EP#120: Collaboration Circle: Shaping First Nations initiatives in the APS

Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector.

Sam Jeffries from the Australian Public Service Commission, Julie Hansen from the Department of Defence, and Stella Renagi from the Australian Taxation Office join us on this episode to discuss the Collaboration Circle, a new model centering First Nations experiences in the APS.

Effective engagement with First Nations peoples to ensure better recruitment, retention and advancement is a priority under the Australian Public Service Reform pillar ‘The APS as a model employer’. Collaboration Circle is a recent initiative under this pillar in line with Closing the Gap Priority Reform 3, designed to ensure that the experience of First Nations public servants is understood by the senior leaders of the APS.

On this episode, First Nations APS leaders Sam Jeffries, first assistant commissioner First Nations Systems Lead at the Australian Public Service Commission, Julie Hansen, Training Force WHS advisor at the Department of Defence and Stella Renagi, business strategy manager at the Australian Taxation Office, join host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, to talk about the how the Collaboration Circle initiative has evolved from pilot to a permanent mechanism in 2025.

Key tips

1. Trust is the currency – it is the only thing that will help you build relationships to drive genuine change.
2. Embrace the findings of the Collaboration Circle to support recruitment and retention of First Nations staff in your organisation. Bring it into senior leadership meetings.
3. Recognise your privilege and bias, and that people’s lives can be very different.

Show notes

APS Consultative Committee communique | Australian Public Service Commission

Closing the Gap Priority Reform 3 | Closing the Gap

COO Committee communique: 25 June 2024 | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

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