The Independent Review of the Australian Public Service (APS) has published the views of panel member, Belinda Hutchinson on the Review, the APS itself and the challenges ahead.
Ms Hutchinson (pictured) is Chancellor of Sydney University.
She said she would like the review to make a contribution towards providing more opportunities for those from Indigenous and minority backgrounds.
“I find there is a really strong sense of mission among Public Servants,” Ms Hutchinson said.
“People are doing this work because they want to make a contribution to their country.
“That sense of mission is something I also see at Sydney University. We are also a heritage institution which has served the people of Sydney and beyond for over 160 years.”
She said the university and the APS faced the same challenges — globalisation, technology and digital innovation and changing expectations from the people they served.
“It’s interesting to think about how institutions with such long lives can confront, adapt and empower themselves to improve what and how they deliver to meet the changing requirements of their key stakeholders,” Ms Hutchinson said.
“The university and the Public Service have a strong sense of independence, value freedom of speech and the ability to pursue and answer difficult questions without interference.”
She said the vast majority of APS employees did their job to serve the nation and it was that sense of purpose which contributed to the delivery of good policy, regulation and services.
“The review has, however, identified a number of significant internal and external impediments to the Public Service being able to deliver to the very best of its ability,” Ms Hutchinson said.
“There is clearly no silver bullet; no single thing which will overcome these impediments…however there are changes this review can recommend which will make life easier for everyone.”
Ms Hutchinson’s comments can be accessed in full on the Review website at this PS News link.
