AI Assistance in the Australian Public Service

Starting the Day with AI Support

Sarah sighs as she settles into her chair at the Department of Social Services. The clock reads 8:45 AM, and her inbox is already overflowing. She opens her AI assistant, a recent addition to her toolkit, and begins her day.

Handling the Morning Emails

"Good morning," she types. "Can you summarise my emails and flag any urgent matters?"

The AI assistant, developed by AI Strategy to work within the department's secure systems, quickly responds:

"Good morning, Sarah. You have 27 new emails.

Three require immediate attention:

• Budget proposal deadline reminder from Finance
• Request for input on the 'Rural Support' initiative from the Minister's office
• Urgent query about childcare subsidy from a constituent

Would you like me to draft responses for your review?"

Drafting Responses and Gathering Data

Sarah nods to herself. "Yes, please draft responses for items 1 and 3. For item 2, can you pull together relevant data from our recent 'Rural Support' reports?"

As the AI works, Sarah reflects on how this tool has changed her workflow. It's not the sci-fi fantasy of AI solving everything, but it's a significant help in managing the information overload that comes with her role.

The AI responds: "I've drafted responses for items 1 and 3, and compiled key statistics from the last three 'Rural Support' reports. Would you like to review them now?"

Refining the AI's Work

Sarah spends the next hour reviewing and adjusting the draft emails. The AI's work is a good starting point, but it still requires her expertise to finesse the language and add nuanced policy details. She appreciates how it saves her time on initial drafts, allowing her to focus on the content that matters most.

Researching Policy Briefs with AI Assistance

Next, she turns her attention to an upcoming policy brief. "Can you help me find relevant research on early childhood education outcomes in rural areas?" she types.

"Certainly," the AI responds. "I've found several peer-reviewed studies from Australian universities published in the last three years. Would you like me to provide a list with brief summaries?"

Preparing for an Afternoon Meeting

As lunchtime approaches, Sarah realises she needs to prepare for an afternoon meeting about a new family support initiative. "Can you create an agenda template for this afternoon's meeting and populate it with the key points from our last discussion?" she asks the AI.

"Of course," it responds. "I've created a draft agenda based on the minutes from your last meeting on this topic. Please review and let me know if you'd like any changes."

Using AI Throughout the Afternoon

Throughout the afternoon, Sarah continues to interact with the AI assistant, using it to:

• Quickly fact-check statistics for a report
• Generate a simple data visualisation of program participation rates
• Draft a basic communication plan for an upcoming policy announcement

Wrapping Up the Day

By 5 PM, Sarah is wrapping up her day. She's accomplished more than usual, but she's acutely aware that the AI is a tool, not a replacement for her expertise. It helped with time-consuming tasks like initial research, draft writing, and data organisation, but the critical thinking, decision-making, and nuanced communication still relied entirely on her.

Reflecting on AI's Role

"Thank you," she types to the AI. "Can you summarise what we've accomplished today and list the top priorities for tomorrow?"

As she reviews the AI's summary, Sarah reflects on the changes in her work. The AI hasn't revolutionised her job overnight, but it has made her more efficient, allowing her to focus more on the aspects of her work that truly require human insight and experience. There's still so much to do, so many families that need support, but with tools like this, she feels better equipped to make a real difference.

She shuts down her computer, grabs her bag, and heads out. Tomorrow is another day in public service, and she's ready to face it - with a little help from AI.