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Leadership

Highlights of the ATO's 2025 employee census results on leadership.

Published 21 November 2025

ATO leadership index scores

Immediate supervisor index score

Your immediate supervisor index score is 78. Variance from:

  • 2024 is −1
  • the APS overall is +1
  • larger operational agencies is +1
  • extra-large sized agencies is +1.

SES manager index score

Your SES manager leadership index score is 71. Variance from:

  • 2024 is +1
  • the APS overall is 0
  • larger operational agencies is +1
  • extra-large sized agencies is +1.

Immediate supervisor

The immediate supervisor score assesses how employees view the leadership behaviours of their immediate supervisor in line with the APS leadership capability framework.

Overall results on leadership by immediate supervisor

Statement

Positive

Neutral

Negative

My supervisor engages with staff on how to respond to future challenges

82%

13%

6%

My supervisor can deliver difficult advice whilst maintaining relationships

81%

13%

6%

My supervisor invites a range of views, including those different to their own

84%

10%

6%

My supervisor encourages my team to regularly review and improve our work

85%

11%

4%

My supervisor is invested in my development

80%

13%

7%

My supervisor ensures that my workgroup delivers on what we are responsible for

89%

8%

3%

My supervisor provides me with helpful feedback to improve my performance

82%

12%

6%

My immediate supervisor encourages me

79%

16%

6%

My supervisor actively ensures that everyone can be included in workplace activities

86%

10%

4%

My supervisor encourages me to take on new tasks and gain experience doing things I've never done before

83%

12%

5%

Leadership – immediate supervisor result variance 1

Statement

Variance from 2024

Variance from APS overall

My supervisor engages with staff on how to respond to future challenges

−1

+1

My supervisor can deliver difficult advice whilst maintaining relationships

−1

+1

My supervisor invites a range of views, including those different to their own

0

+2

My supervisor encourages my team to regularly review and improve our work

−1

+3

My supervisor is invested in my development

−1

+2

My supervisor ensures that my workgroup delivers on what we are responsible for

−1

+1

My supervisor provides me with helpful feedback to improve my performance

−1

+3

My immediate supervisor encourages me

−2

+1

My supervisor actively ensures that everyone can be included in workplace activities

−1

+1

My supervisor encourages me to take on new tasks and gain experience doing things I've never done before

0

+2

Leadership – immediate supervisor result variance 2

Statement

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

My supervisor engages with staff on how to respond to future challenges

+1

+1

My supervisor can deliver difficult advice whilst maintaining relationships

+1

+1

My supervisor invites a range of views, including those different to their own

+2

+2

My supervisor encourages my team to regularly review and improve our work

+2

+2

My supervisor is invested in my development

+2

+2

My supervisor ensures that my workgroup delivers on what we are responsible for

+2

+2

My supervisor provides me with helpful feedback to improve my performance

+2

+2

My immediate supervisor encourages me

+2

+2

My supervisor actively ensures that everyone can be included in workplace activities

+1

+1

My supervisor encourages me to take on new tasks and gain experience doing things I've never done before

+2

+2

SES manager

The SES manager score assesses how employees view the leadership behaviours of their immediate SES manager in line with the APS leadership capability framework.

Overall results on leadership by SES manager

Statement

Positive

Neutral

Negative

My SES manager clearly articulates the direction and priorities for our area

73%

20%

7%

My SES manager presents convincing arguments and persuades others towards an outcome

63%

30%

7%

My SES manager promotes cooperation within and between agencies

65%

30%

5%

My SES manager encourages innovation and creativity

68%

25%

6%

My SES manager creates an environment that enables us to deliver our best

67%

24%

9%

My SES manager ensures that work effort contributes to the strategic direction of the agency and the APS

75%

20%

4%

In my agency, the SES work as a team

58%

30%

12%

In my agency, the SES clearly articulate the direction and priorities for our agency

70%

22%

8%

My SES manager routinely promotes the use of data and evidence to deliver outcomes

70%

25%

5%

Leadership – SES result variance 1

Statement

Variance from 2024

Variance from APS overall

My SES manager clearly articulates the direction and priorities for our area

+2

+2

My SES manager presents convincing arguments and persuades others towards an outcome

+1

0

My SES manager promotes cooperation within and between agencies

+1

−5

My SES manager encourages innovation and creativity

+1

0

My SES manager creates an environment that enables us to deliver our best

+2

0

My SES manager ensures that work effort contributes to the strategic direction of the agency and the APS

+1

−1

In my agency, the SES work as a team

+2

0

In my agency, the SES clearly articulate the direction and priorities for our agency

+3

+3

My SES manager routinely promotes the use of data and evidence to deliver outcomes

+2

+1

Leadership – SES result variance 2

Statement

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

My SES manager clearly articulates the direction and priorities for our area

+3

+3

My SES manager presents convincing arguments and persuades others towards an outcome

+3

+3

My SES manager promotes cooperation within and between agencies

−2

−2

My SES manager encourages innovation and creativity

+2

+1

My SES manager creates an environment that enables us to deliver our best

+2

+1

My SES manager ensures that work effort contributes to the strategic direction of the agency and the APS

+2

+2

In my agency, the SES work as a team

0

−1

In my agency, the SES clearly articulate the direction and priorities for our agency

+3

+2

My SES manager routinely promotes the use of data and evidence to deliver outcomes

+2

+2

 

QC105878