Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector – Details, episodes & analysis

On today’s episode of Work with Purpose, Andrew Walter from the Department of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Professor Anne Tiernan from the McKinnon Institute for Political Leadership unpack the caretaker conventions.

The Australian federal election campaign is well underway – this means the Australian Public Service is now in caretaker mode. But what does this mean for the day-to-day work of public servants?

Host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, speaks with Andrew Walter, first assistant secretary of the Government Division at PM&C, and Anne Tiernan head of research and Professor of Political Leadership at the McKinnon Institute for Political Leadership, walk us through the basics, and talk about how to navigate political and administrative pitfalls. They also clarify when caretaker mode starts and ends, and how you can handle requests for information from ministers.

Key tips:

1. Get in touch your portfolio agency’s caretaker team if you have questions on caretaker conventions
2. If you’ve never been through caretaker, familiarise yourself with the guidance and speak to team members who have experienced it before
3. If a minister asks for factual information during caretaker period, you can provide it. However, be careful if it’s not the type of information you ordinarily provide, requires significant resources, or is likely to be used for campaign purposes. When in doubt, seek advice.

Show notes:

• Guidance on caretaker conventions | Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet
• Caretaker Conventions in Australasia | Jennifer Menzies & Anne Tiernan | ANU Press
• Caretaker conventions | APS Academy

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On this episode of Work with Purpose, we hear from Ray Griggs AO CSC about what working in the navy has taught him about taking and giving feedback, and why difficult conversations are part and parcel of becoming a better leader.

Ray Griggs AO CSC looks back at a long and distinguished career in the public sector – from Australia’s Defence Force to most recently the Department of Social Services. Along the way, he navigated many difficult conversations, had his views contested, and at times, had to manage failure. In this conversation with host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, he tells us how these challenges contribute to growing as a leader – and as a human.

They also discuss managing large-scale change in complex environments, why you should always do your own fact-checking, and how solutions through new technologies need to be co-designed with Australia’s communities.

1. How you respond to people’s views and ideas is crucial. Respond the way you’d like your own leaders to respond to you.
2. Never neglect doing your own fact checking. Once you launch into the process, your credibility can be at risk.
3. Work out how real a timeline is. Sometimes we impose unrealistic timelines on ourselves.

• Valedictory: Ray Griggs AO CSC | IPAA ACT

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In this re-run of our most popular Work with Purpose episode of 2024, Dr Nina Terrey, Bec Bodel and Professor Brenton Prosser help you learn the ropes of human-centred design.

In today’s complex world, how can the public sector effectively ensure that its policies and programs are centred on the needs of the people they serve? This episode explores human-centered design as one piece to solving this puzzle.

In our first re-run of 2024’s best Work with Purpose episodes, host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, convenes class with three leading experts in the design space: Bec Bodel from the Australian Taxation Office, Professor Brenton Prosser from UNSW Canberra, and Dr Nina Terrey from ThinkPlace. Together, they walk through the most important parts of the design process and discuss how empathy, creativity, and strategic thinking can truly make a difference to policy and service delivery for Australia’s communities. Our guests also share practical tips and resources, so you can hit the books and start your own design journey.

1. You don’t have to always do every prescribed step of the design process. Decide what works best for your situation, and keep in mind that discovery itself is important.
2. Work with a mixed team of people with different areas of expertise.
3. Join a design community with like-minded individuals to keep learning about best practice and new approaches.

• How to empathy map | Nielsen Norman Group
• Expand: Stretching the Future By Design | Book by Christian Bason and Jens Martin Skibsted
• Community-led project | Just Reinvest
• Policy-making through design | The Policy Lab
• Intro to human-centred design | Government of Victoria
• International Design in Government Community
• Don’t Make Me Think | Book by Steve Krug
• Human-centred design program | An outline of National Standards for Out‐of‐home Care
• Government centred design, future-led | NESTA

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According to the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), only 4% of the APS workforce identifies with having a disability. Why is this and what can be done to change this statistic to help make the APS a more enabling, collaborative and a more inclusive workplace for those with a disability?

In this weeks episode of Work with Purpose episode we are joined by Catherine Seaberg, Assistant Commissioner leading the inclusion group at the APSC and Cain Beckett, Assistant Secretary of Policy Projects and Taskforces at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet as they discuss improving employment outcomes for those with a disability in the APS.

Discussed in this episode:

• Reflections on personal experience of working with a disability in the APS
• Advocacy and the STEPtember initiative
• What is being done to make the APS more inclusive
• The APS Disability Employment Strategy

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Now more than ever, public servants are being encouraged to take up mobility opportunities and learn from the different experiences offered within the public sector. The benefits of having an open growth mindset and a genuine commitment to understanding different workplace contexts, help us to be more flexible in our roles, and better prepares us for managing the different pathways that our careers take. Diversity of thought and experience also makes for a well-rounded leader.

This special Future Leaders inspired Work with Purpose episode is built around the concept of a how to make an impact in the first 90 days in a new job, within the context of transitioning across the private and public sectors. Guests Jill Charker, Associate Partner, at McKinsey & Company and Stephen Barrow-Yu, Assistant Secretary of Performance, Safety and Integrity at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, speak with Holly Noble, Director, Strategic Planning and Performance at the Department of Finance, and Chair of IPAA ACT’s Future Leaders Committee.

Discussed in this episode:

• The importance of growth and broadening horizons
• Managing career change and adjusting to new roles
• Cross sector relationships and leadership learnings from other sectors

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The pandemic has arguably compelled Australia’s public sector to grow and transform in a way as never seen before. It is more modern, flexible, fit for purpose and up to the task. It should be proud of its stewardship role looking after Australia’s health, social and economic needs throughout COVID-19.

Yet there is always more room to grow.

In this episode we are joined by Simon Atkinson, Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications as he is interviewed by Michael Manthorpe PSM, Commonwealth Ombudsman as part of IPAA’s Secretary Series. 

Discussed in this episode:

• Public sector diversity.
• Systems leadership.
• Mega projects.
• Importance of self-reflection and growth.

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The Public Service Medal (PSM) pays tribute to public servants who have gone above and beyond to deliver. It pays homage to outstanding service, including service excellence, innovation, leadership and other achievements. 

In this episode we’re joined by Paul Way PSM, Director General at the Department of Defence, Dr Ros Baxter PSM, Deputy Secretary at the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and Caroline Edwards PSM, former Associate Secretary at the Department of Health and IPAA ACT Councillor. Hosted by journalist Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra, Virginia Haussegger AM, they explore the meaning behind and significance of Public Service Medals.

Discussed in this episode:

• Panellists’ reflections on being awarded the PSM
• Inspiration in the public service
• The PSM nomination process

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One of the biggest challenges that we all face in the Australian Public Service is making our voices heard. With over 150,000 APS employees both in Australia and around the world, this can be quite the task, particularly for those considered to be part of a minority group. So how do we get people to listen? How do we ensure that our words and actions are making an impact and what steps need to be taken in order to do this?

In this episode we are joined by the Chief Executive Officer of the Torres Strait Regional Authority, Leilani Bin-Juda PSM as she is interviewed by IPAA National President Dr Gordon de Brouwer PSM to discuss how to make a lasting impact on the APS.

Discussed in this episode:

• Leading a remote agency in the APS
• Torres Strait COVID-19 public sector response
• Representation in the APS
• Learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic

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What does it take to be an Australian Public Servant? What are the skills and crafts that we need in order to serve the Australian Public in the best way that we can? The APS Academy is a place for all members of the APS to help teach and expand their skills by working on their ‘craft’ to improve their skills to do just that. Launching last week, today’s guests discuss its importance and the role the Academy will play in the future of the APS.

In this episode we are joined by Australian Public Service Commissioner, Peter Woolcott AO, Clare Walsh, the Deputy Secretary of Business Enabling Services at the Department of Finance and Dr Subho Banerjee, the Deputy CEO (Research and Advisory) at ANZSOG as they discuss the launch of the new APS Academy.

Discussed in this episode:

• What is craft and why is it important to the APS?
• How the APS Academy will help the whole of APS
• What you will be able to find on the APS Academy
• Where you can access the Academy content

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How do you lead a team during extreme and sudden times of crisis? This is something that many people all over the world have recently had to face including those in the Australian public service. Today’s interviewers, Isabelle Franklin and Megan Aponte-Payne from the IPAA Future Leaders Committee delve into this topic asking our guests how they showed leadership in crises such as the 2007-8 Global Financial Crisis and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and how these events have changed them and their leadership styles moving forward.

In this episode we are joined by Australian Statistician at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Dr David Gruen, and Dr Ken Henry AC, the Chair of the Sir Roland Foundation at the Australian National University and a non-executive director of the Australian Securities Exchange.

Discussed in this episode:

• Importance of open and regular communication with staff.
• Balancing personal values vs. corporate ones.
• How leaders can learn from crises
• Examples of effective crisis communications

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