EP#96: Revisiting ‘How is Australia’s public sector using generative AI?’

Daniel Patterson has always been keen to do good for Canberra’s communities – and their backyards. On this episode of Public Sector Unearthed, the horticulture expert and passionate public servant tells us the story of Canberra’s innovative European Wasp program.Daniel shares how his team manages European wasps in the ACT, by focusing on eco-friendly, preventative measures. He talks us through how the program evolved through using new luring techniques and focusing on preventative, rather than reactive, approaches for trapping queen wasps to reduce the wasp population.The program became a standout initiative in public safety and environmental management, earning the 2023 IPAA ACT Spirit of Service Awards in the ‘Breakthrough’ category.This episode’s Unearthed wisdom: Pest control is crucial to keeping local species and communities safe and thriving. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whilst the ‘whole-of-nation’ approach is not new on the global stage, it is still a relatively new concept in Australian international policy circles. Amidst global challenges that demand more than just government action, it is also becoming increasingly vital. Unlike the familiar whole-of-government strategy, the ‘whole-of-nation’ approach includes a broader coalition, encompassing public sector agencies and actors from science, sports, arts, industry, civil society and more. But what are the nuances of this approach, and what potential does it hold for Australia on the global stage? In this episode, host David Pembroke welcomes Melissa Conley Tyler, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Development Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D) and honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne. The discussion hones in on a comprehensive report published by AP4D in February, which involved consultations with 113 individuals from 93 organisations on the whole-of-nation approach. Throughout the episode, Melissa sheds light on the perceived benefits, potential barriers, and the critical balance between commercial and national interests. Tune in to discover how this approach applies to various areas, from major sporting events to climate change initiatives. Show notes: A whole-of-nation approach to international policy | Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue    The whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace | National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict A whole-of-nation approach | Executive Order No. 70, President of Philippines  Public service to go from ‘whole-of-government' to ‘whole-of-nation' | The Straits Times, Singapore  A Whole of Nation Approach | Singapore Government Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Public Sector Unearthed podcast, Matt Padovan and Noel Chan from the ACT public service walk us through the organisation’s innovative flexible work program.Having worked on this project well before the world had to grapple with more flexible work demands due to COVID-19, Matt, who is director of flexible work within the ACT Government’s Office of Industrial Relations and Workforce Strategy, reflects on the program’s development. He highlights that it is as much about innovative workspaces as it is about cultural uplift, and why this approach wasn’t without challenges in the initial stages.Noel, who is director of the North Canberra Hospital Transition Project at the ACT Health Directorate is an avid user of the flexi hub workspaces, with the Belconnen site being her personal favourite. She talks about how the flexible workspaces have improved her work-life balance, and how it’s helped her gain a fresh perspective on the importance of collaboration between different directorates.Together with guest presenter Brock Phyland, Matt and Noel explore how flexible workspaces have transitioned from simply providing location flexibility to driving a cultural shift that promotes collaboration and innovation across various government areas.This episode’s Unearthed wisdom: Experimentation and taking risks are key to creating flexible workspaces that are responsive to workforce needs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 7 of the Public Sector Unearthed podcast, we hear the success story of the Fitzroy Crossing service centre's redevelopment from Ewa Griffiths and Zara Nehow, who were at the core of this initiative. Their innovative approach involved creating a co-designed space that respects local needs and incorporates elements reflecting cultural aspects and Indigenous arts. This earned them the 2023 IPAA ACT Spirit of Service Awards in the Community Engagement category.Ewa, the director of face-to-face service transformation at Services Australia, discusses the broader vision and strategic approach behind the redesign of the Fitzroy Crossing service center. She talks us through how the plan for the redesign came about and highlights lessons for future service center redesigns.Meanwhile, Zara, who is the service centre manager at Fitzroy Crossing with Services Australia hones in on community connection and takes us on a virtual walkthrough of the service centre. She also talks candidly about the impact of the 2023 floods on the newly opened center and how it has affected the redesign and the community.This episode’s unearthed wisdom: Empathy, collaboration, and a deep respect for cultural heritage are the cornerstones of creating spaces where communities can truly connect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is 'Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.' In Australia, progress toward gender equality is ongoing, yet significant challenges remain, particularly in financial security and workforce participation. Additionally, systemic issues like the undervaluation of care and the prevalence of part-time work disproportionately affect women's financial security. So how can Australia’s governments, businesses and communities work together to tackle these persistent challenges? In this Work with Purpose extra episode Cath Ingram, IPAA ACT board member, speaks with Cherelle Murphy, EY Oceania chief economist, and Padma Raman, executive director of the Office for Women at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, about the state of gender equality in Australia. They discuss how to improve financial inclusion for women, and examine how gender-sensitive budgeting can pave the way for more equitable policies. Discussed in this episode:Empowering women through financial literacyThe importance of data sharing to improve women’s financial inclusionCreating workplaces free of sexual harassment and sexual discriminationThe role of the Women in Economics Network in supporting women in their careersRecognising intersectional challenges faced by women. Show notes:Media release: National gender pay gap of 13.3% just a fraction of the real cost on women | Workplace Gender Equality AgencyGender equality and intersecting forms of diversity | Workplace Gender Equality AgencyInternational Women’s Day | UN Women Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning: This podcast discusses topics related to war and warfare, which some listeners might find distressing. If you need someone to speak with, do not hesitate to contact Beyond Blue’s 24-hour support via 1300 22 4636.As AI continues to evolve, its application in defence raises critical ethical questions. Ensuring the responsible integration of AI technologies within the Australian Defence Force (ADF) demands strict adherence to ethical standards. How then, can policy makers and public administrators ensure that the deployment of these technologies aligns with strategic objectives, ethical standards of the ADF and international law? Further, what are the potential impacts of AI on decision-making processes and the dynamics of warfare?In this first new Work with Purpose episode in 2024, host David Pembroke is joined by two leading Australian experts in AI ethics and military applications. Professor Toni Erskine from the ANU Coral Bell School explores the moral agency of AI-enabled military tools and what they mean for future use-of-force decisions. Adjunct Professor Kate Conroy from the Centre for Robotics, School of Electrical Engineering and Robotics at Queensland University of Technology, examines the ethical challenges of AI deployment in military and civilian contexts. The conversation covers the complex environment of AI in defence, shedding a light on autonomy in weapon systems, and emphasising the importance of balancing technological progress with ethical responsibility in defence. Kate Conroy speaks in her personal capacity and views are her own.Show notes:A method for ethical AI in Defence | Defence Science & Technology GroupAustralia’s System of Control and applications for Autonomous Weapons Systems | Australian GovernmentBad, mad and cooked: Moral responsibility for civilian harm in human-AI military teams | Dr Kate Conroy née DevittHow might AI affect the trustworthiness of public service delivery | Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetEthical use of AI in the workplace - AI WHS Scorecard | NSW GovernmentSystems of Control | UNODAAI, automated systems, and future use-of-force decision making: Anticipating effects | Professor Toni ErskineAnticipating the Future of War: AI, Automated Systems, and Resort-to-Force Decision Making Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite greater flexibility and more opportunities, gender equity still has some way to go. The country’s gender pay gap persists, and women are still underrepresented in leadership positions according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. One of the ways workplaces and women themselves are trying to turn the tide, is to offer and actively engage in mentoring.In our final rerun of the most popular episodes of 2023, we revisit a conversation that aired around International Women’s Day. It featured two inspirational female leaders: Tania Rishniw, Deputy Secretary of Employment and Workforce at the Department Employment and Workplace Relations, and Nina Davidson, Deputy Director-General Intelligence at the Office of National Intelligence. They discussed how mentoring can benefit women throughout their careers and what a great mentoring relationship should look like. Tania, Nina, and Caroline also talked about some of the women who inspired them, including the influential Dr Margot McCarthy, who championed women through coaching and mentoring until her recent passing in 2022. Margot was the first female national security advisor, a leader in social policy and a founder of the APS Academy.Discussed in this episode:Honesty, openness, and listening as key ingredients for good mentoringMargot McCarthy’s fierce leadership and support for other womenOvercoming self-censorship as a womanEmpowering and amplifying women’s voices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used by public services globally, including in Australia, to improve policy-making and program creation. AI has immense potential to transform how the public sector functions and serves communities, from streamlining copywriting to providing strategic advice. However, there are risks and limitations associated with using AI, such as privacy breaches, accountability issues, and bias concerns.In this rerun of the best episodes of Work with Purpose from 2023, we revisit an insightful conversation that explored the potential and challenges of using generative AI in the Australian public sector. Sally Bayley-Nelson, manager of the AusIndustry Insights team, and Anthony Murfett, head of division for Technology and Digital at the Department of Industry, Science and Resources share their experiences using generative AI tools for their work and discuss the benefits and limitations of the technology. They also talked about the risks that the public sector needs to be mindful of when working with AI and the importance of putting guardrails in place to regulate its use. Discussed in this episode:Use of generative AI: benefits and limitations in the workplaceRisks in using generative AI in the public sector and regulatory guardrailsHow AI suggests regulating itself: thoughts and missing pointsBest practices and hopes for AI in the public sector’s future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neurodiversity has become an important topic in the Australian public sector. With research suggesting that teams can be 30 per cent more productive with neurodivergent professionals, workplaces stand much to gain from greater inclusivity. Yet, many public sector workplaces can still do more to be neurodiversity inclusive.In this rerun of our most popular Work with Purpose episodes in 2023, we revisit a conversation featuring three public service thought leaders: Lee Steel, Ability Network Champion and First Assistant Secretary, Intergovernmental Relations and Reform, Robin Edmonds, Assistant Director, Media Reform Branch at the Department of Infrastructure and co-founder and co-chair of the cross-agency APS+ Neurodiversity Community of Practice, and Andrew Pfeiffer, Ability Network Executive and Adviser, BETA at PM&C. They discussed what public sector workplaces could look like in 2028 and how to better support neurodivergent individuals.Show notes:The inaugural APS Diversity and inclusion report 2022 (APSC)Business benefits of employing people with disability (Australian Network on Disability)Creating an accessible and inclusive workplace (Australian Human Rights Commission) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Robodebt Royal Commission highlighted the tremendous impact government policy gone wrong can have on the lives of Australians. The evidence given at the royal commission hearings also brought into question the state of ‘frank and fearless advice’ in the service.In the first rerun of our best episodes in 2023, we revisit our conversation with two public service leaders: Dr Gordon de Brouwer PSM FIPAA, the Australian Public Service Commissioner, and Kathy Leigh, Head of Service and Director-General of the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate, ACT Government. We examined the impact of robodebt, and discussed how the public service might reinforce its values around integrity, and rebuild courage and pride in its work.Discussed in this episode:The importance of empathy and compassion for those affected, the public, and the public serviceThe role of impartiality and objectivity in giving policy adviceBest practice behaviour and delivery to further embed integrity cultureWhat a modern and responsive public service should look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.