Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector

In the closing days of March this year, both the threat and impact of coronavirus had become all-too real. The disease was spreading fast, Australians were ordered home until further notice and a degree of confusion and mild panic took over. In response, the Australian Government formed the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC) giving it a very clear remit to minimise the impact of COVI...

A shiny new leadership role in the Australian Public Serve and then … the implementation of 50 plus policy decisions by National Cabinet, 3 million phone calls in one day, the number of claims normally processed in years were being processed in days, the onboarding thousands of new staff, and the prospect of helping one million Australians who were about to lose their jobs. This is what faced Rebe...

Australia's first peoples are among Australia's most vulnerable communities. The virality of Covid 19 posted a particularly serious threat. In this episode we speak with the leaders of the National Indigenous Australians Agency to explore the decisions, partnerships and networks that were deployed to keep the people in and the virus out of our most remote communities. Ray Griggs was appointed...

As we begin Innovation month in the Australian Public Service (July), we celebrate the creativity of public servants across the country during a time of great challenge and change. This week’s guests David Fredericks, the Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and Michelle Bruniges AM, Secretary of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, reflect on...

Integrity is the essence of public service. It captures the aspiration of the APS values (Impartial, committed to service, accountable, respectful and ethical) and sits at the heart of the its mission. In this week’s episode of Work with Purpose, we speak with three APS leaders about the importance of integrity and its impact on citizens. Angelene Falk is the Information Commissioner and Privacy C...

Doctor Brendan Murphy recounts the heartache of closing Australia’s borders and many businesses. Caroline Edwards tells of the late-night WhatsApp conversations with her family in Spain as the virus tore through that European country up ending their way of life. In this powerful and personal episode of Work with Purpose, you are left reassured that Australia’s “Team Health’, a team of thousands of...

The mission of the hard-working men and women of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is to deliver on the Australian government’s first priority which is to keep all Australian’s safe. But how do you do that when the rules change? In this week’s episode of Work with Purpose, David Pembroke sits down with Mike Burgess, Australia’s Director-General of Security and the head of the Au...

The ‘Work with Purpose – A National Perspective’ podcast explores the way public services across Australia have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and examines some of the adaptations to public administration that may occur during the recovery phase. The COVID-19 pandemic has tested the ability of Australian governments to respond effectively in a rapid, coordinated, and collaborative way. In Vic...

Unity of purpose has been a fundamental characteristic of Australia’s response to the Covid 19 pandemic. While our medical experts have been looking to subdue the virus, our crime fighting experts have been working hard to minimize the impact of criminals in Australia and from overseas. And just as the performance of team Australia’s health experts has been recognised for its effectiveness, so too...

A collaborative business model developed during this year’s Bushfire crisis held the Australian Defence Force in shaping its contribution to the COVID-19 pandemic. The central principle is, “How can we help”’. The vast Defence enterprise of skilled people and capability is made available to Federal, State and Territory governments, to meet their most pressing needs. From health professionals to pr...

Bushfires, a hailstorm and a global pandemic. And it’s not even June. The people of Canberra have experienced significant challenge over the past few months, and we’re pleased to report that ACT Government have been keeping the show on the road. In this week’s episode David Pembroke sits down in #studio19 with ACT Coordinator General for the COVID-19, Rebecca Cross and Director General at ACT Educ...

On this week’s episode of Work with Purpose David Pembroke is joined by Deputy Secretary Corporate and Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Home Affairs, Cheryl-anne Moy. As a Deputy Secretary, Cheryl-anne’s day job is managing the seven divisions in the Federal Department of Home Affairs that deal with corporate capability not only for the Department but the Australian Border Force. Durin...

In our social media driven world, information is available from all corners of the globe 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. On this week’s episode of Work with Purpose David Pembroke and our first co-host, IPAA’s Future Leader’s Forum chair, Holly Noble, ask Frances Adamson, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, how she makes decisions when coping with informat...

A big part of the Australian Public Service’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been deciding what to do and what not to do. The interests of the Australian people have been at the heart of the question. In our fourth episode of Work with Purpose, David Pembroke sits down in Studio-19 with the secretary of the Department of Social Services and a senior member of the Australian Public Service l...

As we settle in to a new way of living, many are asking what is the “new normal”.  In our third episode of Work with Purpose, David Pembroke sits down via Zoom with the Deputy Secretary at the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources Elizabeth Kelly PSM. Elizabeth is a lawyer turned bureaucrat who during her legal career worked on tasks as diverse as prosecuting serious Frau...

The priority and pressure of dealing with the COVID 19 pandemic is forging stronger relationships not only in the Australian public service but between Government, Industry and peak bodies. In our second episode of Work with Purpose, David Pembroke sits down with Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Andrew Metcalfe AO. Andrew began his career in the Australian Publ...

The Covid 19 pandemic is forcing the Australian Public Service to move quickly in support of the Australian government agenda. In our first episode of Work with Purpose contentgroup founder and CEO David Pembroke sits down with Peter Woolcott AO and Katherine Jones. Peter is the current Australian Public Service Commissioner. Having a highly distinguished career prior to this role, serving as Aust...