Digital Governance Program Prospectus

Overview

The Digital Governance Program (DGP) is a two-day immersive program for senior leaders appointed as Senior Responsible Officials (SROs) for the Australian Government’s major digital projects. It blends expert-led sessions, interactive board simulations, and peer learning to ensure SROs are well placed to face the challenges these projects present with confidence. 

Attendees will leave the program with:

• A clear understanding of their accountabilities as SROs.
• Practical tools to anticipate and counter common failure patterns for digital projects.
• Confidence to govern for benefits realisation, not just delivery.
• Enduring professional connections, through a network of SROs across the Australian Public Service (APS).

Program Information

The program is designed to ensure SROs can lead major digital projects with confidence, applying practical countermeasures to the most common internal challenges that derail digital projects – known as the ‘8 Bad Omens’, while embedding the 7 Lenses of Transformation as a framework for success. 

The curated curriculum is built on global best practice, drawing on proven approaches from the governments of United Kingdom, New Zealand 
and Victoria, the private sector and academia. The program also ensures SROs are familiar with key requirements of the Commonwealth’s Digital and ICT Investment Oversight Framework (IOF) and the Assurance Framework for Digital and ICT Investments.

Who Should Join

SROs of all projects assessed as being in-scope of the Assurance Framework are required to complete the training. Completion is mandatory for SROs of digital projects approved at the 2024-25 Budget or later.

While the target audience is predominantly SROs (up to SES B3) appointed to lead major digital or ICT-enabled projects across the APS, other leadership cohorts may also be permitted 
to join at DTA’s discretion:

• SES Band 1 and Band 2 executives who hold accountability for project outcomes, benefits realisation, and governance.
• Senior APS leaders who chair or sit on digital project boards and need to strengthen their ability to govern complex, high-risk initiatives.
• Executives preparing to take on an SRO role in the near future and seeking to build confidence in assurance, benefits management, and commercial oversight.

Please note that participation by SROs is prioritised, consistent with the goals of the program.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, attendees will be able to:

• Understand the requirements of the digital SRO in government, with clarity on the accountabilities and responsibilities of this important role.
• Set and sustain a compelling vision that links to measurable benefits and resists short term pressures.
• Engage key stakeholders, govern and steer the digital project effectively, including translating strategy into user-centred, compliant and sustainable services.
• Plan credibly and adaptively, challenging optimism bias, fostering a positive risk culture and building in independent assurance and proof points.
• Lead digital transformation beyond line authority, creating momentum across agencies, 
  suppliers and jurisdictions.
• Navigate commercial complexity, strengthening sourcing strategies and supplier performance 
  management.
• Use assurance as a powerful tool for good, drive good governance, and embed a learning culture across the project organisation.

Learning Approach

In addition to the curated curriculum of topics for digital project governance, the DGP uses immersive board simulations to replicate real world decision-making for a digital project under pressure. Each simulation is mapped to a stage of the project lifecycle and surfaces common failure patterns such as:

• Commercial complexity and unclear accountabilities.
• Insufficient design and lack of user focus.
• Over-optimism in schedules and benefits.
• Resourcing gaps and governance breakdowns.

Attendees practice applying proven countermeasures drawn from the 7 Lenses of Transformation- Vision, Design, Plan, People, Collaboration, Accountability, and Transformation Leadership - so they leave with practical strategies ready to deploy.

Program Structure 

The two-day program is conducted in-person in Canberra, with each session accommodating 8-12 people. It is structured into three key phases to support Senior Responsible Officers (SROs) in their learning journey.

Pre-Course

Attendees receive pre-reading on the role of the SRO including project case studies, fictional project information to support the simulation learning, and an outline of key governance board roles. 

In addition, a phone call with the course facilitator will occur to discuss learning needs and maximise the value you obtain from the program.

2-Day In-Person Program

The Program delivers core modules on digital governance topics through interactive methods such as peer videos, reference materials, discussions, and board simulations that allow attendees to apply key course resources, such as the 8 Bad Omens and the 7 Lenses of Transformation in practice. 

Post-Course

Attendees gain exclusive access to the SRO Network hosted on GovTEAMS which offers access 
to key resources included in the SRO Toolkit, while also encouraging ongoing networking and knowledge sharing. 

Costs 

The Digital Governance Program is cost-recovered, with the program fee for course dates in 2025 set at $3,900 per attendee. 

Agencies will be invoiced directly by the DTA post course. Travel and accommodation costs to attend in-person are the responsibility of the attendee’s agency.

2025 Course Dates

 (2 days, Canberra in-person)

Availability (as at 2 September):

• 22-23 September
• 22-23 October
• 29-30 October
• 19-20 November
• 26-27 November