Dr Lisa Conway

The Sir Roland Wilson Pat Turner Scholarship Program (PhD scholarship) ‘Stewardship is about making sure we do the right things, for the right reasons. We are in a position of trust. Our role is to improve outcomes for the people that live in this country.’

Joining the Australian Public Service

Why did you decide to join the APS?

I wanted job security in a role that made a difference. I had completed a brief student social worker placement at Centrelink and thought I’d enjoy working there, so I applied for a role.

At what stage of your career journey were you?

I was a Centrelink customer who had only ever worked in retail jobs. Being a single mum, retail was not a good job as I was always asked to work on weekends and at night.  I had just started studying social work also and was interested in helping people move out of generational poverty (which was my whole family at that time).

Describe your first APS role.

I joined Centrelink as an APS 3 customer service adviser. I was working on the front counter and processing income support claims. Having fled a domestic violence relationship, I was homeless for the first few weeks of the job. I was living in my car with my children and waiting for a few government payslips (and pays) so I could finally secure housing.

It was a hard time but being surrounded by supportive team mates who treated me with respect, and going into work each day felt like a break from the chaos around me outside of work.

Stewardship

What does stewardship mean to you?

Stewardship is about making sure we do the right things, for the right reasons. As public servants, we are in a position of trust. Our role is to improve outcomes for the people who live in this country.

It’s about making sure we always think about the people that are impacted by the policies and programs we design and deliver, and keep them at the centre of our thoughts in all that we do.

Why do you feel stewardship is important?

Stewardship complements First Nations values of custodianship, reciprocity and relationality. Our ancestors have cared for Country for thousands of years, caring not just for the current generation but future generations as well. This requires caring and connection to all parts that make up the ecosystem, and recognising that no single part is more important than another. We all have a role in the health of our nation. Caring for the Country that cares for us.

Was there a defining moment or person who influenced your thinking on this?

I was part of the inaugural Emerging Indigenous Leadership Program where I had the opportunity for many yarns with Gunditjimara man Professor Mark Rose.

Uncle Mark helped me understand my ‘ancestral mandate’. This was about using my unique and privileged position in government to create a space for First Nations peoples to be heard on the things that impact them. To act as a translator between the 2 worlds. This helped give me purpose and confidence in being my authentic self at work.

Describe how you act as a steward in your current role.

In my current role, I provide frank and fearless feedback on the impacts of policy on First Nations peoples. I provide views of how deeply Mob can be impacted, challenge the status quo, and encourage others to think outside the square and do things in more culturally responsive ways.

I also play a role in supporting and developing other First Nations staff, knowing my ancestors want me to always reach back and bring them along with me. I only ever ask of those I mentor to do the same for others behind them.

I nominated to be Chair of the Indigenous SES Network because I could see that by harnessing the power of a united First Nations leadership network, there is opportunity to drive and influence real transformational change.

What professional experiences or achievements are you most proud of?

I designed and delivered the cultural responsiveness training for social work practice that has become mandatory for all social workers at Human Services (now Services Australia).

It truly drove my passion to think bigger about how I could have a broader influence on improving outcomes for Mob, instead of working one on one with First Nations service-users.

This led to me completing a PhD exploring how to uplift the cultural capability of the APS.

What is a legacy you hope to leave in your current role, and when you finish your career in the APS?

I hope to achieve safer workplace environments for First Nations peoples, wherever in Australia they may work.

I also want to play my role in developing the talents of emerging First Nations leaders, so that we can continue to broaden our influence over policy design and implementation.

My role is never to create big shoes to fill, but to clear a path making it easier for other Mob to follow.

What professional advice would you give your younger self?

Life’s a marathon, not a sprint. There’s a lot of work to do in the First Nations space, but it can’t all be done in a day, and you may get more knockdowns than wins.

The important thing is to take care of yourself and just keep moving forward, just like our Old People have done before us.

APS Academy program participation

Which program have you participated in, and why did you apply?

I participated in the Sir Roland Wilson Pat Turner (PhD) Scholarship Program from 2020 to 2023.

I could often see with my Blak lens the institutional whiteness within the APS that impeded our ability to be culturally responsive. It was hard, though, to have this knowledge and view validated.

I sought to complete a PhD so I could provide evidence of this in a way that would be valued by our dominant cultural group.

I was feeling stagnant in my role. I was often acting as an EL 2, but when permanent positions became available, they were only ever listed in Canberra. I knew to succeed I needed to remain in my regional community. Being there keeps me grounded, and my responsibilities there are important to me.

Describe your program experience.

My experience as a Pat Turner Scholar was incredible. I was suddenly exposed to a broad range of senior public servant leaders and academics, and quality coaching and training.

A highlight was travelling to Canada for 7 weeks, staying with a Gitxsan Chief, and working with Employment Services Canada. While there, I even got to meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

I found it challenging to study initially, as I was used to the fast pace of my public service roles where I juggled many balls in the air at once and worked to tight deadlines. Suddenly, I had a deadline that was 3 years away and only myself to hold me accountable. But over time I grew to truly appreciate the importance of allowing yourself to pause, take a breath, and reflect deeply on some wicked policy problems.

Doing my PhD taught me how to think and to realise the importance of spending the time upfront to define the problem we’re trying to solve. I find I’m now more reflective and strategic than I ever was. I have also grown immensely and have more confidence than I had before taking on the program.

How has this experience contributed to your current role?

I was promoted to the Senior Executive Service halfway through my PhD. I now have a broad network of fellow Sir Roland Wilson Scholars and Pat Turner Scholars (who I affectionately call TeamPat).

I use this network for support, as a sounding board, and for smashing down silos across the APS.