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Stay on top of the latest research and best-practice tips to excel in your public sector role.
Brought to you by IPAA National and its divisions across Australia, we share insights from leading public sector experts and the latest research findings from the Australian Journal of Public Administration – in a short, accessible format.
The authors’ views are their own and don’t reflect IPAA National’s position on a topic.
Co-design and place-based approaches: Lessons from Indigenous-led initiatives in Australia’s primary health sector
In the wake of the unsuccessful 2023 referendum on constitutional recognition of First Nations Australians, governments and public agencies need to provide more effective policy support for Indigenous-led initiatives to meet Closing the Gap targets across sectors. The Indigenous-led primary health care sector can serve as a model, Dr Matt Fisher, Associate Professor Emma George and Professor Fran Baum from the University of Adelaide, Associate Professor Tamara McKean from Flinders University, and Professor Sharon Friel from the Australian National University write.
Co-design and place-based approaches: Lessons from Indigenous-led initiatives in Australia’s primary health sector
In the wake of the unsuccessful 2023 referendum on constitutional recognition of First Nations Australians, governments and public agencies need to provide more effective policy support for Indigenous-led initiatives to meet Closing the Gap targets across sectors. The Indigenous-led primary health care sector can serve as a model, Dr Matt Fisher, Associate Professor Emma George and Professor Fran Baum from the University of Adelaide, Associate Professor Tamara McKean from Flinders University, and Professor Sharon Friel from the Australian National University write.
Devolving leadership: Lessons from Blair Comley’s public service career
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.
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.