Our formal succession management program has 686 participants, 31 per cent of whom are women. During the year we began reviewing the program to ensure that we continue to effectively build leadership continuity and skills that match our current and future needs. Key elements of the review will be to identify the requirements of business-critical roles and to develop recruitment contingency plans that could be put into action if any of these roles becomes vacant.

Participants in Australia Post’s leadership development programs have had the opportunity to practise new skills in the workplace, either through on-the-job experience or through classroom learning combined with work-based projects. Highlights of these programs included:

	three managers taking part in the Commonwealth Games Secondee Development program (three-month placements in key leadership roles in logistics, in IT and at the Athletes’ Village)
	twelve senior managers combining on-campus studies and a team-based Australia Post business project through Action Learning programs
	senior managers mentoring 87 middle managers in project placement through an on-the-job leadership development program.

Our Development Pathways program, which is designed to provide structured learning opportunities for staff at all levels, was significantly expanded during the year to cover middle management levels. The Pathways eLearning suite was launched in late 2005.

In February 2005 we reintroduced technical apprenticeships and we currently employ 22 apprentices (two of whom are adult apprentices) who are learning to maintain mail processing equipment. The apprenticeships are targeted at the nationally recognised Certificate III in Electrotechnology (Systems Electrician).

Tomorrow’s Leaders is a leadership development program targeting front line staff. This intensive 10-month program, which involves working on practical issues from the business plan, has helped to identify talent within the corporation. Currently, 87 per cent of staff who have been through this program have either been promoted or are working in higher-level positions.

In addition to these national development programs, a number of Australia Post divisions offer training and development specific to their business areas. Within these programs there is an increasing emphasis on providing participants with nationally recognised qualifications such as Certificate III & IV in Transport and Distribution (Warehousing & Storage and Road Transport) and Diploma of Business (Frontline Management).