Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care Blair Comley PSM shares his public service journey with IPAA ACT, highlighting the benefits of devolving leadership in public sector work.
Archive: IPAA Public Sector Hub
Success and failure in policy and how to fail forward with flair
How can we define policy success? IPAA Queensland shares insights from academic literature, highlighting the complexities and frameworks in evaluating public policy outcomes.
Championing innovation in your public sector organisation
How can you champion innovation within your public sector organisation? Michael Schwager, director general of IP Australia, shares insights on fostering a culture of innovation on IPAA ACT’s Work with Purpose podcast.
Top insights from the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer Report: A collision of trust, innovation, and politics
The Edelman Trust Barometer provides crucial insights into global trust in various institutions, from government and media. The report serves as a pulse check on the current state of public trust and is vital for anyone working in public purpose work. IPAA Queensland shares key insights from this year’s report.
How to create societies for human wellbeing
Dr Matt Fisher’s book, How to Create Societies for Human Wellbeing, highlights the need for policies addressing harmful environments and social conditions to improve psychological wellbeing. He urges Australian governments to go beyond GDP measures, advocating for systemic changes and community engagement.
Get to the heart of public service with Gordon de Brouwer
On IPAA ACT’s 100th Work with Purpose episode, guest host Thanuri Welaratne from Questacon sits down with Australian Public Service Commissioner Dr Gordon de Brouwer, where he shares some advice on effective leadership and upholding integrity in your public sector work.
“Let us just get on with it”: Hybrid working in the Australian Public Sector
Hybrid working is no longer the ‘the new normal’, but is an embedded, business as usual practice. Know how managers in the Australian Public Service can foster flexibility, autonomy, and trust to enhance team performance. Here are some ways based on a study by Dr Uma Jogulu and Dr Judy Lundy from Edith Cowan University, Professor Sue Williamson from UNSW, and Dr Helen Taylor from Charles Sturt University.
The case for wellbeing policy
Dr James Gordon from the Australian National University talks about wellbeing policy and how focusing on individual or community-level indicators leads to overall societal wellbeing. Read this article to learn effective ways to incorporate it in your work today.
Leading Purpose – Public Sector Commissioner David Mackie on the Couch
Queensland Public Sector Commissioner David Mackie sat in conversation with Professor Deborah Blackman of UNSW Canberra to share his thoughts on leadership and purpose during IPAA Queensland’s ‘Stewards on the Couch’ series. Read this article for the highlights.
More than aspiration: Australia’s whole-of-nation approach
Familiar with the whole-of-nation approach? Learn more about it and what it means to Australia’s international engagement from Melissa Conley Tyler, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D) in IPAA ACT’s Work with Purpose podcast.
Fellows Voice Podcast: Interview with Pam Anders, Department of Health
IPAA Victoria sits down with Pam Anders, senior executive director of mental health & wellbeing transformation in the Victorian Department of Health, and delves into Pam’s commitment to the public service and in leading implementation of reform from the Royal Commission in Victoria’s Mental Health System.
Connecting trust, AI and public service values
If you’re in the public service, how can you safely work with AI? In our newest Work with Purpose episode, AI researchers Professor Toni Erskine and Adjunct Professor Kate Conroy discuss ways to get started and pitfalls to avoid.
Fellows Voice podcast: Simon Corden, Essential Services Commissioner
As part of IPAA Victoria’s Fellows Voice series, Amanda Stevens, CEO, IPAA Victoria interviews Simon Corden, esential services commissioner, and 2023 inductee about his significant commitment to public service and experience in leading organisations and teams.
AI and the future of governance
Artifical Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way the public purpose sector operates. In this special event summary and podcast episode, IPAA Victoria explores emerging risks and opportunities for the public sector.
Stewardship and the future of the public sector
Is stewardship just another term for leadership or does it bring a new perspective to public service? IPAA Queensland tackled the question at the inaugural Public Sector CEO forum, challenging 50 CEOs and senior leaders across the Queensland public sector about stewardship and leadership.
Making the most out of flexible working in the public sector
Giving frank and clear advice isn’t always straightforward – no matter what level you’re at within the public service. In a recent episode of Work with Purpose, Dr Christiane Gerblinger, Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, shares some practical tips on how policy experts can improve the way they give advice to increase the chance of it being taken up.
From cultural change to cultural evolution
Instead of focusing on public service-wide cultural change, leaders should make behavioural change and cultural evolution their main goals, Dr Fiona Buick, School of Business from the University of New South Wales, Canberra writes.
Trust, integrity and pride: Identifying best practice pro-integrity cultures within organisations
IPAA Victoria shares best practices to identify and create pro-integrity cultures in public sector organisations.
How to write convincing policy advice
Giving frank and clear advice isn’t always straightforward – no matter what level you’re at within the public service. In a recent episode of Work with Purpose, Dr Christiane Gerblinger, Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, shares some practical tips on how policy experts can improve the way they give advice to increase the chance of it being taken up.
Want your staff to be innovative? Lead authentically
Authentic leadership and psychological capital are key drivers for innovation culture and staff wellbeing, particularly in public sector environments where resources can be in short supply, Yvonne Brunetto and Julia Ashton-Sayers from Southern Cross University, and Georgios Kominis from the University of Glasgow write.
WANT TO UPLIFT CAPABILITY IN YOUR TEAM? HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO
Building capability is a core pillar of the ongoing APS reform – but what can public sector leaders do to make it happen? Dr Rachel Bacon from the APS Reform Office and Dr Subho Banerjee from the APS Academy share some practical tips on a recent episode of IPAA ACT’s Work with Purpose podcast.
Bringing diversity into leadership
On 6 September, IPAA Victoria held a Diversity in Leadership webinar to explore the importance of diversity in leadership roles and how everyone can contribute to supporting and ensuring a more diverse workplace across the public sector. IPAA Victoria fellows and public purpose sector leaders share their personal reflections.
Lessons from long service: IPAA SA members share their passion for purpose
In this article, some of the longest serving personal members of Institute of Public Administration (IPAA) SA share their reflections on what they have learnt being in public service for over 20 years. They answer the question: ‘What brought you to the public sector and what has kept you here?’
Wellbeing in the public purpose sector
In partnership with IPAA Victoria’s People and Culture Community of Practice (CoP), IPAA Victoria launched a new content series dedicated to wellbeing and the public purpose sector. Listen into conversationsn with public sector leaders exploring indivudal and organisational wellbeing.
Five lessons for leaders who want to enhance public value
Faced with a growing number of regulatory issues, public officials need to prioritise the most serious challenges and collaborate effectively if they want to succeed, Mitzi Bolton and Michael Mintrom from Monash University write.
Looking ahead: The future of First Nations community consultation
On 19 July, the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) ACT hosted its second-ever NAIDOC Week hackathon sponsored by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA). Based on their participants’ vast insights, they tell the story of a better future, when government organisations have been transformed and are effectively engaging with First Nations peoples.
Solving the gender target puzzle
Accountability, evidence-based practices, and visibly supportive leadership pave the way for organisations to achieve their gender targets, Dr Jill Gould, Professor Carol Kulik, and Associate Professor Shruti Sardeshmukh from the University of South Australia write.
WANT TALENT TO STAY ON? HARNESS THE POWER OF THE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE
If public sector organisations want to attract, retain and develop talent, leaders must improve the employee experience, Kathy Martin from Iceni writes.
How can we embrace our curiosity as public sector innovators?
The Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) SA shares how public sector professionals can embrace and leverage curiosity in their work and drive ‘good’ innovation.
Supporting carers in the workplace and community
In this Work with Purpose episode from the Insititute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) ACT division, Robyn Shannon from the Department of Social Services, Lisa Kelly from Carers ACT, and Alex Allars from the ACT Government, unpack challenges faced by carers and share practical ways to support carers in the workplace and the community.
Public Sector Perspectives podcast: First Nations women and exercising voice to take on decision-making power
In this Public Sector Perspectives podcast episode, the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Victoria division chats with Elly Patira, Deputy Secretary, First Peoples – State Relations, Department of Premier and Cabinet, and explores the Treaty Framework in Victoria, the strengths and challenges of being a First Nations woman in the public service, and specific opportunities for First Nations women as a result of the treaty process.
What’s Different About Managing Change in Small Organisations? Mark Webb reflects on the strengths and weaknesses of small organisations undergoing change
Mark Webb, Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) NSW President and Chief Executive of the Department of Parliamentary Services, Parliament of NSW, talks about managing change in small organisations.
Technology or public service culture? Redefining innovation in Australia
In this Australian Journal of Public Administration (AJPA) article, Professor Jenny M Lewis from the University of Melbourne explores how governments associate innovation with both culture and technology, and how these different innovation definitions affect policymaking over the long term.
Managing post-election change
In part two of the Insitute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) NSW’s post-election series, Elizabeth Mildwater, IPAA NSW councillor and Secretary of the Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade and Janet Schorer, IPAA NSW vice president and chief delivery officer for TAFE NSW talk about embracing change and staying focused on your work.
Vaccinate WA: The role of leadership in rapid project delivery
The Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Western Australia (WA) summarises a case study by Susannah Nichols looking into the development of VaccinateWA, its challenges and the critical role of leadership and values in creating a system that delivered for WA’s communities.
Introducing AI to your public sector workplace
The Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) ACT shares the main takeaways from their recent Work with Purpose episode featuring Anthony Murfett, head of division Technology and Digital, Department of Industry, Science and Resources and Sally Bayley-Nelson, manager at AusIndustry Insights. Their guests discuss their views on how to start using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in public sector work.
Podcast: Risk, sustainability and public policy
As part of the Insitute of Public Administration (IPAA) Victoria’s sustainability and climate change series, they explore risk, sustainability and public policy with Jonathan Masom, VMIA, and Lynette Smith, gramma consultancy.
Six steps to strategic foresight as a “sexy” civil servant
In this article from our Insitute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) South Australia division, we explore insights from a their recent ‘Fit for the Future? Strategic Foresight in Government’ event. We share some practical advice from local and international experts on how civil servants can embrace strategic foresight to improve policy outcomes – with a focus on how being ‘sexy’ and generating interest and excitement can create a space for policy innovation.
IMPROVING PUBLIC SECTOR WORKPLACES FOR NEURODIVERGENT STAFF
In the Work with Purpose podcast’s first instalment of 2023 the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) ACT division interviewed neurodiversity thought leaders Lee Steel, Robin Edmonds, and Andrew Pfeiffer tell the story of an imaginary future set in 2028, when Australia’s public sector has created inclusive and diverse work environments. They also give some tangible tips on how to make workplaces more accessible right now.
Leading as a woman in the public sector
Summarising the Insitute of Public Administration (IPAA) WA division’s Women in Public Sector Leadership conference, Michelle Bye, procurement, event, and project professional talks about the importance of self-regulation, building a support network, and much more.
Public sector leaders on the opportunities created by post-election change
Our Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) NSW division spoke with two public sector leaders, Mark Webb, IPAA NSW President and Chief Executive, Department of Parliamentary Services, Parliament of NSW and Tracey Taylor, Chief People Officer and Deputy Secretary of Corporate Services, Transport for NSW about managing and leveraging change during the post-election period.
Unpacking royal commissions, public inquiries and reviews
The Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Queensland division summarises the main points from their most recent Mastercraft Series with Dr Scott Prasser, public policy consultant and commentator, on studying the past and present of commissions, inquiries and reviews in Australia.
How can you apply neuroleadership to manage others?
Neuroleadership can make you a better leader, and help you and your team achieve your goals. The Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) South Australia division shares the basics of neuroleadership – what it is, why it matters, and how to apply its principles.
Overcoming imposter syndrome
If you’ve ever felt like a fraud, you’re not alone. The Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Victoria division shares insights from a recent webinar on how to demystify and create space for discussing imposter syndrome.