Series Overview
Accountability and integrity in the public sector is critical in if it is to deliver good outcomes for the Western Australian community. The public sector in WA employs around 140,000 people across its departments and agencies.
Occasional allegations and findings of corruption within the public services of Australia identify that despite best efforts within departments, corruption can still occur. Importantly they demonstrate that existing mechanisms of multiple levels of oversight are effective at identifying and investigating breaches. However, as corruption is ever present, leaders within the sector are met with the challenge of developing systems of controls and balances that are dynamic in response.
IPAA WA presents this important conversation over a series of interviews and a concluding live panel that discuss the findings of recent reports in Western Australia, confront existing challenges of culture and accountability within the sector; identify where current practices may have fallen down; and discuss how proposed new strategies are fit to serve the sector in the decades ahead.
Our speakers will provide you with insights into how to identify issues, evaluate, and strengthen your own systems of integrity and accountability.
Topics
- Foundations for trust: strengthening a culture of integrity in the public sector
- Finding the balance: risk vs control
- Under the spotlight: evaluating and rebuilding integrity and accountability systems
Webinar on 26 August 2020
Click here to view the webinar.
Pre-recorded three-part series of interviews, plus a live webinar
Interview 1: Sharyn O'Neill, Public Sector Commissioner
Foundations for trust: strengthening a culture of integrity in the public sector
Sharyn O’Neill was appointed as Public Sector Commissioner in July 2018 following 12 years as Director General of the Department of Education. She is the first woman to undertake the role.
Ms O’Neill’s priority as Commissioner is to strengthen and unify the public sector to better serve the needs of the Western Australian community. She is leading a major reform agenda with a focus on sector leadership, talent, diversity, workforce, integrity and capability.
Ms O’Neill began her career as a teacher and deputy principal in country schools, before moving to policy, governance and system leadership positions. She has a Master of Education (Education Administration and Policy).
As the youngest Director General appointed to the Department of Education, she led unparalleled reform of public schooling in the areas of autonomy, staffing, funding, leadership and culture that saw improvements to student academic standards.
In 2016, she was awarded the Institute of Public Administration Australia (WA) Patron’s Award and was made a Fellow of the Institute in recognition of her contribution to public administration in Western Australia. In 2019, Ms O’Neill received the Australian College of Educators (WA) Medal in recognition of her outstanding achievements in education.
Ms O’Neill was appointed State Recovery Controller in May 2020, with responsibility for developing, coordinating and overseeing WA’s recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sharyn O’Neill
WA Public Sector Commissioner
Interview 2: Caroline Spencer, Auditor General for WA
Finding the balance: risk vs control
Ms Spencer was appointed Auditor General in May 2018. She is the first woman to undertake the role.
Caroline has experience in financial and performance audit across jurisdictions and sectors, and prior to her appointment led a professional services firm specialising in public sector audit and governance. She has held a number of board and audit committee roles in several jurisdictions.
Caroline has a passion for promoting accountability and continuous improvement across the public sector and the audit profession – to enhance trust and performance for the benefit of the communities we serve.
She is a fellow of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and the Governance Institute of Australia, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Caroline Spencer
Auditor General for WA
Interview 3: Dr Robyn Lawrence, Deputy Chief Health Officer, Department of Health WA
Under the spotlight: evaluating and rebuilding integrity and accountability systems
Dr Robyn Lawrence
State Health Incident Controller; Deputy Chief Health Officer, Department of Health
Webinar on 26 August 2020
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