Public Service is purposeful work

12 months ago I became the Practice Lead for the Government, Not for Profit and Education practice at Omera Partners.?

As the Minns government and I both celebrate our first anniversary I thought it timely to share a few observations and reflections.

Working in the public service has as many preconceptions as it has range of roles. Public service is exactly what it says. A commitment to serving the NSW public. It is purposeful work.

Government drives systemic change by tackling the problems that the market puts in the too hard basket. By default, so do the NSW Public Service leaders. Change is constant and you could say that leading in government is a masterclass in continuous improvement.

Being responsible for leading some of the largest workforces in Australia and providing frank and fearless advice to multiple Minister’s is not for the faint hearted. Intellectual empathy, curiosity, an understanding of the rhythm of parliament and the ability to explain a difficult decision in a way the person hearing it understands are key to success.

Delivering outcomes for the NSW community when the very essence of our democracy means that a diverse range of opinions and views needs to be corralled to deliver on an objective is no mean feat. The ability to come to a collective decision for the benefit of the community is reflective of the trust and respect required between parliament and the public service.

I have met some of the brightest and smartest people delivering innovation and thinking about over-the-horizon solutions to 'wicked problems'.

Leaders are generous with their time. Already in 2024 nearly all the Secretaries have spoken at an Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) event.? Supporting the work of IPAA to provide public sector thought leadership and strengthen the capacity of public servants.

And naturally my mind has turned to why consider an executive career in the NSW public service?

Together with your staff and Parliament you have the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to intergenerational issues such as housing, climate change and impact outcomes for future generations of the NSW community.

Leaders have the opportunity to build portfolio careers. Supported by the NSW Public Sector Capability Framework you are able to use your innate leadership skills to move into roles where you may not have deep technical expertise.

You don’t have to resign from a role to flex your professional skills. Leadership opportunities to act on secondment enable you to develop new and differentiated skill sets and learn in real time.

Professional leadership development is actively supported by the NSW Public Service Commission (PSC). ?The work of the PSC is to support the strategic leadership and development of the NSW government sector workforce and there are a range of professional development opportunities available through the NSW Leadership Academy.

There is an active commitment to diversity and the PSC Workforce Profile Report 2023 report saw positive gains across all diversity measures. The Sponsorship program, Elevate and Advocate was an initiative of 2023. Supporting CALD employees, sponsors actively accelerate their sponsee’s development and career opportunities as opposed to behind the scenes coaching and mentoring.

Working for the NSW Government often suits individuals who value and thrive on complexity.

It’s large, change is a constant, relationships take time and trust is paramount. The learning curve can be steep.

Roles require patience and resilience however for those looking for a purposeful career with impact, the rewards can be tenfold.