education | Department of
Employment – Shared Services Centre provides a Connected solution for Public
Sector Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) is reporting greater efficiency and
effectiveness after it began using the Department of Education | Department of Employment
Shared Services Centre’s (SSC) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, SAP, earlier this year.
What is the Shared Sevices Centre?
The SSC is an innovative approach to harness improvements and efficiencies within corporate
functions delivered by the former Department of Education, Employment and Workplace
Relations.
The SSC began officially operating earlier this year and its objectives are to:
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provide shared corporate services for the partner departments of Education and Employment;
provide shared corporate services for other Australian Public Service customers;
deliver cost savings and ongoing improvements through process improvements, greater
productivities and economies of scale to the partner departments and other APS customers.
The SSC supports customers by providing a range of corporate services, ranging from payroll to financial
processing, application hosting to integrated desktop technology solutions, graphic design and website
development to property and facilities and security.
How does SSC improve public sector efficiency?
The SSC offers an integrated ERP solution to organisations using SAP software. Its SAP system,
called “Connect”, provides access to human resources, finance, procurement and reporting
information.
In line with expectations that the Australian Public Sector becomes should be more modern and
effective, Connect is helping the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) make better
informed business decisions based on significantly improved data accuracy and integrity and
reduced manual intervention and errors. Previously, the APSC used two separate systems for
finance and HR which relied on manual processes to migrate and reconcile data between the
systems.
The APSC’s leave approval, credit card and travel approval processes are now integrated in a
single software solution with enhanced controls that make better management possible.
A small trade off that the APSC faced was the loss of some entity-specific system customisation.
However, further benefits from the shared services arrangements will be realised by the APSC
when access is made to the wider range of systems and processes available through Connect
and the SSC information network.
The SSC’s SAP system uses current technologies, and also offers a much higher level of helpdesk
support beyond what small agencies can normally afford to have.
Increasing numbers of Australian Government entities are using Connect human resource and
financial management services. Current users include the:
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Department of Employment
Department of Education
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
Department of Social Services
Australian Public Service Commission
Asbestos Safety Eradication Agency
Australian Skills Quality Authority
Fair Work Ombudsman
Fair Work Building and Construction
Safe Work Australia, and
Workplace Gender Equality Agency.