Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector

Working in the public service means to serve for the country and the future of its people. The public service is a critical function of Australia’s democracy; however, it is a complex and challenging environment. With the last couple of years of the pandemic, the Australian public service has shifted rapidly from a competitive environment to a more collaborative one between Departments.In this episode, we are joined by Harinder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Patrick Hetherington, Chief Operating Officer at the Department of Social Services, and Sean Innis, Principal of Damala Street Consulting. Hosted by Chairman of Partners Canberra at KPMG, Cath Ingram, they explore the purpose, impact, rewards, and challenges of contemporary public service.Discussed in this episode:· The pressures of an ‘always-on’ environment.· The role of stewardship.· Ethical decision making.· The hollowing and building of capability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new federal government has made the performance of the Australian Public Service a priority. A key part of this is the capacity of public servants to acquire and manage data and to effectively identify and adopt new digital technology. To deliver on those improvements, it is integral for those in digital and data to work together. This has been evident over the last couple of years, to deliver COVID-19 vaccine statuses and case numbers to the public in a timely manner.In this episode, we are joined by National Data Commissioner, Gayle Milnes and Chief Executive Officer at the Digital Transformation Agency, Chris Fechner. Listen as they discuss how they work to increase the use and availability of Australian Government Data.Discussed in this episode:· How the DATA scheme works.· The role of data sharing across government in the COVID-19 pandemic.· Digital transformation in the Australian government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you speak to almost anyone in Australia, they have probably heard of Questacon. Whether it’s on your year six excursion to Canberra or during the school holidays, it is a fun vibrant place where kids can learn about all things science and technology. However, a lesser known fact about the well-known tourist attraction is that it’s wide range of staff are all members of the APS.From working at the information desk, presenting science shows and even chatting about science in the galleries, each and every member of Questacon is playing their role in creating inspiration for not only children across Australia, but the APS as well.In this episode we are joined by three members from Questacon, The National Science and Technology Centre; Deputy Director and General Manager Kate Driver, Exhibition Designer Rachel Ball and Learning Programs Content Development Leader, David Cannell. Listen as they discuss a different side to working in the APS.Discussed in this episode:·       Benefits of working at Questacon.·       Creativity in the public sector.·       Innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic.·       The future of the Centre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The public service offers opportunity to contribute to positive outcomes for Australian communities and to pursue rewarding careers. It also comes with challenges, obstacles, ethical dilemmas, and racism for some of our First Nations public servants.Our conversation for this episode is an important one, with our guests exploring the push and pull factors for First Nations people in the Australian Public Service. It’s brought to you in NAIDOC Week, and as we are being encouraged to stand up for change, rally around Indigenous communities and make a stand for institutional and structural reforms. We’re joined by Professor Tom Calma AO FFA, Chancellor of the University of Canberra, Kate Thomann, General Manager of Business Development and Employment at the Aboriginal Hostels Limited, and Geoff Richardson PSM, First Nations Development Consultant. They share insights from decades of service in the APS, including:Push and pull factors for First Nations people in the APS.Benefits of public sector careers.Dealing with stigma within Indigenous communities of working in the APS.Addressing racism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia, like all countries, has experienced rapid change over the last few years which has altered people's expectations of government and the way they access government services. A new government at the federal level also means change – a need to adapt to new priorities, connect with stakeholders and build new relationships. In this latest episode, we’re joined by Australian Public Service (APS) veterans, Andrew Podger AO, Professor of Public Policy at the Australian National University, and Carmel McGregor PSM, Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra. They discuss:What the APS can expect from the new government.A new reform agenda.Future directions for the public service.Building more effective relationships between public service and academia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meetings can consume a large part of our working day, so we expect them to be productive and meaningful. While many of us ‘endure’ hours of seemingly wasteful meeting time, we need to remember that meetings are essentially a platform for unlocking the potential of people working collectively. They are a place where organisational culture forms and takes hold. In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Sean Innis, Principal of Damala St Consulting and Fellow of the Australian Studies Institute at the Australian National University, and Dr Subho Banerjee, Deputy CEO, Research and Advisory at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG). They speak with Megan Aponte-Payne, IPAA ACT Future Leaders Committee Member, on designing and conducting meetings that work for you and for your organisation. Discussed in this episode:Improving meeting effectiveness.Striking a balance between being well prepared and adaptive in meetings.Structuring meetings to enhance organisational culture.Replicating ‘corridor chats’ in virtual meetings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are currently experiencing a reset of the strategic order and rules that have governed our region for more than 70 years. China is challenging American dominance. We’re seeing the rise of other powers such as India and Indonesia, and a more assertive Japan. This, compounded with climate change, stress on the natural systems and food sources, has created a strategic environment that Australia hasn't had to deal with before. Policy makers – in fact all Australians - need to reconsider how we operate in the region, how we contribute, how we exercise leadership and what role we will play in responding to these enormous changes.This episode is a special one, as it was recorded shortly before the untimely passing of Brendan Sargeant. Brendan was the Professor of Practice in Defence and Strategic Studies and Head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University (ANU), former Associate Secretary of Defence, and long-time supporter and Deputy President of IPAA ACT. In the episode, Brendan is joined by Katherine Mansted, Director of Cyber Intelligence and Public Policy at CyberCX and Senior Fellow at the ANU’s National Security College. Discussed in this episode:A rapidly changing Asia-Pacific region and its impact on Australia.Articulating difficult conversations to develop a robust sense of defence in a complex time.The impact of climate change on the strategic order.The APS response. 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.Over 100 years on, and with a whole new spectrum of environmental issues at the fore, all levels of governments are still refining how to work together to get the best outcomes for their own jurisdictions, Australian citizens and the environment.In this week’s episode we are joined by Kate Lynch, the First Assistant Secretary of the Environment Protection division at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and Warrick McGrath, the Director of Biodiversity Regulatory Reform at the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning. Listen as they explore the topic of working across jurisdictions on environment, policy, and regulation.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.

Before the pandemic, the APSC reported that 22% of APS employees were working from home or utilising flexible working arrangements. As we all know, when COVID-19 hit the nation, this number grew substantially to 56%. In 2022 Australians are slowly learning how to work in the context of the pandemic. This means that for many flexible working arrangements are becoming the norm, including those in the APS. So, the question is posed, do we have to be in the office or even the same city as our office in order to work effectively and efficiently?In this week’s episode we are joined by Duncan Young, General Manager of the Census and Data Acquisition Division at the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Ali Jenkins, Senior Executive at the APS Reform Office at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Listen as they both share how they are leading teams in Canberra, remotely from Tasmania.Discussed in this episode:·        The pluses and minuses of working remotely to your team.·        Key tips for remote working.·        Maintaining professional relationships from a distance.·        The future of flexible working.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COVID-19 has accelerated the uptake of digital technology and brought about a greater awareness of wellbeing and productivity, particularly in times of crisis. It has forced a new way of working for teams, organisations and individuals. So, what are the lessons that we've learned from the past couple of years and what do we need to do to ensure that we can create and sustain high performing organisations throughout this time of change? What are the building blocks for improving performance and productivity and how do we manage and sustain not just our own performance, but the performance of the people who we lead at this time?In this week’s episode we are joined by two former federal APS Departmental Secretaries who are now part of the team at Proximity. Glenys Beauchamp PSM is the Principal Advisor of Proximity’s health and industry practices and Kerri Hartland is a Principal Advisor and Chair of their Advisory Board. Listen as they chat to David Pembroke, contentgroup Founder and CEO, in a conversation originally recorded as a webinar between contentgroup and Proximity. Discussed in this episode:·        New ways of problem solving. ·        The importance of planning, no matter the situation.·        Risk management and mitigation in the APS.·        The APS response to misinformation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.