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Artwork for Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector

Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector

contentgroup
Australian Public Service
Public Sector
Public Service
Leadership
Artificial Intelligence
Australia
Policy Making
Burnout
Female Leadership
Community Engagement
Neurodiversity
Neurodivergence
Public Administration
Public Policy
Services Australia
Covid-19
Empathy
Human-Centered Design
Australian Public Sector
Collaboration

Work with Purpose is the must-listen podcast for those working Australia’s public sector, covering best practice, leadership conversations, research, and critical issues. Fortnightly, we speak to current public servants, leading academics, and other public sector experts about how to best serve Australia’s communities, from essentials such as policymaking to building inclusive leadership practices... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes190Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector

Latest Episodes

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,... more

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 Progra... more

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 d... more

On this episode of Work with Purpose, the Hon Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister for the Public Service, revisits performance, reform, and the future direction of the Australian Public Service.

 "It’s an incredibly patriotic thing to be a public se... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Heather Lansdowne
Social media manager at the Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Episode: EP#163: Trust, humour and bureaucracy: The secret sauce of gov social media
Kirsty Kirk
Director of Leadership Programs at Services Australia
Services Australia
Episode: EP#162: Where policy meets people
Ken Walker
National Manager, Emergency Response at Services Australia
Services Australia
Episode: EP#162: Where policy meets people
Geoff Mulgan
Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy and Social Innovation, University College London; former CEO of Nesta; adviser to governments
University College London; Nesta
Episode: EP#161: Can Australia’s public sector keep up? Innovation, trust and power
Patrick Gorman
Assistant Minister for the Public Service, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, and multiple roles in government
Australian Government
Episode: EP#160: Trust and pride in service with the Hon Patrick Gorman MP
Nu Nu Win
Assistant Secretary at the Department of Treasury; Sir Roland Wilson Scholar
Department of Treasury
Episode: EP#159: The signals that shape careers: cultural diversity, leadership and change in the Australian public sector with Nu Nu Win and Jim Betts
Jim Betts
APS CALD Champion
Australian Public Service
Episode: EP#159: The signals that shape careers: cultural diversity, leadership and change in the Australian public sector with Nu Nu Win and Jim Betts
Rob Heferen
Australia's 13th Commissioner of Taxation
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
Episode: EP#158: Why public service matters: Rob Heferen on systems, service and trust
Sarah Sinclair
Assistant Secretary for the Urgent Care Branch, Department of Health, Disability and Aging
Department of Health, Disability and Aging
Episode: EP#157: More accessible healthcare for all: Australia’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinics

Hosts

Louise MacDonald
Host of the podcast and a leading figure in public sector leadership discussions.
David Pembroke
Host of the series focusing on public sector leadership, procurement, and reform.
Samantha Palmer
IPAA ACT interim Commonwealth Aviation Consumer Ombudsman and IPAA ACT advocacy officer, co-hosting discussions.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 77 ratings
  • A must listen for every public servant

    Listen my notebook ready to go. Brimming with ideas.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Felicity j walker
    Australia2 years ago
  • Great pod to be in.

    Great pod to be in. Wanted to revisit the episode in which Matt talks about his trip to Middle East but couldn’t find. Is it deleted?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HaidariR
    Australia2 years ago
  • I’ve found my people

    A beautiful space for APS nerds just like me. A proud APS employee for over 20 years I am loving hearing from colleagues and can’t believe it took me so long to find this. Frantically playing catch up on past episodes.

    Thanks so much for the great platform and conversation!! You are an absolute ROCK STAR!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    happyprecious
    Australia2 years ago
  • Episode 87 on cultural responsiveness

    A thought provoking topic that has me considering my own cultural norms and biases. I’d love another interview with Lisa after she is secretary and has implemented a program of change.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Seeblockygo
    Australia3 years ago
  • Thoroughly enjoying

    Very interesting. Would like to hear more from APS Academy about the programs under development.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rooperoo
    Australia4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The series is described as a valuable space for APS nerds to catch up on leadership and reform topics.
Some episodes are called out for strong, applicable takeaways on policy delivery.
The show is a must-listen for APS professionals and policy leaders, with practical, thoughtful discussions.
Listeners praise the host's engaging style and the depth of guest expertise.
A minority find the approach too provider-focused or slow at times.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#30
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#155
Taiwan/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP#157: More accessible healthcare for all: Australia’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
Q: What has driven the rapid growth of the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics network and the impact on patients?
A combination of national guidance tailored to local communities, strong stakeholder collaboration, and a clear mission to relieve pressure on hospitals while offering convenient access to urgent care.
EP#157: More accessible healthcare for all: Australia’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
Q: What was happening in the community that showed there was a real need for urgent care clinics?
There was a significant gap in affordable, accessible urgent care that could meet the needs of families closer to home, reducing long waits in hospital EDs.
EP#155: Revisiting '‘Own it’: Empowering neuro-affirming workstyles and environments with Joey Ballantyne & Robin Edmonds'
Q: What is something that you are really hopeful about for the future?
I hope for a professional environment that allows my neurodivergent nephews to thrive.
EP#155: Revisiting '‘Own it’: Empowering neuro-affirming workstyles and environments with Joey Ballantyne & Robin Edmonds'
Q: What is your top tip for people to think about in the workplace in making an environment that is more friendly?
Own it. Don't wait for organizations to provide everything; take control of your own working conditions.
EP#155: Revisiting '‘Own it’: Empowering neuro-affirming workstyles and environments with Joey Ballantyne & Robin Edmonds'
Q: What motivates you to keep doing what you're doing?
I love the thrill of people transforming their lives and feel I can't go back to a typical office job.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Work with Purpose offers in-depth conversations with senior public servants, policymakers, and domain experts focusing on leadership, public service reform, governance, and the practical realities of delivering services in Australia. Across episodes, topics like organizational culture, trust in government, AI in public services, procurement integrity, and inclusive leadership recur, often framed through case studies such as frontline shadowing programs, capability reviews, and large-scale public sector initiatives. The show tends to feature high-level practitioners and researchers who bridge policy design with delivery, with a clear emphasis on user-centered service, transparency, and ethical governance. A notable strength is its ability to... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Grattan Institute
2. Insiders
3. The Fin
4. Politics with Michelle Grattan
5. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 190 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Heather Lansdowne
2. Kirsty Kirk
3. Ken Walker
4. Geoff Mulgan
5. Patrick Gorman
6. Nu Nu Win
7. Jim Betts
8. Rob Heferen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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