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Each month, we invite you to join us for a roundtable discussion led by one of our team. This month, join our General Manager as he leads a roundtable on:
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What next for public sector innovation?
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Innovation can be challenging, especially in risk-averse and bureaucratic organisations. As the wave of necessary programmatic innovation from the first years of COVID has receded, a space has opened to redefine what we need from public sector innovation.
Globally, public sector innovation remains an important focus for policymakers. For those policymakers engaging in new ways of thinking and connecting across borders and disciplines, this is an exciting time for innovation practice.
But in Australia, with the shuttering of the Public Sector Innovation Network, agency-led innovation labs, and systemic funding for policy innovation, it's unclear what the future holds for big-picture and systemic innovation in the public service. It’s an opportune time to explore what could be next.
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→ Register here for this online lunch-time session
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Dan Woods
General Manager, Business Operations (Canberra)
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Real change happens slowly. We’re spotlighting what can be achieved over longer horizons, to inspire us to keep trying.
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Polyester burst onto the scene almost 100 years ago, quickly becoming one of the world's most popular textiles. It has thousands of uses for consumers and industries, including essential medical equipment and car seat belts. However, the problem with this fibre is it never breaks down. As it is derived from petrochemicals, it has long-term environmental consequences.
This is where material innovators have come in to help solve this global issue. There is an abundant natural polymer called cellulose, and we can find it in almost everything. Coffee grounds? Yes. Banana skins? Yes. Cigarette butts? Surprisingly, yes. Bio-based fibres from cellulose waste are emerging as solid alternatives to conventional synthetic fibres that harm our health and the environment.
If we view all types of waste as a valuable resource, what other industries can benefit from this? What answers can we find in nature to eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels?
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Jacinta Manivong
Marketing Coordinator (Melbourne)
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Takes on solving community legal services for people living with disabilities
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It takes many to make positive change. Here's a few initiatives from around the world tackling the same problems we are.
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1.
Support for Justice is a dual-read guide for Victorians with intellectual disabilities and their advocates to navigate the legal system effectively.
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2.
The Just4All project promotes justice for people with disabilities by providing valuable training programs, with a big focus on intersectional issues of gender and children with disabilities.
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3.
Youth Disability Advocacy Service works with disabled young people, providing free individual advocacy services in Victoria. Their advocacy team works directly with young people to offer advice and support.
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→ Here is some work we did with Southside Justice
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Emily Hamilton
Strategic Design Lead (Melbourne)
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Things I’ve learnt while supporting a community legal service streamline their triage experience
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Through our work, we constantly learn and share new ideas amongst our team. Here's something we learnt recently.
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1.
Establishing how we wanted to participate as a group built trust and fostered a culture of ‘yes, and’ rather than ‘no, because’. Creating an agreement to refer back to in future sessions, allowed us to continue building on this dynamic and maintain open communication.
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2.
When it comes to complex systems, visualisation is a powerful tool. A well-crafted visual ensures that everyone is on the same page, leading to more productive conversations about how to tackle challenges and capitalise on opportunities.
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By spacing out workshops over several weeks, the whole team was able to make well-informed decisions after taking the time to review, reflect, and seek input from others.
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Keeping the workshops small ensures all participants can engage and contribute meaningfully. We carefully selected participants based on the area they worked on, their experience and their appetite for supporting change.
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Hannah Stocks
Strategy and Innovation Principal (Melbourne)
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Solemn client call
Party balloons flood the screen
Damned Apple update
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Your monthly haiku dose delivered to you from one of our team members. We write from the heart (and our work desks).
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Ian Pollock
Senior Design Researcher (Melbourne)
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● A MOMENT FOR REFLECTION
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How can employers better support the mental health of remote employees?
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Reflecting as a team is a big part of our practice. Here's a question from our team to yours for this month.
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