Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Service.

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, Director General of IP Australia, about pioneering innovation in the public sector in conversation with host David Pembroke. Michael shares how IP Australia balances risk and innovation to create a culture where new ideas thrive, and failures are learning opportunities. He also offers practical advice and examples from his experiences on how public sector bodies and individuals can drive forward-thinking initiatives.Show notes:·      TM checker tool | An example of innovation·      Observatory of Public Sector Innovation | OECD·      Behaviourial economics | Innovative practice·      ATO Cyber Program | Innovation in digital solutions | OECD

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 Pembroke convenes class with three leading experts in the design space: Bec Bodel from the Australian Taxation Office, 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 for you to hit the books and start your own design journey.Show Notes: How to empathy map | Nielsen Norman GroupExpand: Stretching the Future By Design | Book by Christian Bason and Jens Martin SkibstedCommunity-led project | Just ReinvestPolicy-making through design | The Policy LabIntro to human-centred design | Government of VictoriaInternational Design in Government CommunityDon't Make Me Think | Book by Steve KrugHuman-centred design program | An outline of National Standards for Out‐of‐home CareGovernment centred design, future-led | NESTA

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 critical role public servants play in maintaining democratic governance and upholding the principles of transparency, accountability and service to the community. Along with Thanuri, Gordon also discusses how public servants can navigate work-life balance, and what flexibility means post-pandemic.Framing the conversation, host David Pembroke looks back on Work with Purpose’s 100-episode journey – from its first episode covering the public service’s COVID-19 response to today’s conversation about reform, stewardship, and purpose.

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 how the program evolved through using new luring techniques and focusing on preventative, rather than reactive, approaches for trapping queen wasps to reduce the wasp population.The program became a standout initiative in public safety and environmental management, earning the 2023 IPAA ACT Spirit of Service Awards in the ‘Breakthrough’ category.This episode’s Unearthed wisdom: Pest control is crucial to keeping local species and communities safe and thriving.

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 agencies and actors from science, sports, arts, industry, civil society and more. But what are the nuances of this approach, and what potential does it hold for Australia on the global stage? In this episode, host David Pembroke welcomes Melissa Conley Tyler, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Development Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D) and honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne. The discussion hones in on a comprehensive report published by AP4D in February, which involved consultations with 113 individuals from 93 organisations on the whole-of-nation approach. Throughout the episode, Melissa sheds light on the perceived benefits, potential barriers, and the critical balance between commercial and national interests. Tune in to discover how this approach applies to various areas, from major sporting events to climate change initiatives. Show notes: A whole-of-nation approach to international policy | Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue    The whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace | National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict A whole-of-nation approach | Executive Order No. 70, President of Philippines  Public service to go from ‘whole-of-government' to ‘whole-of-nation' | The Straits Times, Singapore  A Whole of Nation Approach | Singapore Government

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 Workforce Strategy, reflects on the program’s development. He highlights that it is as much about innovative workspaces as it is about cultural uplift, and why this approach wasn’t without challenges in the initial stages.Noel, who is director of the North Canberra Hospital Transition Project at the ACT Health Directorate is an avid user of the flexi hub workspaces, with the Belconnen site being her personal favourite. She talks about how the flexible workspaces have improved her work-life balance, and how it’s helped her gain a fresh perspective on the importance of collaboration between different directorates.Together with guest presenter Brock Phyland, Matt and Noel explore how flexible workspaces have transitioned from simply providing location flexibility to driving a cultural shift that promotes collaboration and innovation across various government areas.This episode’s Unearthed wisdom: Experimentation and taking risks are key to creating flexible workspaces that are responsive to workforce needs.

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 IPAA ACT Spirit of Service Awards in the Community Engagement category.Ewa, the director of face-to-face service transformation at Services Australia, discusses the broader vision and strategic approach behind the redesign of the Fitzroy Crossing service center. She talks us through how the plan for the redesign came about and highlights lessons for future service center redesigns.Meanwhile, Zara, who is the service centre manager at Fitzroy Crossing with Services Australia hones in on community connection and takes us on a virtual walkthrough of the service centre. She also talks candidly about the impact of the 2023 floods on the newly opened center and how it has affected the redesign and the community.This episode’s unearthed wisdom: Empathy, collaboration, and a deep respect for cultural heritage are the cornerstones of creating spaces where communities can truly connect.

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 financial security. So how can Australia’s governments, businesses and communities work together to tackle these persistent challenges? In this Work with Purpose extra episode Cath Ingram, IPAA ACT board member, speaks with Cherelle Murphy, EY Oceania chief economist, and Padma Raman, executive director of the Office for Women at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, about the state of gender equality in Australia. They discuss how to improve financial inclusion for women, and examine how gender-sensitive budgeting can pave the way for more equitable policies. Discussed in this episode:Empowering women through financial literacyThe importance of data sharing to improve women’s financial inclusionCreating workplaces free of sexual harassment and sexual discriminationThe role of the Women in Economics Network in supporting women in their careersRecognising intersectional challenges faced by women. Show notes:Media release: National gender pay gap of 13.3% just a fraction of the real cost on women | Workplace Gender Equality AgencyGender equality and intersecting forms of diversity | Workplace Gender Equality AgencyInternational Women’s Day | UN Women

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 Defence Force (ADF) demands strict adherence to ethical standards. How then, can policy makers and public administrators ensure that the deployment of these technologies aligns with strategic objectives, ethical standards of the ADF and international law? Further, what are the potential impacts of AI on decision-making processes and the dynamics of warfare?In this first new Work with Purpose episode in 2024, host David Pembroke is joined by two leading Australian experts in AI ethics and military applications. Professor Toni Erskine from the ANU Coral Bell School explores the moral agency of AI-enabled military tools and what they mean for future use-of-force decisions. Adjunct Professor Kate Conroy from the Centre for Robotics, School of Electrical Engineering and Robotics at Queensland University of Technology, examines the ethical challenges of AI deployment in military and civilian contexts. The conversation covers the complex environment of AI in defence, shedding a light on autonomy in weapon systems, and emphasising the importance of balancing technological progress with ethical responsibility in defence. Kate Conroy speaks in her personal capacity and views are her own.Show notes:A method for ethical AI in Defence | Defence Science & Technology GroupAustralia’s System of Control and applications for Autonomous Weapons Systems | Australian GovernmentBad, mad and cooked: Moral responsibility for civilian harm in human-AI military teams | Dr Kate Conroy née DevittHow might AI affect the trustworthiness of public service delivery | Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetEthical use of AI in the workplace - AI WHS Scorecard | NSW GovernmentSystems of Control | UNODAAI, automated systems, and future use-of-force decision making: Anticipating effects | Professor Toni ErskineAnticipating the Future of War: AI, Automated Systems, and Resort-to-Force Decision Making