Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector

The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP joins us on the episode of Work with Purpose to highlight how evaluation can help create better policies and programs. On a recent episode of Work with Purpose on the art of policymaking, our experts agreed that evaluation should be baked into the development process from the get-go – but how do you make it work when the pressure is high? The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assi...

Lydia Milosavljevic from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and Zoe Scanlon from the Attorney-General’s Department give us a masterclass in executive support on this episode of Work with Purpose. What does it take to build a superstar executive support team? Hear from Lydia Milosavljevic, executive assistant to Deputy Secretary Simon Duggan at the Department of Cli...

If your team is grappling with an increasingly busy workload, today’s episode of Work with Purpose with Martin Hehir PSM and Kathy Hilyard will give you some useful tips on how better collaboration can become part of the solution. With a busy work program following the pandemic, Martin Hehir PSM , deputy secretary, Governance and Corporate and chief operating officer, Department of the Prime Minis...

A stronger emphasis on merit now will be crucial to ensure a thriving public service in the future, former APS Commissioner Andrew Podger AO tells us on this episode of Work with Purpose. APS Reform is in full swing, but what else could be added to the agenda? On this episode, we hear the perspective of former senior public servant, now commentor and researcher, Andrew Podger AO on the value of me...

Dr Wendy Craik AM FTSE joins us for this episode reflecting on a career of curiosity and collaboration in service of Australia’s marine environment. Dr Wendy Craik AM FTSE has had a long and distinguished career across science, not-for-profits and the public sector. What has she learned along the way, from her time as a PhD candidate in Canada researching fish to working on the first management pl...

In a first for Work with Purpose, we welcome The Hon Patrick Gorman MP to talk about his journey into politics, supporting the Prime Minister, and his vision for the use of artificial intelligence in the public service. From Assistant Minister to the Public Service, to Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, to – more recently – Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General, the Hon Patrick Gorman...

Dr Trish Mercer, Andrew Tongue PSM and Fiona Barbaro PSM return to complete your policy essentials class with a focus on the mystical policy window, the art of foresight, and the power of evaluation. In today’s complex and fast-moving environment, opportunities to introduce a policy can be tricky to identify. Dr Trish Mercer from the Australian National University, experienced former public servan...

Dr Trish Mercer, Andrew Tongue PSM and Fiona Barbaro PSM take us back to the essentials of policy-making – from understanding the political environment to creating a convincing narrative. What do you need to know about the political environment to make good policy? And how do you create a narrative that gets people on board with your proposal? In this first Work with Purpose episode in our two-par...

Matt Yannopoulos PSM, Associate Secretary of the Department of Defence, maps out a unified approach for the public service to defend Australia’s interests. In a world with increasing geopolitical tension, collaboration across the public service remains key to protecting Australia’s security and prosperity. On this episode, David Pembroke sits down with Matt Yannopoulos PSM, Associate Secretary of...

In celebration of NAIDOC Week, Corey Tutt OAM from DeadlyScience and artist Ben Williams share the spirit of pride in their heritage and work. They invite you to listen closely to create true connections with First Nations peoples. How can all Australians join in celebrating First Nations peoples’ contributions? And what will it take for the public sector to become a genuine partner for Indigenous...

Dr Amaly Khalaf and Dr Steven Munns from the Australian Public Service Commission explore psychological safety in public sector workplaces – from the desk to the frontlines. Creating workplaces which are both mentally and physically safe is a mission close to Dr Amaly Khalaf’s and Dr Steven Munn’s hearts. On this episode of Work with Purpose, they talk us through how the public sector is working t...

Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care Blair Comley PSM tells the story of his public service career, and highlights how devolving leadership in the public sector can reduce risk, increase work quality and staff satisfaction. Blair Comley PSM looks back at an outstanding career across the public and private sectors, from designing the GST to driving the Department of Health and Aged C...

As the UN Climate Change Conference wraps up in Bonn, our Work with Purpose guests Dr Mara Hammerle and Andrew Hudson discuss the link between climate change and wellbeing and share some innovative ideas for greening government procurement. Climate change remains one of the world’s most complex and systemic challenges. With a profound effect on human wellbeing, experts across the world are looking...

On today’s Work with Purpose episode, Director General of IP Australia, Michael Schwager tells IP Australia’s innovation success story, and how the broader public sector can follow in its steps.   Did you know that 57 per cent of IP Australia's staff rate their culture as positively supporting innovation, 18 per cent higher than the APS average? Today, we hear from with Michael Schwager, Dire...

On today’s Work with Purpose episode, Dr Nina Terry, 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. Host David Pembrok...

Today, we celebrate 100 episodes of Work with Purpose with a special conversation between two passionate public servants: Dr Gordon de Brouwer, Australian Public Service Commissioner and Thanuri Welaratne, education programs officer at Questacon. Together, they explore Gordon’s extensive career journey, covering the APS reform agenda and his report on bullying and harassment. Gordon highlights the...

Daniel Patterson has always been keen to do good for Canberra’s communities – and their backyards. On this episode of Public Sector Unearthed, the horticulture expert and passionate public servant tells us the story of Canberra’s innovative European Wasp program. Daniel shares how his team manages European wasps in the ACT, by focusing on eco-friendly, preventative measures. He talks us through ho...

Whilst the ‘whole-of-nation’ approach is not new on the global stage, it is still a relatively new concept in Australian international policy circles. Amidst global challenges that demand more than just government action, it is also becoming increasingly vital. Unlike the familiar whole-of-government strategy, the ‘whole-of-nation’ approach includes a broader coalition, encompassing public sector...

In this episode of the Public Sector Unearthed podcast, Matt Padovan and Noel Chan from the ACT public service walk us through the organisation’s innovative flexible work program. Having worked on this project well before the world had to grapple with more flexible work demands due to COVID-19, Matt, who is director of flexible work within the ACT Government’s Office of Industrial Relations and Wo...

In episode 7 of the Public Sector Unearthed podcast, we hear the success story of the Fitzroy Crossing service centre's redevelopment from Ewa Griffiths and Zara Nehow, who were at the core of this initiative. Their innovative approach involved creating a co-designed space that respects local needs and incorporates elements reflecting cultural aspects and Indigenous arts. This earned them the 2023...

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is 'Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.' In Australia, progress toward gender equality is ongoing, yet significant challenges remain, particularly in financial security and workforce participation. Additionally, systemic issues like the undervaluation of care and the prevalence of part-time work disproportionately affect women's f...

Trigger warning: This podcast discusses topics related to war and warfare, which some listeners might find distressing. If you need someone to speak with, do not hesitate to contact Beyond Blue’s 24-hour support via 1300 22 4636. As AI continues to evolve, its application in defence raises critical ethical questions. Ensuring the responsible integration of AI technologies within the Australian Def...

Despite greater flexibility and more opportunities, 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. In our final rerun of the most pop...

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 pri...

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. In this rerun of our most popular Work with Purpose episodes in 2023, we re...