‘Being evidence-based is really, really hard’: shifting evaluation culture
Too often evaluation is an afterthought and the report sits in a drawer. Two experts discuss how to shift attitudes to make evidence-based policymaking meaningful. Read More
Author: David Donaldson
Recruitment mythbusting: do internal or external candidates perform better?
It's a dilemma often faced by hiring managers: should you employ an external applicant or someone who already knows their way around? Read More
Wasting time online at work: it’s (maybe) not your fault
Do you spend your workday endlessly checking Facebook and scrolling through Twitter? Maybe you're just not being given enough to do. Read More
Kibblewhite shifted in overhaul at top of NZ state sector
New Zealand's top public servant Andrew Kibblewhite and four other departmental heads are being replaced. But in a move that would seem strange in Australia, Kibblewhite will stick around. Read More
Queen’s birthday honours: the public servants recognised
Robyn Kruk and Jennifer Westacott were among those recognised for their contributions to public administration and public policy. See the list of public servants awarded AOs, AMs and PSMs here. Read More
‘Intervening is important’: responding to sexist behaviour at work
Bystanders play a significant role in addressing sexism in the workplace, research shows. But publicly challenging the perpetrator is not the only option. Read More
Making the elephant dance: DELWP secretary John Bradley
Victoria's top environment bureaucrat John Bradley discusses his varied career, making systems work and collaborating with the community. Read More
Fake breath tests show perils of KPI perverse incentives
A significant number of random breath tests conducted by Victoria Police in recent years have been fake, in an example of the potential for perverse incentives in key performance indicators. Read More
Harnessing habits: behavioural economics’ impact from commuting to court dates
Recent experiments by the NSW Behavioural Insights Unit show governments how they can harness the increasing body of knowledge around how we respond to different interventions. Read More
Don’t keep history a mystery: National Reconciliation Week in action
Australians are being urged to learn more about their national history as part of National Reconciliation Week. Queensland has launched a Reconciliation Action Plan. Read More
Coombs 42 years on — looking back at the review that shaped the APS
It's striking how similar many of the criticisms made by the Coombs Royal Commission are to those you'd hear today. Read More
Avoiding the sprawl: which cities really face the longest commutes
New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics certainly makes you wonder about the government's argument for decentralisation -- that public servants could live like "kings and queens" in regional Australia. Read More
Ultranet: former VIC deputy secretary Darrell Fraser charged
Former deputy secretary at the Victorian Department of Education Darrell Fraser has been charged over his role in the failed software project Ultranet. Read More
‘Measuring success differently’: New Zealand budget’s shift in economic thinking
With its first budget, New Zealand's Ardern government is articulating a bigger role for government in society, talking up wellbeing over traditional economic measures -- while still playing on the standard "fiscal responsibility" narrative. Read More
Politicians happy to blame public servants — but not so keen on praise
Cognitive biases -- such as erring towards negative performance data -- can undermine the potential benefits of increased transparency. They might also help explain bureaucrats' notorious risk aversion. Read More