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

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 towards this – from exemplary and trustful leadership to processes grounded in evidence.
Amaly, principal psychologist and lead of the APS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit, shines a light on the new ADDRESS program, designed to support public sector agencies and staff in building mentally healthy workplaces. Steven, assistant commissioner, Diversity & Inclusion Branch, then connects this to how psychosocial hazards play out at the frontlines – for example at Centrelink or veteran’s services – and what can be done to support staff exposed to aggressive or abusive behaviour.
Discussed in this episode:
·     the difference between psychosocial and psychological safety
·     types of psychosocial hazards
·     the ADDRESS program
·     service-user violence and aggression
·     reporting psychosocial hazards
·     embedding honest reporting processes.
If you feel distressed during the episode, there is support available to you. Please call Lifeline’s 24/7 support line on 13 11 14 if you need someone to talk to.


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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 Care’s recent capability review.
On this episode of Work with Purpose, he revisits some of the milestones of his career and how they have shaped his approach to devolution – where mid-level staff in the public sector are empowered to make decisions and build closer relationships important stakeholders. He discusses the three key ingredients to make it happen at your organisation: skills, culture, and capability.
In conversation with podcast host David Pembroke, Blair also explores uplifting policy capability at the Department of Health and Aged Care, communicating with success, and what role consultants can play in public sector work.
Discussed in this episode:
·     Devolution and its benefits for the public sector
·     The Department of Health and Aged Care’s capability review
·     Uplifting policy-making capability
·     Key writing and communications skills for policymakers
·     Lessons from consulting work
·     The role of consulting in the public service
·     The importance of optimism for driving innovation.
Shownotes
Capability review | Department of Health and Aged Care
Daniel Goleman | Emotional intelligence

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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 for ways to reduce its impact and embed better policy solutions.
On this episode of Work with Purpose, Dr Mara Hammerle and Andrew Hudson from the Centre for Policy Development talk about embedding wellbeing in decision-making, understanding communities’ adaptive capacity when it comes to a shift away from fossil fuels, and why locally-led approaches are key to creating responses that work.
Together with host David Pembroke, they also discuss the opportunities in greening government procurement to reach Australia’s emissions reduction goals.
Discussed in this episode:
·     Embedding wellbeing metrics organisations and policies
·     The importance of locally-led approaches
·     Adaptive capacity and what it means for communities
·     The role of the Net Zero Economy Agency
·     Decarbonisation procurement rules and incentives
·     Balancing up-front and life-cycle costs
·     Shifting to long-term thinking over short-term solutions
·     Andrew’s recipe for unreasonable optimism.
Shownotes
Measuring what matters | The Treasury
Wellbeing government initiative | Centre for Policy Development
Greening government report | Centre for Policy Development
2024 Purpose of government pulse | Centre for Policy Development
2023 intergenerational report | The Treasury
Early intervention investment framework | Victoria State Government


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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

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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

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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.

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