At the 2021 IPAA National Conference held in Brisbane this week, Dr Gordon De Brouwer PSM FIPAA announced the 2021 National Fellows to be recognised by the institute. This year not one, but two, South Australian Members were recognised with the award of Fellowship. Our Divisional Council is pleased to congratulate Caroline Mealor and Ruth Ambler as worthy recipients of the highest accolade of IPAA and welcome them into an esteemed cohort of Fellows.

Fellowship of the institute recognises the achievements and commitment of members of the institute to the best practice of public administration, as well their contributions to the goals on the institute.

Caroline Mealor FIPAA is the current Chief Executive of the Attorney General’s Department (AGD) and is also the Company Secretary of our Divisional Council. Caroline is highly committed to the reform of the criminal justice system and has led significant reform in this area. In addition, she has led South Australia’s involvement in the National Redress Scheme and coordinated the State’s response to both the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Caroline firmly believes in the importance of skilled leaders at all levels and has encouraged a strong focus on leadership development across her department through a number of initiatives designed to upskill and grow the next generation of leaders in the AGD.

Ruth Ambler FIPAA is the Executive Director, Cabinet Office of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and a long time patron and member of IPAA SA. Ruth has led a varied and impactful career in the South Australian public sector, spanning departments including Human Services, Community Investment and Support, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation and more. In her current role in Cabinet Office, Ruth supported a newly elected Government who had not been in power for 16 years. During this time, Ruth implemented measures to support a Cabinet-led Government that positioned DPC to coordinate and lead whole of government reform and strategic initiatives. Ruth also led the implementation of the Boarding Call database which made it easier for South Australians to join one of more than 200 government boards that work to make a difference in our state. In addition to this, Ruth has also has significant positive impact on Reconciliation action within SA, taking a leading role in the Reconciliation Action Plan 2020-23.

Congratulations once again to both Caroline and Ruth on this most-deserved recognition for their efforts and commitment to the betterment of public service in our state. To view all National Fellows, please visit here. For more information on the National Fellowship award and IPAA National, please visit here.

Struggling to maintain focus or attention at work?

Hitting that 3 pm low and unable to pull yourself out?

Maybe you are procrastinating by reading this article…

Whatever is going on in your life it’s important to first understand that you are not alone. 

Stress is defined by Health Direct as an “expected human response to challenging or dangerous situations.” Small amounts of stress can be supportive to our growth and development, but large amounts of stress can decrease alertness, energy and productivity.

Did you know? Stress releases your ‘fight or flight’ response, which in turn releases adrenaline and cortisol hormones that increase your heart rate, metabolism and breathing.

Some of the signs of stress include:

• Feeling overwhelmed
• Worrying
• Tiredness / fatigue
• Changes in appetite
• Headaches, muscle tension, upset stomach
• Difficulty concentrating
• Changes in mood (irritable or angry)
• Withdrawal
• Substance abuse/reliance
• Suicidal thoughts or self-harm

Please seek professional advice or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 if you or someone you know is in crisis.

 

You have identified yourself or someone you know as being stressed, now what?

There is a range of different techniques and strategies that can help improve your stress levels at work, which in return can help re-motivate you. We have 5 tips for managing stress, however, we do recommend you seek a health professional or complete Health Direct’s online symptom checker to get advice on your best course of action.

Tip #1 | Strategies and Activities

It is important for you to create a strategy so you know exactly what you need assistance with, so you can make these changes and can see progress. Without any clear direction or goals, you can fall back into your bad habits again.

1. Start by reassessing your to-do lists – Are you trying to fit 30 hours of work into a day?
2. Figure out what things are making you stressed, so you can remove them from your life.
3. Get support and find inventive ways to overcome the things which make you stressed.

Find an activity you can complete when you are feeling stressed, this can help you to stop, calm down, refocus and revaluate the situation. Whether you are doing mindfulness activities to help you rethink your emotions, or find a physical activity you can do which will help in that given situation.

Lumosity is an online game developed by neuroscientists which aims to empower individuals to live better and brighter lives. It starts by testing your attention, flexibility and maths skills to then provide you with insights

Tip #2 | Meditation and Relaxation

Meditation is explained by Healthline as being “the habitual process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts.”

By meditating you can increase awareness of yourself and what’s happening around you, which can help you to reduce stress, create healthier habits and have a more positive outlook on life. Taking the time to stop and rewind is extremely important, especially as we are moving a million miles a minute.

There are a variety of different ways you can meditate or relax, you just need to find what works for you. For more information on the types of meditation read the Healthline article here.

You can also relax at work by going outside for some fresh air, giving your hands or body a massage (or use a roller), relaxing your muscles, stepping away from your computer and have some undisturbed alone time in a quiet space, take deep breaths or listen to some calming music or sounds. Remember to slow down and take time for yourself, as work cannot be done if you are not well or in the mental headspace to complete it.

Tip #3 | Health and Fitness

Your physical health and fitness is so important, as exercise is linked to mood enhancement and the blood pumped into your brain helps you to think more clearly. This in return can increase the part of the brain which is responsible for memory and helps protect you against injury and diesease.

The Australian Guidelines recommends 30 minutes of moderate to intensive physical activity throughout the day. It is also important that during this time you practice mindfulness and choose activities that you enjoy to keep you motivated. By combining exercise with a healthy diet you will gain more energy throughout the day, increasing focus, attentuion and productivity at work.

Looking for an exercise that you can enjoy and fit into your daily routine? Try one of the following:

• Registering for a walking / running / fitness fundraiser
• Join a local walking group
• Take the dog for a walk
• Join a dance class

There are lots of ways we can make small adjustments into our lives to improve our health and fitness. This includes taking the stairs instead of the lift, walking to work, ‘deskercise’ (this can be a fun team exercise), stretching and standing up from your desk for at least 1 minute every hour.

Tip #4 | Find Your Happy

Whether you keep a journal or a mental log of every time you feel happy, then think about what exactly made you feel that way in the moment. This can help you to create purpose and give you more control over your own emotions. This is also a process of trial and error, if you try something to make you feel happier and it didn’t work then pick yourself up and try something else.

It is also important to remain grateful and find positives in your day even when you are feeling down. Start by writing down 3 things you are grateful for in your day, and this can also be used to turn your negatives into positives.

For example, you are informed by your manager that a new policy is going to be enforced which means that the project you are working on now needs to be reworked and changed. You are thankful for the opportunity to review your work and improve it to a higher standard. If you can change your mindset to see things in a more positive light then your negative thoughts will disappear and you will be happier for it.

Remember there are people around you that can help you to find your happy, you are not in this alone.

Tip #5 | Keep Informed and Stay Connected

The world is changing and we know it! But it’s more important than ever for us to keep learning and maintain social connections with others.

Ways you can keep informed and stay connected includes:

• Reading articles / blogs
• Listening to podcasts
• Attend an online or in-person training
• Attend a workshop or event
• Join online chat groups
• Join local / work social groups

If you want to meet new people in the industry, get discounted training to stay informed and up to date in your career, then register for an IPAA SA Membership here. 

 

Resources

Health Direct 2019, Stress, Health Direct, viewed 7 October 2021, <https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/stress>.

Health Direct 2019, Exercise and Mental Health, viewed 14 October 2021, <https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/exercise-and-mental-health>.

Very Well Mind 2021 Effective Stress Relievers for Your Life, viewed 14 October 2021, <https://www.verywellmind.com/tips-to-reduce-stress-3145195>.

Photo by Elisa Ventur on Unsplash

 

Looking for a podcast to get inspired, learn something new or to confirm that you are going in the right direction? IPAA have some public sector specific podcasts which feature some insightful conversations with local public service professionals.

IPAA Public Sector Podcasts

#1 – IPAA ACT | Work With Purpose Podcast Series

This podcast series explores the important role of the Australian Public Service and their roles in supporting the Government’s response and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on priorities for the future and key learnings /takeaways from leaders in the sector.

Available on the IPAA ACT website.

#2 – IPAA ACT | Integrity Series

The Integrity Series is a four-part podcast series produced in partnership between IPAA ACT and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC). It explores the meaning of integrity and the importance of harnessing integrity as an APS craft to build a high performing and trusted public service.

Available on the IPAA ACT website.

#3 – IPAA VIC | Public Sector Perspectives

IPAA Victoria presents Public Sector Perspectives, a podcast featuring conversation with incredible people highlighting the interesting work in government and across the Victorian Public Sector.

Available on the IPAA ACT website.

The PwC Skilled Service Hub is Australia’s national onshore delivery centre based in Adelaide, it supports clients across Australia to solve their most important problems. Having already hired over 100 new staff since July, the Skilled Service Hub team is continuing to grow and they now have more job opportunities available. The Skilled Service Hub is already in operation across Cybersecurity and Cloud capabilities to help drive economic growth for the South Australian and national economy across a wide range of industries.

PwC is currently hiring 150+ roles through the PwC Australia Skilled Service Hub in the following teams:

• Cloud
• Cybersecurity
• Trust & Risk
• Analytics
• Integrated Infrastructure
• Customer & Experience
• Program and Project Management
• Proposals
• Risk & Independence

Whether you are an intern / recent graduate, Associate, Senior Associate, Manager or Senior Manager there are a range of jobs currently available to grow and develop in the sector. If you know someone interested in a role in the above disciplines, then click the link to find out more information.

You can also read about the PwC Australia Skilled Service Hub launch in May 2021 here >

How can we help communities avoid misinformation and disinformation?

How worried should we be about pervasive data collection and its impacts on our citizens’ privacy and ways of life?

 Is cyber mischief dividing society and threatening trust in government… and even our democracy?

 

Our lives are becoming more entwined with, and dependent upon, digital technologies.  These technologies are presenting exciting opportunities to improve our citizens’ quality of life, but there are also risks to individuals, society, trust in government and our democracy that need to be addressed.

To better understand how prepared the South Australian Public Sector is for these challenges, Flinders University is conducting a survey.  The responses collected will be used to develop training to equip public servants with the knowledge, skills and mindsets needed to help South Australia thrive in the digital age. This is a vital piece of research that will help support our sector grow and develop, and with your input we can make a real difference in how we move forward into the future. Complete the survey here >

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and responses are confidential.  It closes at midnight on 1 October 2021.

Once the survey is complete, you have the option to participate in a prize draw to win 1 of 3 Bunnings gift cards worth $40.

The survey is being undertaken by Flinders University and is part of a research project which investigates social cyber awareness in public sector leaders and if it improves through an education program.  Full details of the research project (including confidentiality, privacy, use of the data and contact details for the research team) can be found here. The project has been approved by Flinders University’s Human Research Ethics Committee (Project Number: 4686).

 

If you have questions about the survey, please contact Tammy Joachin, Lead – Executive Education, Jeff Bleich Centre (Flinders University) on 0401002719 or tammy.joachin@flinders.edu.au

The Institute of Public Administration Australia is pleased to announce that funding has been awarded to three new public administration research projects.

The grants from the Public Administration Research Trust Fund — which IPAA manages in partnership with the University of Canberra’s Centre for Change Governance —  will support research into the ethical application of artificial intelligence, the career pathways of Federal ministerial staff once they leave a minister’s office, and the capabilities associated with the implementation of social procurement.

Caroline Walsh, IPAA’s National Executive Director, said that the three research projects will deliver real-world insights for public servants and those involved in the wider public purpose sector.

“We are really pleased to be able to support these research projects into areas of public administration that are topical and important to the profession, not only now but into the future.”

Grants were awarded to:

• Associate Professor Joshua Newman (Better Governance and Policy, Faculty of Arts, Monash University) for the project ‘Supporting the Ethical Application of Artificial Intelligence in Australian Public Administration’ ($6,000)
• Dr Maria Maley (School of Politics and International Relations, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences for the project ‘Leaving the Ministerial Office: career steps following work as a ministerial adviser’ ($3,000)
• Dr Warren Staples and Dr John Howe (University of Melbourne) and Dr Diep Nguyen and Professor Stephen Teo (Edith Cowan University) for the project ‘ Understanding Capabilities in Social Procurement Implementation’ ($6,000).

Professor Darren Sinclair, Director of the Centre for Change Governance at the University, said that the partnership demonstrated the benefits of university collaboration with a member-based organisation like IPAA that promotes excellence and pride in public service across Australia.

“Public administration is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, with the advent of digitisation and big data, together with new and demanding challenges such as COVID-19, and the need to addresses integrity, diversity and inclusion.

 

It is more important than ever, therefore, for academics to provide research insights to practitioners — this can only happen with funding, which the IPAA has generously provided to three excellent projects”.

The research findings from these projects will be made available by IPAA and the University of Canberra in due course.

More information on the research fund is available from the Public Administration Research Trust Fund page on IPAA’s national website.

To see original article, visit the IPAA National website here.

The term ‘Emotional Intelligence’ entered our management vocabulary in the late 90s and is now part of the vernacular in most workplaces. Despite this 20 year ‘history’, there is still much debate about what it is…and isn’t.

Emotional Intelligence (EI), also known as Emotional Quotient (EQ) is a person’s ability to understand and manage their own emotions. Having this understanding will help to better manage stress, communicate effectively, empathise with others and defuse conflict by having better social awareness. There are 5 key elements which help to define emotional intelligence:

1. Self-awareness
2. Self-regulation
3. Motivation
4. Empathy
5. Social Skills

According to the Global Talent Trends 2020-21 Report by Mercer (2021), the Top 3 Critical Skills for Future Resilience are Adaptability, Collaboration and Inclusive / Empathetic Management. It will therefore be vital for managers to develop their own emotional intelligence to better manage their own decisions and actions. By having greater self-awareness, managers are better equipped to support their team and foster stronger relationships.

It is important to have relevant technical skills to perform your work role effectively , however as we become less physically connected it has become even more important to have strong interpersonal skills.

To learn more about Emotional Intelligence and how you can create a positive EQ/EI workplace, register for our Emotional Intelligence course which is part of our our Emerging Executive Development Series. This half day program will review the dominant theories and explore the agreed aspects of EI/EQ and how participants can enhance their competence in this critical business skill.

 

References

Janove, J 2020, ‘Leaders and Employees Need Soft Skills Now More than Ever’, SHRM, viewed 17 August 2021, <https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/employee-relations/humanity-into-hr/pages/covid-19-soft-skills-at-work.aspx>.

Mercer 2021, ‘2021 Global Talent Trends Study’, Mercer, viewed 17 August 2021, <https://www.mercer.com/our-thinking/career/global-talent-hr-trends.html#contactForm>.