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Enabling innovation

Highlights of the ATO's 2026 employee census results on enabling innovation.

Published 6 October 2026

ATO innovation index score

Your enabling innovation index score is 70. Variance from:

  • 2025 is +1
  • the APS overall is +3
  • larger operational agencies is +3
  • extra-large sized agencies is +3.

What the innovation score measures

The innovation score assesses both whether employees feel willing and able to be innovative, and whether their agency has a culture which enables them to be so.

Innovation results

Overall results on innovation

Statement

Positive

Neutral

Negative

I believe that one of my responsibilities is to continually look for new ways to improve the way we work

84%

12%

3%

My immediate supervisor encourages me to come up with new or better ways of doing things

78%

15%

6%

People are recognised for coming up with new and innovative ways of working

70%

22%

8%

My agency inspires me to come up with new or better ways of doing things

64%

27%

9%

My agency recognises and supports the notion that failure is a part of innovation

57%

32%

11%

Innovation result variance 1

Statement

Variance from 2025

Variance from APS overall

I believe that one of my responsibilities is to continually look for new ways to improve the way we work

+1

+1

My immediate supervisor encourages me to come up with new or better ways of doing things

+1

+2

People are recognised for coming up with new and innovative ways of working

+1

+7

My agency inspires me to come up with new or better ways of doing things

+2

+7

My agency recognises and supports the notion that failure is a part of innovation

+3

+6

Innovation result variance 2

Statement

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

I believe that one of my responsibilities is to continually look for new ways to improve the way we work

+3

+3

My immediate supervisor encourages me to come up with new or better ways of doing things

+3

+3

People are recognised for coming up with new and innovative ways of working

+7

+7

My agency inspires me to come up with new or better ways of doing things

+7

+6

My agency recognises and supports the notion that failure is a part of innovation

+5

+4

 

 

QC108138