The Australian Public Service was established at the Federation of Australia in 1901 as the Commonwealth Public Service. Its name may have changed but its role has not – to provide efficient, effective, professional and impartial support. In this episode of the Policy Shop podcast, the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister […]
Category Archives: Understanding government
Regenerating political leadership in a populist age
If Australia’s main parties are to regain popular support they will need some radical thinking, a focus on consensus, and a willingness to listen By Professor Gareth Evans, Chancellor, Australian National University; University of Melbourne alumni There has been a notable decline in the quality of Australian politics and policymaking in recent times, with prime […]
The McKinnon Prize – recognising political leadership in Australia
The McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership aims to recognise political leaders who have driven positive change and encouraged a national discussion about the role of leadership By Michael Gordon, University of Melbourne It began with a chat over coffee in Carlton and culminated in a phone call 12 months ago that might be the catalyst for […]
What 21st century public servants must do to thrive in a volatile and complex environment
Working in the public sector has never been easy. But it almost certainly has never been as complex and challenging as it is now. The modern public service manager requires a new way of thinking to thrive in a political world characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. A world where demands and scrutiny are […]
Work in government but no LinkedIn profile?
Do you really need a LinkedIn profile to function effectively in the public sector? Julian Bajkowski provides frank answers and tips that count. Every day across Australia, public services respond to broadly similar issues yet seemingly struggle to share their experiences and knowledge across borders or agencies. Whichever way you look at it, there’s a […]