A new initiative to bridge the gap between the research work of academics and the policy work of public servants was announced yesterday by ANZSOG Dean and CEO Ken Smith who said that public sector leaders needed access to research evidence when developing policy.
‘In these times of uncertainty, evidence-based policy and decision-making are more vital than ever.’
‘However, too often researchers lament that the public service ignores their work, while public servants say academic research is not timely or applied to their day-to-day challenges. The Bridge will make vital research available in an accessible format.’
The Bridge is distributed by ANZSOG each fortnight by email. It centres around a Research Brief which distills academic research into an easy-to-read format and will be complemented by other insights into public policy and management.
The Bridge is compiled and curated by Maria Katsonis — a former senior Victorian public servant with more than 20 years’ experience, who is now a Public Policy Fellow at the University of Melbourne. She was previously the curator of The Drop — a joint project between ANZSOG and The Mandarin. Maria is also one of the editors of the Australian Journal of Public Administration.
Anyone interested in reading The Bridge can subscribe to it on the ANSZOG website.
To learn more about other opportunities and resources you can also visit the IPAA National website.
Pictured: Professor Ken Smith, ANZSOG Dean and CEO
The Australian Journal of Public Administration is the go-to resource for the latest research in public administration.
Over recent years the three most download articles from past editions of the journal were:
Professor John Phillimore of Curtin University was delighted to hear that his 2013 article continues to be read widely by a public sector audience seven years on from when it was first published:
‘I think it highlights the enduring relevance of having a good understanding of intergovernmental relations in Australia — now probably more so than ever with the season of bushfires we’ve just experienced, and with coronavirus on top of that.’
The AJPA is freely accessible to all IPAA members via a dedicated portal on the national IPAA website or via an AJPA app. It is the journal of record on public administration, public management and public policy in Australia and has been in continuous circulation since 1937.
Read more on the AJPA on the IPAA National website.
Pictured: Professor John Phillimore — author of the Australian Journal of Public Administration’s most downloaded paper in 2019.
A group of New Zealand researchers have examined how paradoxical leadership contributes to public administration employee resilience.
Dr Esme Franken and Dr Geoff Plimmer from the Victoria University of Wellington, and Associate Professor Sanna Malinen from the University of Canterbury, surveyed a cross section of staff at a large public organisation in New Zealand. They chose it because the organisation itself faced many paradoxes — it had a complex mix of policy, regulatory, service and development functions and was frequently engaged in demanding public controversies. In a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world, public sector employees are required to balance multiple and often contradictory objectives. These objectives can be viewed as paradoxes, where two opposites coexist.
Their research findings were recently published in the March 2020 issue of the Australian Journal of Public Administration.
IPAA members can access the entire back catalogue of the Australian Journal of Public Administration as part of their member benefits.
The paper referenced in this blog — Paradoxical leadership in public sector organisations: Its role in fostering employee resilience — can also be accessed free of charge by the wider public sector community until the 30 April 2020.
Continue
‘Paradoxical Leadership’ is defined as the ability to balance competing structural and relational demands over time.
Research suggests that paradoxical leadership behaviours have five facets.
Continue reading this article in full on the IPAA National website
In line with the latest advice from government and health authorities, IPAA SA has suspended our face-to-face delivery of professional development programs and events to reduce the risk to our staff, facilitators, partner organisations and particularly our members, many of whom deliver or manage important frontline public service.
The safety and well-being of everyone is our priority and our decision is effective immediately.
We are investigating alternate methods of delivery of our professional development programs. We are also developing new ways to connect you with leaders including our Virtual on the Couch Series and webinars bringing you information to help you through this turbulent time.
Those who have registered to attend a specific program or event will be contacted individually.
IPAA SA regrets any inconvenience this may cause. Our priority in making this decision is the health and well-being of everyone.
In the meantime, please stay safe and well. We look forward to welcoming you to programs and events in the future when it is deemed appropriate and risk-free.
For more information on COVID-19, please visit the Australian Department of Health or the SA Health Latest Updates on COVID-19.
A Core People Practices and Supplier Expo that linked a panel of Group training Organisations (GTOs) with agency representatives was held recently. The Expo, which supported the Skilling SA Public Sector Project was an initiative of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment and was assisted by IPAA SA. The expo linked SA Government Providers for Human Resources (HR) Systems and Group Training Organisations (GTO’s) with agency representatives to facilitate improved HR System capabilities and support the Public Sector Project.
Under the Skilling SA Public Sector Project, GTO’s are now available to assist State Government agencies in the recruitment of apprentices and trainees and partner with Agencies who will host trainees and apprentices.
To commence the day’s proceedings Jack Buckskin gave a moving ‘Welcome to Country’, with Commissioner Erma Ranieri, sharing her enthusiasm for this unique opportunity for collaboration and opening the expo to representatives and suppliers.
Shelley Willsmore, Chief Human Resource Officer at OCPSE also addressed the audience and highlighted the importance of a shared vision for future recruitment and talent management for the public sector. As part of her speech Ms Willsmore explained the importance of planning to cater for the changing and evolving nature of the workforce.
As part of the Expo, representatives were engaged in two workshops gathering ideas and input across agencies and additionally having the opportunity to engage with suppliers exhibiting on the day.
These workshops were facilitated by Public Sector Innovation Lab as part of addressing key issues identified through the ‘2018 I WORK FOR SA YOUR VOICE SURVEY’ and the resulting ‘South Australian Public Sector Action Plan 2019-20’.
The first workshop was led by Dan Butler from the Public Sector Innovation Lab, and here representatives explored how innovation and creativity can be applied to determine a best practice framework for recruitment at all levels across the sector. In this interactive workshop, each group was encouraged to put forward ideas and needs from their own agency and how to identify the barriers to achieving best practice.
The second workshop focused on leadership capability and talent management and was led by Jessica Lynch and Aaron Shepherd from OCPSE. Here representatives examined current views on leadership development, and discussed the future of good talent management, identification and development for employees at all levels across the public sector.
In the coming weeks the outcomes and feedback will assist in furthering the South Australian Public Sector Action Plan.
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.