Australia’s public sector has been identified as a unique and powerful training centre for personnel whose significant contributions to the community could continue well after they retire from the PS.
Chief Executive of the Canberra-based Civil Liberties Australia (CLA), Bill Rowlings OAM (pictured), a former public servant, said a career in the public sector equipped people with special skills, a wide range of abilities and a strong sense of social justice.
“People who have worked for years in the Public Service have highly developed antenna for social justice issues,” Mr Rowlings said.
“In general in retirement, former public servants are well placed to help voluntary organisations of all types,” he said.
He said that, as an example, eight of the nine directors of CLA are current or ex-Public Servants with hundreds of the organisation’s rank and file members bearing the same, or similar, backgrounds.
Mr Rowlings said CLA’s main focus was on defending people’s rights, a role that benefitted greatly from the skills and abilities its many members gained by serving in the public sector.
“We go in to bat for everyone’s civil liberties,” Mr Rowlings said.
“We monitor the actions and inaction of politicians and review proposed legislation to make it better.
“We work to keep Australia the free and open society it has traditionally been, where you can be yourself without undue interference.”
He said CLA would welcome ex-PS people who had a few hours to contribute a month.
“While retired PS people may have more time, there’s no reason ongoing Public Service members who want to help keep Australia open and free can’t join us.”
He said CLA’s policies and current activities were recorded on the CLA website – www.cla.asn.au – and retiring, semi-retired or ongoing public service members with a commitment to keeping Australia open and free would be welcome to apply for membership.
Mr Rowlings said that among the leadership of CLA are former employees of the Australian Public Service, the NSW PS, ACT, Tasmanian, United Nations and United Kingdom’s.
Further information about the CLA can be accessed at this PS News link or from WA Director, Margaret Howkins at [email protected].
* Integrity admission: Group Editor of PS News, Frank Cassidy is a Director of Civil Liberties Australia.
