Work with Purpose: A podcast about the Australian Public Sector

Trigger warning: themes of mental health/sexual assault.

Robin Edmonds from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts and Joey Ballantyne of Grit n Grace Collective talk about neurodiversity, developing a strong sense of self, and supporting people to learn and work in a way that helps them thrive.

When Joey Ballantyne, founder of Grit n Grace Collective, speaks about breaking the survive/burnout cycle, and her late autism diagnosis, it comes from the heart. Driven by her own experience, she started her own neuro-affirming professional development program, built to empower atypical women in the workplace.

In this special Work with Purpose conversation, Joey and guest host Robin Edmonds, co-chair and co-founder of the Australian Public Sector Neurodiversity Community of Practice and assistant director, Media Reform at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts, shed light on the experiences of neurodivergent women in the workplace, and the specific challenges they face. They also talk about ways to get to know yourself, and how managers can build inclusive team cultures that benefit everyone.

Key Tips
Develop a strong sense of self and what you need in a work environment to succeed
As a leader, give agency to your staff to show you how the work best. For example, ask people how they want to receive feedback
Be clear about meeting purposes, take notes, and give people time to process.

Show Notes
Grit n Grace Collective
Public Sector Neurodiversity Community of Practice | Australian Public Service Commission
2024 APS Census | Australian Public Service Commission

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On this episode of Work with Purpose, we hear from Ray Griggs AO CSC about what working in the navy has taught him about taking and giving feedback, and why difficult conversations are part and parcel of becoming a better leader.
Ray Griggs AO CSC looks back at a long and distinguished career in the public sector – from Australia’s Defence Force to most recently the Department of Social Services. Along the way, he navigated many difficult conversations, had his views contested, and at times, had to manage failure. In this conversation with host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, he tells us how these challenges contribute to growing as a leader – and as a human.
They also discuss managing large-scale change in complex environments, why you should always do your own fact-checking, and how solutions through new technologies need to be co-designed with Australia’s communities.
Key tips:
How you respond to people’s views and ideas is crucial. Respond the way you’d like your own leaders to respond to you.
Never neglect doing your own fact checking. Once you launch into the process, your credibility can be at risk.
Work out how real a timeline is. Sometimes we impose unrealistic timelines on ourselves.

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In this landmark episode of Work with Purpose, host David Pembroke sits down with Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Australia’s 28th Governor-General, for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation recorded at Government House.
Marking one year and one day since her appointment, the Governor-General reflects on her journey from suburban Canberra to one of the nation’s highest offices. She shares insights into her upbringing, career, and the values that guide her leadership – care, kindness, and respect.
Listeners will gain a rare glimpse into the evolving role of civic institutions, the importance of inclusive public service, and the power of storytelling in shaping national identity. From her early volunteerism to her work in law, sport, climate, and social justice, the Governor-General’s story is one of curiosity, courage, and commitment to community.
In this episode, you’ll hear about her path to Governor-General, why care, kindness, and respect are central to her vision for modern leadership and public service, and how her diverse career shaped a holistic view of Australia’s institutions and the people who power them.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone who cares about Australia’s future, the role of public service, and the values that bind us together.

Key tips
Champion civics education. Help build a more informed and engaged society by promoting understanding of Australia’s democratic systems and institutions
Collaborate across sectors. Break down silos between public, private, and community sectors to foster innovation and shared purpose
Lead with compassion. Embed care and kindness into everyday decision-making – whether in policy, leadership, or community engagement.

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Have you ever considered what it takes to design public services that keep pace with technology while staying genuinely human-centred?

In this episode of Work with Purpose, IP Australia Deputy Director-General Margaret Tregurtha joins Wendy Cohen, Deputy CEO of IPAA, to explore how modern public institutions can foster innovation, build trust and deliver services that meet evolving community needs.

Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how intellectual property underpins Australia’s economic and cultural wellbeing, why recognising and protecting First Nations knowledge is essential to a fair and modern IP system, and what responsible adoption of emerging technologies like AI really looks like in practice.

The conversation also highlights the mindsets and capabilities needed to drive meaningful change inside government, from embedding transparency and inclusion to creating cultures that support curiosity and continuous improvement. It offers a practical and grounded look at what it takes to build public services that are trusted, adaptive and ready for the future.

Key Takeaways

Human centred design is essential for modern public services.
True transformation happens when services are built around people's real needs and expectations, not just new technology.

Protecting First Nations knowledge strengthens Australia's innovation system.
Recognising and safeguarding Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property is vital for fairness, cultural resilience and a modern IP framework.

Responsible innovation depends on clear governance and a culture of curiosity.
Emerging technologies like AI deliver public value only when supported by strong risk frameworks, purposeful leadership and teams empowered to learn and experiment.
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In this special International Men’s Day episode, Work with Purpose host David Pembroke, Founder and CEO of contentgroup, brings together two senior public sector leaders to explore what male role modelling looks like in practice, not in theory.

Deputy Secretary David Mackay (Regions, Cities and Territories, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts) and Michael Pohl (National Manager for Smart Centres across Regional NSW and the ACT at Services Australia) share candid reflections on leadership, identity, caregiving, cultural background, and the real pressures of balancing demanding roles with busy family lives.

Listeners will hear lived experience, practical behaviours, First Nations perspectives, and personal stories that illuminate the difference male leaders can make in shaping respectful, healthy public sector workplaces.

Key Tips

People remember how leaders make them feel: small moments of validation or dismissal shape workplace culture more powerfully than formal feedback
Lead with questions, not answers: curiosity and humility help unlock team insight, build trust, and create stronger decisions
Normalise shared caregiving: taking parental leave and protecting family time strengthens leaders and helps shift outdated gender norms
Be honest about the chaos: vulnerability creates psychological safety and helps teams feel understood and supported

Show Notes

Coro Canberra (David Mackay’s choir)
Hartley Cycle Challenge (Michael’s charity ride)
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