Work with Purpose | Episode #62 | 4 July 2022

EPISODE 62 | 'WHAT MAKES A GREAT FIRST NATIONS PUBLIC SERVANT' WITH PROFESSOR TOM CALMA AO, KATE THOMANN AND GEOFF RICHARDSON PSM 

The public service offers opportunity to contribute to positive outcomes for Australian communities and to pursue rewarding careers. It also comes with challenges, obstacles, ethical dilemmas, and racism for some of our First Nations public servants.

Our conversation for this episode is an important one, with our guests exploring the push and pull factors for First Nations people in the Australian Public Service. It’s brought to you in NAIDOC Week, and as we are being encouraged to stand up for change, rally around Indigenous communities and make a stand for institutional and structural reforms. 

We’re joined by Professor Tom Calma AO FFA, Chancellor of the University of Canberra, Kate Thomann, General Manager of Business Development and Employment at Aboriginal Hostels Limited, and Geoff Richardson PSM, First Nations Development Consultant. They share insights from decades of service in the APS, including the push and pull factors for First Nations people in the APS, benefits of public sector careers, dealing with stigma within Indigenous communities of working in the APS, addressing racism.
 

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