000 03622naaaa2200385uu 4500
001 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/29432
020 _aOAPEN_459792
024 7 _a10.26530/OAPEN_459792
_cdoi
041 0 _aEnglish
042 _adc
072 7 _aJWKW
_2bicssc
100 1 _aWanna, John
_4auth
700 1 _aVincent, Sam
_4auth
700 1 _aPodger, Andrew
_4auth
245 1 0 _aWith the benefit of hindsight: Valedictory reflections from departmental secretaries, 2004-11
260 _aCanberra
_bANU Press
_c2012
300 _a1 electronic resource (193 p.)
506 0 _aOpen Access
_2star
_fUnrestricted online access
520 _aSecretaries of government departments in Australia are the bureaucratic leaders of their generation. They are ambitious, highly-talented executives who have risen to the very pinnacle of their chosen vocation – public service to the Australian nation – usually after having spent most, if not all, of their professional careers dedicated to the public service. They serve governments as their top advisers and in policy terms are often some of the most important decision-makers in the country. This collection brings together the valedictory speeches and essays from a departing group of secretaries (and one or two other equivalent agency heads) who left the Australian Public Service between 2004 and 2011. Over this period of time it gradually became accepted that departing secretaries and heads of significant agencies would present a valedictory address to their peers at a public farewell function. The first two speeches in this collection were initiated informally and given at functions organised by their agencies; in 2005 the process was formalised with the Australian Public Service Commission acting as organiser. These contributions contain reflections, commentaries, occasional fond memories or key turning-points in careers, critiques of changes that have occurred and an outline of the remaining challenges their successors will face as the public administrators of tomorrow. From the outset it is clear that there is no uniform message, no single narrative levelled either in praise or in criticism, other than pride in the public service and strong belief in the contribution it makes to the Australian community. They have their own personal ‘takes’ on how the public service looks to them, on its performance and on the challenges confronting public administration into the future. Most spend some time looking back, reflecting on the extent of change that has occurred over the length of their careers; but equally importantly they look forward, anticipating future policy dilemmas and capacity challenges.
540 _aAll rights reserved
_4http://oapen.org/content/about-rights
546 _aEnglish
650 7 _aCivil defence
_2bicssc
653 _aaustralia
653 _acivil service
653 _aofficials
653 _aemployees
653 _aanecdotes
653 _aCanberra
653 _aDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
653 _aPublic service
856 4 0 _awww.oapen.org
_uhttps://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/33587/1/459792.pdf
_70
_zDOAB: download the publication
856 4 0 _awww.oapen.org
_uhttps://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/33587/1/459792.pdf
_70
_zDOAB: download the publication
856 4 0 _awww.oapen.org
_uhttps://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/33587/1/459792.pdf
_70
_zDOAB: download the publication
856 4 0 _awww.oapen.org
_uhttps://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/29432
_70
_zDOAB: description of the publication
999 _c57188
_d57188