Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector

Last week, Australia commemorated Reconciliation Week. It was a chance to celebrate progress, but also to consider the inequalities First Nations people still face in Australia. Across health, education, justice and employment, the country still has some way to go to truly close the gap.On this episode of Work with Purpose, Brendan Moyle, executive branch manager of the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs at the ACT Government tells us a powerful story about First Nations reconciliation, reflecting deeply on the persisting gap between conversations and behaviour, and how everyone in Australia can learn to walk the talk. Together with host David Pembroke, Brendan also talks us through the important role of valuing First Nations people, their contributions and their stories, and shares his tips on how to become a true ally to their cause.Discussed in this episode:The persistent inequalities First Nations people still faceAustralia’s progress towards reconciliationThe importance of getting to know First Nations people’s storiesWhy we need diversity of thinkingHow to become an allyThe key role of First Nations public servants in building bridgesShow notes:Closing the Gap Annual Data ReportCommonwealth Closing the Gap Implementation PlanReconciliation Australia resources Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used by public services globally, including in Australia, to improve policy-making and program creation. AI has immense potential to transform how the public sector functions and serves communities, from streamlining copywriting to providing strategic advice. However, there are risks and limitations associated with using AI, such as privacy breaches, accountability issues, and bias concerns.In this episode of Work with Purpose, Caroline Walsh, CEO of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) ACT hosts a conversation which explores the potential and challenges of using generative AI in the Australian public sector. Sally Bayley-Nelson, manager of the AusIndustry Insights team, and Anthony Murfett, head of division for Technology and Digital at the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, share their experiences using generative AI tools for their work and discuss the benefits and limitations of the technology. They also talk about the risks that the public sector needs to be mindful of when working with AI and the importance of putting guardrails in place to regulate its use.Discussed in this episode:Use of generative AI: benefits and limitations in the workplaceRisks in using generative AI in the public sector and regulatory guardrailsHow AI suggests regulating itself: thoughts and missing pointsBest practices and hopes for AI in the public sector's future.Show notes:https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reliable data is critical for public policy and program development, but many public sector staff still need to build their digital capability and literacy. Currently, the APS Reform Office is reviewing the digital skills of public servants and ways to enhance their skill sets.To contribute to this important conversation, the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) ACT is hosting the Australian Government Data Forum on May 17. This event will bring together experts from public and private sectors to discuss how data can inform policy and program delivery. The forum is organised in partnership with the Graduate Data Network, the Office of the National Data Commissioner, and the APS Data Profession, which comprises over 1,000 members from 40 agencies.In this episode, we are joined by two members from the Graduate Data Network – Moira McLoughlin, Graduate at the Department of the Senate, and Samuel McMurray, Data Analyst at the Australian Taxation Office. Together, they share valuable insights into the world of data science and its significance in shaping policy and government programs within the Australian public service. They also discuss tools for staying on top of developments in data technology, such as natural language processing, and the importance of collaboration and continuous learning in the field of data.Discussed in this episode:Reasons for joining Graduate Data Network and appeal of working with dataHow data is helping to deliver better policy in the field of family, domestic, and sexual violenceThe significance of artificial intelligence for the future of government programsWhy you should attend the Australian Government Data Forum.Show notes:https://www.act.ipaa.org.au/events/2023/australian-government-data-forum-2023https://www.act.ipaa.org.au/events/2023/aps-data-awards-dinner-2023https://www.ibm.com/topics/natural-language-processing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia's public service is based on the principle of providing frank and fearless advice, where advice given is expected to be honest and politically neutral to ensure public trust. However, despite the release of official policy advice, governments are sometimes accused of ignoring or rejecting their experts, raising questions about the efficacy of the advice itself.On this episode of Work with Purpose, we discuss with ANU academic Dr Christiane Gerblinger about her recently released book ‘How government experts self-sabotage: the language of the rebuffed’. Along with host David Pembroke, Dr Gerblinger discusses the reasons behind the government's tendency to ignore or reject policy advice, including experts' reluctance to disclose information to accommodate political circumstances, and suggests ways to improve the structure and presentation of official advice for it to be taken up.Discussed in this episode:Why expert policy advice is often overlooked by the government in Australia.Analysis of specific cases where policy advice was ignored or rejected.Suggestions for improving the structure and presentation of official advice.How experts can better convince their audience to consider their advice in decision-making.Shownotes:How government experts self-sabotage: the language of the rebuffed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Robodebt Royal Commission has shone a light on the tremendous impact government policy gone wrong can have on the lives of Australians. The evidence given at the royal commission hearings has also brought into question the state of ‘frank and fearless advice’ in the service.On this episode of Work with Purpose, together with two public service leaders – Kathy Leigh, Head of Service and Director-General of the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate, ACT Government and Dr Gordon de Brouwer PSM FIPAA, Secretary for Public Sector Reform – we examine the impact of robodebt, discuss how the public service might reinforce its values around integrity, and rebuild courage and pride in its work.Discussed in this episode:The importance of empathy and compassion for those affected, the public, and the public serviceThe role of impartiality and objectivity in giving policy adviceBest practice behaviour and delivery to further embed integrity cultureWhat a modern and responsive public service should look likeShownotes:Royal Commission into the Robodebt SchemeThe Guardian | RobodebtIndependent Review of the APS | Public service value statementAPS Reform Office | Have your say Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite greater flexibility and more opportunities, the recent International Women’s Day has again reminded Australians that gender equity still has some way to go. The country’s gender pay gap persists, and women are still underrepresented in leadership positions according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.One of the ways workplaces and women themselves are trying to turn the tide, is to offer and actively engage in mentoring. On this episode, guest host and Institute of Public Administration Australia ACT CEO Caroline Walsh speaks with two inspirational female leaders, Tania Rishniw, Deputy Secretary at the Department of Health and Aged Care, and Nina Davidson, Deputy Director-General Intelligence at the Office of National Intelligence about how mentoring can benefit women during their careers, and what a great mentoring relationship should look like.Tania, Nina, and Caroline also speak about some of the women that inspired them, including the influential Dr Margot McCarthy, who championed women through coaching and mentoring until her recent passing in 2022. Margot was the first female national security advisor, a leader in social policy and a founder of the APS Academy. Discussed in this episode:Honesty, openness, and listening as key ingredients for good mentoringMargot McCarthy’s fierce leadership and support for other womenOvercoming self-censorship as a womanEmpowering and amplifying women’s voicesShow notes:2022 State of the Service Report | Australian Public Service CommissionWomen spend more time than men on unpaid work | Australian Bureau of Statistics Strengthening leadership capability | Australian Public Service CommissionGender dimensions of the security sector in Australia | Australian Women in Security NetworkDr Margot McCarthy Memorial Scholarship for Women in SecurityGender Scorecard 2022 | Workplace Gender Equality Agency Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Partnerships are crucial for achieving meaningful change, whether that’s between organisations, people, or communities. Wanting to leverage this potential, advancing partnerships has come into sharp focus for the public sector through the APS reform agenda.However, developing these partnerships can be challenging – the more partners are involved, the more they have to grapple with different interests and challenges. Common purpose, diversity in perspectives, and effective governance are key to overcoming those barriers.In this episode, we discuss building strong partnerships within and outside the Australian public sector with Professor Janine O’Flynn, Director at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, and David Pullen, Assistant Secretary, Cabinet Resilience and Crisis Management Division at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Discussed in this episode:The role of vulnerability, humility, and trust within partnershipsFinding a common purposeBridging the divide between research and policy implementationBuilding a shared understanding of each partner’s roleLinks:APS reform agendaSpirit of Service awards 2021-22 finalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The LGBTQIA+ community represents a considerable part of the Australian workforce, and many workplaces are striving to ensure they feel valued, safe, and respected.Yet, a survey by Diversity Council Australia has revealed why it is so important that organisations in Australia continue to build on that work. According to their findings, only 32 per cent of LGBTQIA+ respondents were out to all of their colleagues, and this has potentially dire consequences for their well-being and job satisfaction.With WorldPride underway in Sydney for the first time, Frances Gamble, CEO at Out for Australia, David Momcilovic, Director at the Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, ACT Government, and Marty Jovic, health economist and partner PwC Australia join guest host Holly Noble to shine a light on what pride looks like in the public sector and how we can create workplaces that reflect the full diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community.Discussed in this episode:Barriers the LGBTQIA+ community faces in the workplace.The role of mentoring for young people to improve their confidence.The intersectionality approach to achieve equity.Methods the public service can adopt to support the LGBTQIA+ community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neurodiversity has become an important topic in the Australian public sector. With research suggesting that teams can be 30 per cent more productive with neurodivergent professionals, workplaces stand much to gain from greater inclusivity. Yet, many public sector workplaces can still do more to be neurodiversity inclusive.This time, we feature three public service thought leaders in the field, Lee Steel, Ability Network Champion and First Assistant Secretary, Intergovernmental Relations and Reform from PM&C (Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet), Robin Edmonds, Inclusion and Diversity Adviser and Co-Chair of the Ability Network at PM&C, and Andrew Pfeiffer, Ability Network Executive and Adviser at PM&C. They discuss what public sector workplaces could look like in 2028 and how to better support neurodivergent individuals.For resources relevant to this episode, visit: https://contentgroup.com.au/work_with_purpose/ep-77-embracing-neurodiversity-in-the-public-sector/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The devastating 1926 Australian east coast bushfires were a critical point in history that highlighted the imperative for governments to collaborate across jurisdictions. At that time, Victoria and New South Wales worked together to establish insurance populations of species to ensure their ongoing survival.In this special re-run episode, we revisit the conversation we brought to our listeners in May 2022, as a collaboration between IPAA Victoria's Young IPAA Network and IPAA ACT's Future Leaders Committee. It was about working across jurisdictions on environmental policy and regulation.The conversation was hosted by Dr Gordon de Brouwer PSM, Secretary of APS Reform. His guests were Kate Lynch, First Assistant Secretary of the Environment Protection Division at DCCEEW (the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water), and Warrick McGrath, Director at Biodiversity Regulatory Reform, Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning.Discussed in this episode:The importance of relationships and trust.Collaborating across governments while maintaining jurisdictional loyalty.The role of local government.Tips for working with stakeholders on environmental policies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.