The 2021 ‘Premier’s Excellence Awards and Address’ celebrated outstanding achievements within the South Australia Public Sector, this year particularly showcasing the exceptional efforts during the state’s emergency response. During this event the Hon. Steven Marshall also delivered his address to the public sector, sharing more on the state’s COVID-19 recovery and how we can all move forward with purpose.

The event was MCd by Commissioner Erma Ranieri PSM FIPAA who shared her enthusiasm and praise for how our public sector rose to the challenges of recent times.

The Premier’s Address to the Sector

“My number one task today is to acknowledge and thank the public service in South Australia for the outstanding job they have done with those three – major, very impactful events that have hit our state”

The Hon. Steven Marshall noted some of the extraordinary circumstances that we found ourselves in during late 2019 and 2020, with first the devastating bushfires in both Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills and then a subsequent global pandemic. He shared his pride in the public sector’s response to these challenges, as well as the fact that trust in our government is at an all-time high.

Premier Marshall shared that the exemplary efforts of the sector have enabled our state to move forward economically and socially and that “we now have more people employed and we have more wages paid now than pre Coronavirus”.  He also highlighted some of the many examples of the ways in which our sector has moved with greater adaptability and mobility, such as in the delivery of education throughout 2020.

The State’s budget for recovery was also explored during his address, with the Premier sharing his enthusiasm for the largest infrastructure spend in the history of the state – providing a needed boost to jobs and the economy. Affordable housing, school development and investment in innovative projects were other areas that were also highlighted as key in our recovery.

Finally, Premier Marshall shared some of the reforms that had come about as a result of the previous ‘I Work for SA Your Voice Survey’. The results of this survey saw an improved emphasis on nurturing Indigenous leadership in the public sector, as well as increasing the number of indigenous people employed in the sector. With the latest YourVoice survey launching after on Tuesday, 27 April , the Premier encouraged all state government employees to take part and share their opinions.

Excellence Awards

On behalf of IPAA SA and our Divisional Council we would like to offer our congratulations to the outstanding winners and finalists. The whole of the SA public service has gone above any beyond during these challenging times and we hope that everyone across the sector can take away a sense of pride and accomplishment in what has been acheived.

Excellence in Service Delivery Award

Recognises an individual or team’s exemplary service to the community of South Australia. Their program, service or initiative has had a far-reaching, positive impact.

INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Kate Tyrell, Central Adelaide Local Health Network

INDIVIDUAL FINALISTS:

• Toby Coates, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (watch video)
• Lucian Bogdan Soloman, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (watch video)

TEAM WINNER: Kidstuff – Indigenous Young Parents Program, Women’s and Children’s Health Network

TEAM FINALISTS:

• Geriatrics in the Home Program, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (watch video)
• Kanggawodli Dialysis Initiative, Central and Northern Adelaide Local Health Networks (watch video)

Excellence in Service Delivery – Emergency Response Award

Recognises an individual or team’s exemplary service to the community of South Australia in an emergency. Their program, service or initiative has had a far-reaching, positive impact.

INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Mark Turra, SA Pathology

INDIVIDUAL FINALIST: Martin Reid, Department for Energy and Mining (watch video)

TEAM WINNER: Medi-hotel Quarantine Program, SA Health, SA Police, SA Ambulance Service and SA Pathology

TEAM FINALISTS:

• Bushfire Rebuilding and Recovery Program, Department of the Premier and Cabinet (watch video)
• COVID Response Coordination Team, Department for Education (watch video)
• Bushfire Response and Recovery, Department of Primary Industries and Regions (watch video)

Public Sector Values

Recognises an individual or team’s demonstration of the South Australian public sector values in their service delivery.

INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Vicki Beard, Department for Energy and Mining

INDIVIDUAL FINALISTS:

• Christopher Tilley, Department for Correctional Services (watch video)
• Wayne Cunningham, Department of Human Services SA (watch video)

TEAM WINNER: COVID-19 Response, Department of Primary Industries and Regions

TEAM FINALISTS:

• Duty Lawyers Services, Legal Services Commission of South Australia (watch video)
• IN.DPC: intranet in the cloud, Department of the Premier and Cabinet (watch video)

Watch this event in full below

“The test of people’s integrity comes, not through their successes, but when we are presented with failure, or challenge, or temptation.”

Commissioner Ann Vanstone QC joined IPAA SA in her first address to the broader public sector, in her role as Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, speaking to the topics of integrity and accountability and what this means for the public sector. With the Office for Public Integrity (OPI) and the ICAC now well established, expert staff of the OPI assess complaints and reports relating to allegations of corruption, misconduct or maladministration within South Australia’s public administration.

As highlighted by the Commissioner Only a fraction of the 1,200 plus complaints and reports that the OPI receives each year become the subject of an ICAC investigation, with many matters referred back to agencies for internal investigation. The core focus of the ICAC is addressing corruption. Commissioner Vanstone shares the need to dispel some of the misrepresentation and mystery around the purpose and functions of the ICAC

As described by the Commissioner, the ICAC serves multiple purposes, and highlights that for public servants, the ICAC is “your partner and not your enemy”. As well as addressing and investigating corruption the ICAC is a vital body in helping improve integrity culture across the sector. As noted by the Commissioner “we are not here to catch people for mistakes or minor transgressions… we are only interested when integrity failings are so grave that criminal conduct is occurring or may occur”.

The ICAC performs an essential role in protecting the culture of integrity for all public officers and as summarised by Commissioner Vanstone “you are here to report corruption and I am here to deal with it”.

“It’s the unsung acts of everyday reliability, credibility and account that imbue public administration with the integrity it needs.”

Commissioner Vanstone notes that we are all faced with challenges that will test our integrity and accountability. For anyone entrusted with public office and working for the public interest, effort must be made to act continuously and reliably in the best public interest.  The ICAC plays a role in educating public officers on how to act with integrity, as well as in preventing corruption.

Question Time

As part of this event audience members were invited to submit their questions to Commissioner Vanstone. The Q&A portion was led by Chief Executive, Attorney-General’s Department, Caroline Mealor, who along with exploring some of her own questions for the Commissioner, delivered the questions of public sector employees from across the sector.

Questions from Chief Executive, Attorney-General’s Department, Caroline Mealor

• What attracted you to this role? (time 36:30 mins)
• You hand over a brief to the DPP to prosecute… how does it feeling not being in control of the prosecution? (time 37:20 mins)
• Since starting have you enjoyed your role? (time 38:00 mins)
• Has anything particularly surprised you in the role of office since you began? (time 39:10 min)
• Do you think your term in ICAC will be different from your predecessor? (time 40:00 mins)
• There has been criticism that ICAC has spent too much time looking at misconduct and maladministration rather corruption. How do you respond to that? (time 42:00 mins)
• Do you think that the media has a role in assisting you carrying out your function and promoting the good work that you do? (time 44:45 mins)
• Do you think the ICAC Act makes the ICAC too secret? (time 45:00 mins)
• Have you been in the role long enough to give us any observations about the level of integrity that exists in the South Australian public service? (time 47:23 mins)
• Can you comment on the willingness and capability of leaders in the public service to address misconduct and maladministration? (time 48:20 mins)
• Your office relies on public officers making reports. How would you encourage public officers to report knowing that research reports that people are pretty fearful of doing so? (time 49:10 mins)
• What do you do with the intelligence you gather from complaints? What benefit for you is there in understanding the whole picture? (time 1:02:06 mins)
• Can you see a time where an agency might come to you and say “help” could you evaluate us? (time 53:00 mins)
• Some of the investigations you run in conjunction with SAPOL. Could you explain that a bit further and do you think that works? (time 1:04:46 mins)
• You mentioned in your address the idea of ICAC being in partnership with public administration. How do you make the cultural shift towards partnership? (time 1:09:30 mins)

Questions from the Audience

• Are you planning any reviews of the Act? (time 50:44 mins)
• Treasurer’s Instruction 28, which deals which financial management compliance program… What would you like to see come out of this review to achieve better outcomes? (time 51:50 mins)
• Do you think an agencies internal audit and risk team has an important role in upholding integrity and accountability? (time 52:30 mins)
• What things can internal audit do better to strengthen organisational internal controls and strengthen management risk culture? (time 54:10 mins)
• Why are so many investigations referred back to agencies who “don’t have the resources and skills to properly undertake them”? (time 54:54 mins)
• Do you have any view of Australia’s declining ranking on the International Corruption Perception Index, especially in comparison to our New Zealand neighbor’s? (time 57:48 mins)
• Do you think that most public servants understand their reporting obligations under the Act? (time 58:42 mins)
• Are you considering a review of the threshold for the obligation on agencies to report misconduct or maladministration? (time 1:00:03 mins)
• You have said you are likely to deal with maladministration matters, are they likely to be referred to the ombudsman or somebody else? (time 1:00:53 mins)
• What is the difference between your role and the role of the ombudsman? (time 1:01:13 mins)
• What are the qualifications or experience you are looking for in your investigators and could you recommend to somebody who is considering [job] change? (time 1:03:20 mins)
• You mentioned earlier weaknesses you see in the ICAC Act, could you elaborate on those weaknesses? (time 1:05:35 mins)
• Do you have any contact or are you getting any lessons learnt from interstate ICAC’s or the IBAC? (time 1:07:19 mins)
• What is the relationship between your office and the OCPSE? Do you work with Commissioner Ranieri to develop guidance for the public sector? (time 1:08:10 mins)
• What can be done by public sector employees to encourage reporting to ICAC? (time 1:08:45 mins)
• What is your advice for assisting public officers to ensure that the same test of accountability and integrity is applied to all levels of staff? (time 1:12:00 mins)
• Public officers are afraid of reporting corruption as they fear being victimised, and people are still afraid of coming forward. Do you have any comments about that? (time 1:13:00 mins)

Further Resources

As Commissioner Vanstone highlighted during this event, her ability to investigate corruption arrives from public officers coming forward and reporting. If you would like some further information on your reporting obligations, how to make a report or to ask any further questions the below resources may be helpful to you.

• What should I Report?
• The Reporting Obligations of all Public officers
• How to Make a Report
• Your Privacy and Protection in Making a Report
• Get in contact with ICAC

The outstanding service and contribution of Erma Ranieri has been recognised in the Australia Day 2021 Honours list with a Public Service Medal.

As Commissioner for Public Sector Employment at the Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment with the South Australian Government Erma has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to shaping the future of South Australia’s public sector by driving sector-wide reform.

Erma is a strong advocate for diversity and gender equality in leadership in the public sector, and she challenges barriers to drive innovative, collaborative and connected services for the South Australian community.

The citation accompanying her Meritorious Service Award reads “for outstanding public service to people management, and to public sector reform, in South Australia”.

IPAA South Australia Vice President and Chief Executive of the Department of Treasury and Finance David Reynolds said:

“Erma embodies the public service values through her commitment to the people who work within it. This award is well deserved recognition for her leadership and drive for reform.”

Erma Ranieri is the IPAA South Australia President, a long-serving member of IPAA’s National Council, and a National Fellow.

Even in the midst of these challenging times, it’s vital to keep looking forward. IPAA SA is dedicated to supporting you in your work in the South Australian public sector, which is why the IPAA SA Team and Divisional Council are proud to present our Strategic Plan for 2020-23.

Over the next two years IPAA SA will continue in our ongoing aim of ‘supporting the public sector’, and through consultation with our members, we have identified 4 key areas that we will grow in. These four areas, include a strong focus on learning from the challenges of 2019 and 2020, from the bushfires that ravaged our state, to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We are privileged to be working with a public sector that has risen, above and beyond in meeting these challenges, and with the future insight, we hope to leverage these opportunities to support the public sector in whatever new challenges may emerge.

The 4 key areas of the plan include;

• Extending our reach – bringing support and resources to all public sector employees and also those working in association with the sector
• Future of learning – growing our professional development and training to support a range of new capabilities needed in 21st century public servants
• Advancing the profession – fostering the sense of pride, celebration and recognition for those working in the public sector
• Deepening our connections – continuing to work as closely as possible with the public sector to improve our service to members across all levels

As we exist solely for our members and to best serve the needs of the public sector your input is essential in implementing our Strategic Plan. We hope that you will contribute by sharing your input in a short survey.