To help you stay informed during COVID-19, IPAA SA, the South Australian Leadership Academy (Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment) and PwC are pleased to offer the Virtual On the Couch Series.

This Virtual On the Couch session we had the opportunity to hear from Chief Executive, Department for Education, Rick Persse on his views on the challenges of responding to COVID-19 in the education sector. Mr Persse expressed great positivity in South Australia’s response to the pandemic and what this means for our children returning to school in Term 2. Mr Persse was interviewed by Jamie Briggs, Adelaide Managing Partner, PwC where they explored the following questions:

• What’s the current outlook for the state with the return of school?
• How has the decision to return to the classroom been informed?
• How important is the ‘element of normal’ for young people, especially for our year 12’s?
• From a public sector perspective how have your interactions with colleagues in other states and departments in similar positions changed?
• Do you think the positive changes and new efficiencies we have seen emerging will stay after the crisis period ends?
• How are you communicating with teaching professionals to manage increased stress and demands?
• How is thinking turning at the government level to ‘switching back on’, what are your observations in this area?
• What do you feel you have learned over the last few weeks about managing a crisis?
• How have you found the experience of forced change in your department?
• What is the biggest takeaway from this epidemic that could be applied to the education perspective?
• What do you think the classroom of 2021-22 will look like given recent events, will it impact class size?
• What are your thoughts on the impact of changes to families work circumstance affecting choices in school for public and private sector?
• Will 2020 end better than it has begun?

disclaimer: This video contains an unedited transcript

Links and Resources

Australian Health Protection Principal Committee

Letter from the Chief Public Health Officer

Schools Open For Term Two – Media Release

Learning in Term 2 – Department for Education

“We don’t want to leave any child in an at-risk situation”, Chief Executive, Department for Child Protection, Cathy Taylor FIPAA, emphasised this as being at the heart of her department’s response to COVID-19.

Ms Taylor also shared her insights on the challenges and opportunities her department is experiencing, and how they can continue to deliver services whilst keeping people safe.

Ms Taylor explored the below questions during this interview with Mark Thomson, Partner, PwC, throughout praising the overwhelmingly positive response from the community, NGO’s and her department.

• The need for child protection doesn’t stop because of the coronavirus. What are you seeing in the world of child protection at the moment?
• Given what you are seeing how has this event impacted your department?
• At a very local level what have been your key focus areas, challenges and key initiatives of your department during this time?
• What are you seeing on the ground and at the government level around this conversation?
• Has data been elevated in importance for you through this event and do you think there are learnings for society about data? Has such a need arisen the space of Child Protection?
• Crises can often kindle people’s innovation, strength, spirit and resilience. Which we are seeing on a daily basis as small businesses in particular innovate. What positive outcomes have you seen come out of the coronavirus?
• What advice would you give to those leading teams at the moment?
• Are there any leadership frameworks, models and mantras that you find particularly helpful during these times?
• Given that there’s most likely some increased costs for carers in terms of access to Internet, technology devices and the like. Is there a plan to address this issue moving forward?
• Those who are in processes such as foster care applications or any other involvement in the sector, should they expect any difference in sort of the timeframes that those processes typically run?

Resources

Can We Declare a COVID Dividend, by Martin Stewart Weeks – as mentioned

COVID-19 one-off cash boost for our foster and kinship carers – Media release from Rachel Sanderson MP – as mentioned

Disclaimer: This video contains an unedited transcript

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Last week IPAA SA President and Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, Erma Ranieri, was the first guest for On the Couch – our first virtual instalment in this series. PwC Partner, Marcus Catchpole led the discussion on current advice to South Australian public sector employees and the unique role of Commissioner Ranieri and her office in this unprecedented time.

The opening discussion focused on the role of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment during a global pandemic. Commissioner Ranieri highlighted the role is constantly evolving as this type of event has not been seen in recent times. The Commissioner views her role as setting and clarifying employment arrangements for public sector employees and planning the workforce response to directions from the State and Federal governments. This includes deciding how self-isolating and social distancing practices can be implemented across the sector and what this will look like for public sector staff.

The Commissioner said her office is also a point of information and communication, where public sector employees can access current advice for associated leave entitlements and working arrangements, under the current pandemic situation.

The ‘Commissioner’s Determination 3.1’ is currently the best place to find the latest advice on leave including COVID-19 leave. The Commissioner stressed the importance of employees familiarising themselves with these documents and being aware of what’s expected of them and how the conditions of their employment have adapted to meet new changes and challenges.

The continually evolving COVID-19 situation and response was also explored, as the Commissioner shared her hope for flattening the curve of infections and continuing to be able to support and implement measures across the public sector to assist in this respect.

In the event of a critical proportion of the state public sector workforce becoming unavailable, Commissioner Ranieri outlined the role of her office in mobilising the whole of workforce to respond effectively and to move people and capabilities around where they are most needed.

Mr Catchpole asked about some of the less obvious roles that the public sector plays in this situation. Commissioner Ranieri explained that the public sector is a huge portion of the SA workforce and that the roles everyone will play are varied from critical frontline services such as doctors and nurses – to the people behind them, supporting them in being able to deliver these vital services. She said this includes a wide breadth of employees; from those ordering medical equipment – to those in Shared Services and SuperSA  – ensuring that employees are paid.  The Commissioner highlighted the importance of balancing the support for both front line, and behind-the-scenes services to ensure continuity to serve the community.

Above all, the Commissioner praised the response of all public sector employees in facing this challenging situation, emphasising the importance of continuing to care for one another in the workplace, even in the form of a phone call or video chat. Commissioner Ranieri shared that everyone is  worried about vulnerable members of the family but that “we are all in this together.”

You can view the full interview below as the Commissioner answers further audience questions and expands on the evolving situation. 

Disclaimer: This is an unedited transcript of the discussion.

Resources

• 20200319 3.1 Employment Conditions – Hours of Work, Overtime and Leave: Supplementary Provisions for COVID 19 (PDF) 468KB
• Direction of the Premier – Requirement to act in accordance with Commissioner’s Determination 3.1 Supplementary Provisions for COVID-19 (PDF) 378KB
• COVID-19 Workforce Considerations for the South Australian Public Sector (PDF) 164KB

For the latest information and resources please view the OCPSE website.

Public Administration Today (2004–2015) was a quarterly publication for IPAA members and built on the earlier success of the Canberra Bulletin of Public Administration (1973–2004).

‘Today’ reported on IPAA activities, promoted and celebrated achievements in Australian public sector management, shared information on major trends and developments, and generated discussion and debate.

Contact IPAA ACT on 02 6154 9800 if you would like to access to earlier editions of Public Administration Today or otherwise visit us at level 6, 12 Pirie St, Adelaide SA, 5000 to browse through our available editions.