Working together to deliver public purpose

The public sector, like many other sectors, is facing a period of disruption the likes of which we have never seen before. Population growth, pressure on infrastructure and technology advancements have created an almost perfect storm for the sector which is also seeing citizen expectations regarding service delivery raise dramatically. It would be very easy for those working in the sector to throw their hands up in the air and declare some of these challenges as too big to solve. Yet, attending IPAA’s Public Sector Week in Victoria I was struck by an unwavering enthusiasm by those working in the sector to address all the challenges head on.

During the course of the week there was robust and indepth discussion about the challenging social responsibilities of government on issues such as Aboriginal Self Determination and Treaty; the complexities of managing stakeholder engagement when it comes to contentious issues such as nuclear waste management, medically supervised safe injecting rooms; together with what is the responsibility and opportunity for government in promoting sustainability goals through procurement practices.  These are not small issues.

But what really inspired me over the course of the week was the attitude of those attending. There was a clear understanding that the outcomes we are looking for in the public sector are not focused on numbers. It is not about targets or glossy brochures. The outcomes that the sector is focused on are about people and transforming lives in a connected world. It is about what we call in my team at EY the citizen benefit – how we deliver programs that help people and communities achieve their full potential. It might be a cliché to say those working in the public sector share a common set of values about public purpose, however I definitely felt the commitment of those in attendance to deliver real citizen benefit.

It was heartening to spend the week with people who expressed an eagerness to think outside the box, to try new ideas and accept that taking calculated risks can lead to a solution that has the potential to improve the lives of all Victorians.