The Better Work Australia Podcast

Dean Williamson
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A podcast to look at the experience of Australians in their workplaces. Sounds boring? Well, you'll hear about old mate "the cancer", video producers who make isolation tents in open plan offices, "huddles" and all kinds of names that disguise useless meetings, how you don't get paid doing some of the world's most important work, and more. But the whole aim is also to look at how we, as Aussies, make our work better!

Episodes

  1. Aug 27

    Doing Pay Transparency in Australia

    Pay transparency sounds like a simple idea until you try to do it and realise it forces every hidden assumption about value, hierarchy, and fairness into the light. We’re joined by Alison Sharp, who’s spent close to a decade building transparent pay systems at both Meld Studios and The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI), and she breaks down why the “end goal” of open salaries only works when you first fix the structure underneath it. We talk about the practical core of a transparent pay model: starting with the real financial story of the organisation, setting a sustainable pay envelope, and then distributing that across clear salary bands tied to scope of responsibility. Alison shares how this approach helps prevent runaway salary costs, reduces inequities created by negotiation, and makes growth paths visible from day one. We also get into what happens when the numbers challenge the status quo, including compressing the gap between the highest and lowest paid roles and asking the hard question: when is enough actually enough? Along the way, we unpack why so many workplaces avoid pay transparency, from the fear of exposing pay gaps to the discomfort of talking about money at all. We look at the upside too: fewer drawn-out pay battles, better retention, more trust, and a culture where people can pursue “growth in place” with recognition that isn’t only financial. If you’re trying to design a fair pay system in Australia, whether in a small team or a larger organisation, you’ll walk away with a clearer map of the change process and the conversations you can’t skip. Subscribe to BetterWork Australia, share this with someone who’s wrestling with pay decisions, and leave us a rating or review so more people can find the show.

    Doing Pay Transparency in Australia

  2. Feb 19 ·  Bonus

    The Next Phase

    I'm back from quite a hiaitus while I wrote my book. Now that's done, I'm pumped to preview what's on the way for the podcast in this short bonus episode. Thanks to Bensound for our jaunty intro and exit music, and to Fina Charleson for her production support.

    The Next Phase

  3. 05/22/2023

    3 lessons in moving from mechanistic to magic, with Dan Murphy

    In this episode I talk to Daniel Murphy (no, not the alcohol bloke!), owner of the very successful and growing Movement Therapy group. In a strange twist, I used to manage music festivals, and Dan is definitely a connoisseur. We use music festivals as a case study in the different between "operational excellence" and creating customer magic. We walk through:  Unnecessary organisational (and literal) "fences"The gap that can often exist between "well run", efficient, and "good" customer experienceHow to get your team to reach for magic Thanks to Bensound for our jaunty intro and exit music, and to Fina Charleson for her production support.

  4. 05/08/2023

    'Bossing It' with Saffron Meade

    Saffron Meade, founder of branding agency Saffron & Co. Creative, joins me to talk about her colourful ride experiencing "bosses", and then becoming "boss" herself.  We unpick some lessons along the way including: How overwork cultures are often linked to fearHow important getting "stability" right is for the experience of your workers, including:the emotional stability and predictability of leadersthe basics, including pay and legal complianceHow we use "stories" to approach conflict through a organisational "we", rather than right/wrong perspectives that is "owned" by youUnderstanding the drives and motivations of your people, so that you can create an environment that meets their needsGetting around respect and "family" first, so that work is part of your worker's wider flourishingNot wanting minions: "What's the point of having a team if they can't contribute properly?"The link between employee voice and business stagnationThanks to Bensound for our jaunty intro and exit music, and to Fina Charleson for her production support.

    'Bossing It' with Saffron Meade

  5. 04/09/2023

    What can work be? Origin stories with Meg and Dean from Human Systems Co.

    Podcast host Dean Williamson and Megan Storey from Human Systems Co. get together to discuss their own work stories (for a change), and what led them into the world of self-management, Teal, New Ways of Working, org change and culture. Thanks to Bensound for our jaunty intro and exit music, and to Fina Charleson for her production support.

    What can work be? Origin stories with Meg and Dean from Human Systems Co.

  6. 04/04/2023

    Will your people work for free? Purpose, trust and trail running

    In this episode I'm joined by Tom Landon-Smith and Abhinandan Willis, who built Ultra-Trail Australia from humble beginnings into the world's third-largest endurance and trail running festival. It might seem like a strange place to talk about work, but we walk through gathering a team of great humans around a purpose, self-transcendence, trust, autonomy and much more. There's a lot here for leaders around scaling and organising principles if you choose to listen. Thanks to Bensound for our jaunty intro and exit music, and to Fina Charleson for her production support.

    Will your people work for free? Purpose, trust and trail running

  7. 11/30/2022

    Blokes, bosses and digging - self-management in construction

    This episode we get into the concept of self-management, which is a step towards improving a lot of the issues we've heard about in previous episodes. We hear from Jess and Doug from Aquadec, a commercial irrigation company, about how they've approached self-management in working with us at Human Systems Co,  We talk about how leaders often need to change to bring about change, about honesty and transparency, and about how changing how you approach finance can change how you run your company.

    Blokes, bosses and digging - self-management in construction

  8. 09/15/2022

    The life of a rogue - work and freelance journalism

    This episode I'm joined by the extremely talented (and famous!) international journalist Ann Deslandes. We hear about how the independent gig life stacks up as a survival strategy, and also what it's like trying to get paid when you're outside the system(s). I just loved this chat - she is witty and funny and hopeful, and I could've talked for so much longer!

    The life of a rogue - work and freelance journalism

  9. 09/14/2022

    Beer and hermits - working in an advertising agency

    This episode we get inside the often-spoofed (for good reason, we find out) world of creative agencies. Hear how a lack of clarity and purpose can turn them into laughable shambles - the conversation about "we don't have enough work/we have too much work" killed me. We';; also cover "disguised" meetings, how to NOT do staff engagement, and building tents in open plan offices. Thanks to this episode's guest, "Roger", for his story.

    Beer and hermits - working in an advertising agency

  10. 09/13/2022

    Black markets, Wild Turkey infidelity and "the cancer" - working in manufacturing

    This week we get up close and personal with bullying at work. It's not a fun one to start, but Mitch is sufficiently recovered to tell a story with wit and humour (how's the hidden Wild Turkey economy?) about how a workplace can condone or endorse bullying, and hear the toll it can take on you. I get into some of the costs and consequences of bullying, and why it's usually a good business idea to make sure you create a safe workplace. Thanks to this week's guest, Mitch, for his story.

    Black markets, Wild Turkey infidelity and "the cancer" - working in manufacturing

  11. 09/12/2022

    An introduction to Better Work Australia

    A quick intro to the Better Work Australia podcast. Host Dean Williamson talks about why he's doing the podcast, and gives some sneak peeks into Season 1's episodes.

    An introduction to Better Work Australia
  • 11 Episodes

About

A podcast to look at the experience of Australians in their workplaces. Sounds boring? Well, you'll hear about old mate "the cancer", video producers who make isolation tents in open plan offices, "huddles" and all kinds of names that disguise useless meetings, how you don't get paid doing some of the world's most important work, and more. But the whole aim is also to look at how we, as Aussies, make our work better!

Information

  • Creator
    Dean Williamson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Better Work Australia Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Better Work Australia Podcast