Reform Readiness
Reform doesn't just add work to a department's plate, it can change the job entirely before the organisation catches up.
Australian education reform is increasingly changing what departments need to deliver, not just how much, and organisational structures often lag the mandate. NMC's Reform Readiness framework identifies five levers, spanning mandate clarity, authority, workforce capability, operating systems and adaptability, drawing on APSC data showing 86% of Commonwealth agencies reported critical skills shortages in 2025. Departments that align these five levers can absorb ongoing reform rather than rebuilding their operating model each time a new mandate lands.
