Digital transformation isn’t unique to Australia. Governments around the world improve their policies, investments and service delivery through better use of technology, skills and oversight.

Earlier this year, Australia made its debut at fifth place on the OECD’s Digital Government Index, an important benchmark for many nations. The DTA has plenty to share from its own experiences working with the Australian Public Service (APS) which contributed to this great result and there’s plenty for Australia to learn from others.

Whichever way the insights flow, our international engagements help us learn about and shape digital government around the world.

The scope of our international engagement

The DTA’s International and Strategic Engagement team connects with government officials and international bodies on a regular basis to discuss insights, policy developments and learnings, such as ongoing online forums with peers from the United Kingdom.

At times, the team welcomes delegations to our offices, such as recent visits from Vietnam, Tonga and Samoa. They also prepare DTA representatives to visit a partner nation’s equivalent offices, including our delegation to Indonesia in March 2024, or take part in global forums.

‘In our recent international engagements, we discussed how we developed and are implementing the Data and Digital Government Strategy,’ said Lucy Poole, General Manager of the Strategy, Planning and Performance division.

‘These conversations uncover common threads, themes and opportunities, both for information sharing between likeminded countries, allowing participants to drive value and innovation in their own digital transformation journeys.’

Photo credit: Australian Embassy Jakarta

Why do we engage across the world?

Any engagement the DTA undertakes, whether international or domestic, follows four principles to ensure value, impact, collaboration and a focus on the future.

In simple terms, we strive to gain and share value and learnings that move governments forward on their digital agendas.

This diagram depicts how the DTA approaches stakeholder engagements.

Of course, collaboration and knowledge sharing on digital transformation isn’t new or unique. It has long been an important action across the APS, at all levels of government and with the wider community.

Some transformations, however, might be entirely new for Australia. Working with our global peers means we can test our assumptions and learn about the opportunities they encountered on similar journeys.

And we have as much to offer as we learn from others. The DTA’s unique model for digital government, including the Digital and ICT Investment Oversight Framework, and our commitment to joining up digital and data in our transformation efforts, attracts keen engagement from other nations.

We also shape ideas and best practice through forums like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Digital Government Exchange.

‘International engagements bring an Australian perspective to the global standards, models and policies that guide digital transformation,’ continues Ms Poole.

‘We benefit from greater compatibility and interoperability – which go on to benefit the wider Australian economy.’

If you represent a national government agency with a leadership role in digital transformation similar to that of the DTA, feel free to reach out to our International and Strategic Engagement team via engagement@dta.gov.au

The Digital Transformation Agency is the Australian Government's adviser for the development, delivery and monitoring of whole-of-government strategies, policies and standards, for digital and ICT investments and procurement.