Delivery: Face-to-face | Duration: One day
There has always been a clear requirement for public sector organisations to act effectively and efficiently. In recent times, partly in response to the wide range of Commissions of Inquiry and Royal Commissions, we have seen a third ‘e’ come to prominence, the requirement to act ethically. This has increasingly been approached by trying to codify through regulations, codes of conduct, policies and other instruments, trying to cover every situation that a public official might face. This leaves little discussion of our own ‘moral agency’ and how we might need to develop skills to recognise ethical dilemmas and tests of our integrity and respond to them appropriately.
This one-day course is designed to help public sector employees develop the skills to navigate an increasing complex work environment and to better understand the principles that need to underpin ethical conduct. On completion of this course, you will have a better understanding of the barriers and enablers within the public sector that enable us to ‘do what is right’.
Learning outcomes
This course will cover:
- the role of an ‘independent’ and ‘apolitical’ public servant
- what does ‘frank and fearless’ actually mean
- the difference between ethical dilemmas and tests of integrity
- ethical theories
- strategies to support action in the face of ethical challenges
- ethical blind spots
- doing your job or doing what is right
- could actions being taken now seem deeply unethical in the future.
At the completion of this course, you will have:
- an understanding of the characteristics of ethical leadership
- a developing capacity for ethical reasoning
- increased confidence in guiding organisational and personal ethically sound action.
Who should attend?
This course is for those working in the public sector who are interested in gaining an understanding of the ethical dimensions of public sector work, and those looking to develop their capacity for ethical reasoning and ethically sound action.
Presenter - Rhys Edwards (RDME Consulting)
Rhys is an experienced organisational leader who has worked at the highest levels of the public service for over 16 years including six years as the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet in Tasmania. As well as his current work as a company director and consultant, Rhys is motivated to help develop the next generation of public sector leaders including working with the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA), the NSW Public Sector Leadership Academy and the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership at Monash University and through the Tasmanian Training Consortium.
Upcoming sessions
 11 November 2025
|  Hobart
|  09:00am - 04:00pm |  |