Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector

#EP165: Curtain call with David Pembroke and Andrew Metcalfe AO

After 164 episodes, we bid farewell to Work with Purpose. Marking this special occasion, IPAA ACT CEO Kate Driver turns the microphone around on host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, and one of the podcast’s first guests, IPAA National President Andrew Metcalfe AO. On the final episode before its hiatus, David and Andrew look back at over 160 stories told on Work with Purpose – starting with unpacking the government’s COVID-19 response. Together, they reflect on a podcast born out of a desire to let leaders speak clearly and without interruption, helping build confidence and understanding during a national crisis. David and Andrew explore what has changed since the podcast began, highlighting the rapid acceleration of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, alongside enduring themes such as relationships, integrity, trust and the craft of public service. Looking forward, they predict that integrity will remain one of the most important conversations for the sector, especially in light of failures such as Robodebt. They also encourage young people to seek careers in the public sector, and for the sector to in invest in its emerging leaders. To our listeners and guests – thank you for lending us your ears and your ideas over the past six years. It’s been a pleasure. Shownotes * Work with Purpose podcast archive [https://act.ipaa.org.au/podcast_category/work-with-purpose/] | IPAA ACT * Spirit of Service Awards [https://act.ipaa.org.au/awards/spirit-of-service-awards/] | IPAA ACT * Episode 81 – Rebuilding trust and integrity after Robodebt [https://contentgroup.com.au/work_with_purpose/ep81-rebuilding-trust-and-integrity-after-robodebt/] | contentgroup Work with Purpose is created by contentgroup [https://www.contentgroup.com.au/] in association with IPAA ACT [https://act.ipaa.org.au/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

EP#164: The relational leader with Jaala Hinchcliffe

On the penultimate episode of Work with Purpose, Jaala Hinchcliffe, Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services, shines a light on the important, yet often unseen work of DPS, and discusses why integrity is not simply something people have or lack, but rather a skill that must be practised. When you make a mistake at work, what is your first impulse? Do you trust your leaders to work it through with you? On this episode, Jaala speaks with host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, about how managing mistakes – your own and others’ – shapes integrity culture in organisations. She argues that good leadership means building culture deliberately, practising integrity, supporting people to admit and fix mistakes, and preparing institutions like DPS for the future while protecting their democratic purpose. Jaala also explores how DPS supports parliament to function, and what it means to lead its highly diverse workforce, from art curation to research. Key tips: 1.       Practise integrity before you need it. Talk through tricky scenarios with colleagues, build the habit of doing the right thing, and create space to raise concerns early. 2.      Own mistakes quickly and respond constructively. If something goes wrong, name it, fix it, and learn from it. For leaders, the integrity test is how they respond: “Thank you for telling me — let’s fix it” builds trust and prevents bigger problems. 3.       Build relationships and treat people well. The public service can feel large, but careers often reconnect people over many years. Be generous, form genuine connections, leave roles well, and ask for advice when you need it. Shownotes * Secretary Series: Jaala Hinchcliffe, Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services [https://act.ipaa.org.au/secretary-series-jaala-hinchlife-secretary-of-the-department-of-parliamentary-services/] | IPAA ACT * Department of Parliamentary Services [https://www.aph.gov.au/about_parliament/parliamentary_departments/department_of_parliamentary_services] Work with Purpose is created by contentgroup [https://www.contentgroup.com.au] in association with IPAA ACT [https://act.ipaa.org.au/]   ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

EP#163: Trust, humour and bureaucracy: The secret sauce of gov social media

Governments generate endless information, but so much of it goes unseen. So, how do we turn it into content people actually care about? In this special crossover episode of Work with Purpose and GovComms, David Pembroke chats with Heather Lansdowne, a leader in transforming social media in government. As the social media manager at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Heather and her team are turning heads in the government space, proving that data can be engaging, relatable, and even fun. She’s helped reshape how agencies communicate, bringing bold ideas and engaging content to the table. Her fresh approach connects with audiences in ways traditional comms never could. From navigating government approvals to making stats go viral, Heather shares how agencies can rethink their content strategy. She talks about building trust with leadership, using humour to engage audiences, and why governments need to act more like digital publishers. Whether you're a social media pro or a government communicator looking to push boundaries, this episode is full of insights, strategies, and inspiration to help you create content that truly connects. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

EP#162: Where policy meets people

What happens when senior leaders step out of meeting rooms and into frontline service environments? In this episode of Work with Purpose, host Louise MacDonald, managing partner, at EY, Canberra speaks with Kirsty Kirk, director of Leadership Programs at Services Australia, and Ken Walker, National Manager, Emergency Response at Services Australia, about Services Australia’s Service Delivery Immersion Program. The program gives SES leaders and policy partners firsthand insight into how decisions, systems and policies land for staff and customers. By spending time in service centres and call environments, leaders see the complexity of frontline work, the needs of vulnerable customers, and the opportunities to make services simpler and more effective. Recognised through the IPAA ACT Spirit of Service Awards [https://act.ipaa.org.au/awards/spirit-of-service-awards/], the program has expanded across government and is helping build more empathetic, customer-centred leadership. Key tips: 1.      Stay close to the people your work affects. Regularly step away from the desk to observe services, speak with communities, and see firsthand how policies and programs land in real life. 2.      Design and decide from the user’s perspective. Ask, “What does this feel like for the person on the receiving end?”. Aim for interactions that are simple, human, and seamless. 3.      Treat frontline staff as partners, not endpoints. Involve the people who deliver services in shaping policy, programs and systems. Listen to their insights, act on what you hear, and keep feedback loops open. 4.      Lead with curiosity and empathy. Frontline immersion helps leaders better understand customer complexity, staff pressures, and the human impact of their decisions. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

EP#161: Can Australia’s public sector keep up? Innovation, trust and power

In this episode of Work with Purpose, we discuss how a widening gap between external change and internal capability in the public sector is becoming a major threat to both public trust and effective government. As governments navigate social media distortion, geopolitical instability, cognitive warfare and rapid advances in AI, many public institutions are still operating in rigid, slow-moving ways better suited to an earlier era. Guest host Michelle Ainsworth, former ABC politics editor and Churchill Fellow, speaks with Sir Geoff Mulgan, Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy and Social Innovation at University College London alongside IPAA National Secretary Samantha Palmer, about why trust in government now depends on more than competence alone. Australia’s public service stands out internationally for its relative stability, integrity and institutional strength. Our panel discuss how Australia can use this advantage more ambitiously: to test new ideas, design better institutions and build models other democracies can learn from. The conversation explores how governments can respond to ethical failures more effectively, why public services need to become more transparent and conversational, and what it will take to avoid a new wave of AI-related public sector scandals. Key tips 1. Trust is built through both competence and integrity. Public confidence depends not just on delivering results, but on being seen as honest, accountable, and guided by clear moral purpose. 2. Governments need to innovate more systematically. Public institutions cannot afford to remain rigid while technology and public expectations move quickly around them. 3. AI should be tested, staged, and governed carefully. Strong procurement, user testing, ethical oversight, and in-house capability are essential to avoid costly failures. Work with Purpose is produced by contentgroup [https://www.contentgroup.com.au] in partnership with IPAA ACT [https://www.act.ipaa.org.au] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.