Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector

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.Key tips: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.Work with a mixed team of people with different areas of expertise.Join a design community with like-minded individuals to keep learning about best practice and new approaches.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

Join us in unpacking the best conversations of Work with Purpose in 2024 – from tips for human-centred design to understanding how the public sector can join hands in defence of Australia.As the year comes to a close, we listen back to some of our fantastic 2024 Work with Purpose guests, reflecting on the sector’s most pressing challenges, innovative ideas, and inspiring stories.Presented by David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, our guests give us many gifts – tips on reimagining leadership and collaboration, navigating workplace safety, ethical governance, and innovation, and designing better programs and policies with humans at the centre. We also return to learning about the most important tools for effective policymaking and the critical role of national security and defence. And finally, of course, we celebrate the stories of passion for public service past and present.Key tips1.       Engage in diversity of thinking – involving them will be beneficial for you and the programs you’re designing.2.       To combat burnout, set boundaries around your workloads and encourage your team to do the same.3.       For the best results in policymaking, you need to understand the policy window – the right time and political will need to combine.4.       If you want to see change, you need to have uncomfortable conversations about your and others’ biases.Show notesWork with Purpose APS | LinkedInIPAA ACT | LinkedInWork with Purpose | NewsletterWork with Purpose | Blog

TW: mental health and suicideOn our first ever Work with Purpose live episode, we shine a light on men’s mental health – from the numbers to the stories behind them – with Matthew Short from the Department of Health, Matthew Breen from Running for Resilience, and Lachlan Vivian-Taylor from Comcare.According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 42 per cent of men will experience a mental health disorder in their lives; they are our partners, family, friends, and colleagues. So, how can everyone contribute to lifting the stigma around men’s mental health, and build workplaces and communities where they feel safe to talk about it if they so choose?Hosted by David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, our Work with Purpose live panel – Matthew Short, assistant secretary of the Child, Youth and Priority Populations, Matthew Breen, co-founder of Running for Resilience, and Lachlan Vivian-Taylor, general manager, Claims Management Group at Comcare – highlight the stories behind the numbers, including their own. They also talk about how you can look after yourself and those around you, and why it matters how you respond, not what happens to you.Key tips:Exercise and community can help you take your mind of whatever you’re feeling in that moment.As part of government, work hand-in-hand with communities to prevent mental health challenges and support those who are struggling.Check in with your friends, colleagues and family and be prepared to listen.If this episode raises concerns for you, help is available. Please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1300 22 4636. Show notes:National phone service | Head to HealthNational Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing | Australian Bureau of StatisticsPsychosocial hazards | ComcareRunning for ResilienceTough Guy Book Club

Today, Dr Antonio Di Dio from the Professional Services Review talks about how to identify burnout and support yourself and your team members when they struggle with mental health challenges.The end of the year is inching closer, but for many working in the public sector, the next time-hungry project is just around the corner, increasing pressure on their mental health and wellbeing. In 2023, 1 in 3 respondents to the APS Census reported feeling burnt out by their work – so, how can organisations and individuals stem the tide?On this episode of Work with Purpose, host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup speaks with Dr Antonio Di Dio, long-term GP and director of the Professional Services Review, about the state of burnout in the sector, and why caring for your work can be both a blessing and a curse. Antonio highlights the need for education about what causes burnout and offers some practical strategies to help support yourself and those around you, from setting boundaries to self-care and regular breaks.Key tips1.     Support people in getting the right diagnosis so they can get treatment.2.   Whilst you can’t always do much about the workflow, ensure you have clear expectations and give recognition to your staff for their work.3.    Watch out for: perfectionism, pessimism, overachieving and strong need for control – people with these qualities are at the highest risk of burnout.Show notesThe 2023 APS Employee Census Overall results | Australian Public Service CommissionPublic Sector Neurodiversity Community of Practice | Australian Public Service CommissionProfessional Services ReviewBurnout diagnosis one step closer with new clinical checklist and predictor of which personalities are most at risk | Black Dog Institute

Sam Jeffries from the Australian Public Service Commission, Julie Hansen from the Department of Defence, and Stella Renagi from the Australian Taxation Office join us on this episode to discuss the Collaboration Circle, a new model centering First Nations experiences in the APS.Effective engagement with First Nations peoples to ensure better recruitment, retention and advancement is a priority under the Australian Public Service Reform pillar ‘The APS as a model employer’. Collaboration Circle is a recent initiative under this pillar in line with Closing the Gap Priority Reform 3, designed to ensure that the experience of First Nations public servants is understood by the senior leaders of the APS.On this episode, First Nations APS leaders Sam Jeffries, first assistant commissioner First Nations Systems Lead at the Australian Public Service Commission, Julie Hansen, Training Force WHS advisor at the Department of Defence and Stella Renagi, business strategy manager at the Australian Taxation Office, join host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, to talk about the how the Collaboration Circle initiative has evolved from pilot to a permanent mechanism in 2025.Key tipsTrust is the currency – it is the only thing that will help you build relationships to drive genuine change.Embrace the findings of the Collaboration Circle to support recruitment and retention of First Nations staff in your organisation. Bring it into senior leadership meetings.Recognise your privilege and bias, and that people’s lives can be very different.Show notesAPS Consultative Committee communique | Australian Public Service CommissionClosing the Gap Priority Reform 3 | Closing the GapCOO Committee communique: 25 June 2024 | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

On this episode, Colonel Jennifer Harris from the Australian Army gives us a masterclass in managing change in complex organisations, based on her experience with the Army’s Digital Twin.Change can be difficult – as individuals, we prefer stability and predictability. Particularly when working in large organisations, it can be both an opportunity and a great challenge to align everyone to achieve a common change goal. But the Australian Army’s ongoing Digital Twin project showcases how it can be done successfully.On this episode of Work with Purpose, Colonel Jennifer Harris explores how the Army, in response to the Defence Strategic Review, established a system that would enable the organisation to rapidly identify risks to warfighting and future capability – the Army’s Digital Twin. Together with host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, Jen talks about the intricacies of managing change at this scale and what theories and frameworks helped her keep people at the centre of transformation.Key tips:Working on big projects requires you to iterate all the time – it is a live activity.Whilst tools and applications are important for any transformation to succeed, you need to focus on the people who will use them. People don’t maliciously resist change – they’re just invested in the current system. Shifting mental models can take time but is worth the investment.Show notes:The case for a military Spatial Digital Twin | Australian Army Research CentreNational Defence: Defence Strategic Review 2023 | Australian Government: DefenceBerkana Two Loops model | Innovation UnitSystems change | Observatory of Public Sector Innovation

Jim Betts, Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, talks about shaping his role as APS CALD Champion and why he wants leaders to take action to achieve equality.Our recent episode on CALD representation in the senior executive left many of us and our listeners humbled. Australia’s public service is diverse, yet there is still some way to go to achieve true equality for CALD employees in its senior ranks.This time, Jim Betts joins host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, to talk about the Secretaries Board’s CALD compact to support inclusion and equality at the leadership level. Jim talks about his role as an advocate, encouraging other secretaries to champion the cause of CALD employees.Jim also talks about his love for creating environments where others can thrive and bring their authentic selves to work and shaking up people’s pre-conceptions of what a senior public servant looks like. Key tips:As a leader, you don’t need to speak in management jargon to succeed, if that’s not who you are. You can be your authentic self.CALD employees shouldn’t have to drive change alone – be a champion for their cause.To create a sense of belonging, support your CALD employees in telling their stories and empathise with them.Show notes:Secretaries Board communique: 9 October 2024 | Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetWhy cultural and linguistic diversity matters | Work with Purpose

Adam Fennessy PSM, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, shares tips for having difficult conversations and an insight into the department’s recent Growing Australia Together strategy on this episode of Work with Purpose.Where is the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry headed under its recent Growing Australia Together strategy? And what are Secretary Adam Fennessy’s priorities based on the department’s capability review?Host David Pembroke and Adam discuss how ‘Growing Australia Together’ aims to increase the value of agriculture production and expand trade markets, protect the country’s food and fibre from diseases, and make agriculture more sustainable. Adam also talks about managing avian flu outbreaks in Australia, and the government’s $100 million investment in preparedness for new variants.In this episode, also learn about Adam’s focus on enhancing the department’s digital systems, staying connected with staff spread across Australia, and getting the most out of flexible working arrangements.Lastly, hear some key tips on how to have difficult conversations – whether it’s with your staff or stakeholders.Key tips:Go out and connect with community directly to have difficult debates even if it’s hard to hear. You will get better outcomes.In difficult conversations, make it about the issue and be prepared to step into an uncomfortable space.If you’re keen to optimise your flexible working arrangements, look into what the data tells you about how your workplace functions most effectively – don’t rely on anecdotes.Show notes:Fierce Conversations | Susan ScottGrowing Australia together | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and ForestryFlexible working in the ACT Public Service | UNSW