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Victorian Government Cyber Maturity Benchmark
21 Sep 2023
Public Sector Perspectives podcast: Wellbeing and mental illness in the public sector
21 Nov 2022
In partnership with IPAA Victoria’s People and Culture Community of Practice (CoP), IPAA Victoria has launched a new content series dedicated to wellbeing. In our latest podcast episode, we hear a very personal story about wellbeing and mental illness in a public sector workplace.
As the public purpose sector reflects on the past three years, overwhelmingly, the topics of fatigue, burnout, productivity, mental health and wellbeing keep getting raised. In partnership with IPAA Victoria’s People and Culture CoP, IPAA Victoria has launched a new content series dedicated to wellbeing. The series will reflect on this period of uncertainty, consider what still might need to change when it comes to wellbeing and explore the components of an open, positive and empowering workplace.
In our latest episode of Public Sector Perspectives, IPAA Victoria chats to Maria Katsonis FIPAA (Vic), Deputy Chair of Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, and hear her very personal story about wellbeing and mental illness in a public sector workplace.
Through an authentic and powerful discussion, Maria describes her experience of mental illness whilst working in the public sector, the effect it had on her life, her work and colleagues, and how that experience has changed the way she thinks about wellbeing at work.
Maria’s experience helped shape the thinking of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and you can read more about Maria’s experience in her book The Good Greek Girl.
A link to the Victorian Public Sector Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter is available here.
Content Warning
This interview contains references to suicide. If this discussion causes you distress and you need support or help, you can contact Lifeline’s 24-hour hotline on 13 11 14.
In our latest episode of Public Sector Perspectives, IPAA Victoria chats to Maria Katsonis FIPAA (Vic), Deputy Chair of Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, and hear her very personal story about wellbeing and mental illness in a public sector workplace.
“Don’t just ask ‘Are you OK?’ on RUOK Day, but ask me on the other 364 days!”
Podcast speaker
Maria Katsonis FIPAA (Vic) Maria Katsonis is a Public Policy Fellow at the University of Melbourne where she teaches policy design at a post graduate level. She has 20 years’ experience in the Victorian Public Service as a senior executive in public policy and public management. She has held the roles of Director, Governance and Director, Equality in the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) and served as Special Adviser to the Secretary of DPC for five years. She was previously the Executive Director of Public Policy and Organisation Reviews at the Victorian Public Service Commission where she led governance and service delivery reviews at the request of the Premier and Ministers.
Public Sector Perspectives is a podcast produced by IPAA Victoria, the professional association for people who work in and with the public purpose sector in Victoria.
