Episode: Transforming Systems from Within – A Conversation with Paul O’Reilly

Recorded on Bidjigal Country, this episode sees Paul O’Reilly (Deputy Secretary, NSW DCJ) join Sam Johnson and Kuyan Mitchell to tackle the big questions around community, justice, and leadership in the public sector.

We dig into the realities of youth justice and out of home care, focusing on the systemic overrepresentation of Aboriginal young people. Paul draws on his diverse background—from youth worker to senior leader—to explore what it means to lead with integrity, the necessity of sharing decision-making power, and how genuine reform requires both humility and practical action.

Whether you’re a policymaker, community advocate, or practitioner on the ground, this conversation offers hard-won lessons, inspiration, and real hope for change.

Key Topics:

• Paul O'Reilly’s personal journey from Ireland to frontline youth work in Sydney and 27 years in the public sector
• The realities and overrepresentation of Aboriginal youth in care and justice systems
• Systemic and institutional racism: recognition, impacts, and strategies for change
• Why sharing decision-making power and bringing community voices to the centre is essential
• The complexities of achieving systems reform inside government silos
• Opportunities for funding and supporting Aboriginal-led organisations and social enterprises
• Leadership lessons: humility, vulnerability, and championing lived experience
• Personal stories of post-traumatic growth and the ongoing connection to frontline practice
• Hopeful trends and what excites Paul about the future of the sector

Quotable Moments:

• “Statutory systems need to be as small as possible—kids and families should only have contact when necessary.”
• “Humility is an enormous strength if you actually want to make progress... it’s about modelling behaviour.”
• “It’s a white system full of black kids. And unless you’re willing to acknowledge that impact, you shouldn’t be in the system.”

Additional Resources:

• Acknowledgement of Country: This episode was recorded on Bidjigal Country and honours Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Learn more about Impact Policy
• Connect/Contact: To partner, collaborate, or learn more, email samjohnson@impactpolicyau.com or follow us on LinkedIn

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Join Sean and Kuyan along with Sam as they dive into the latest episode of the Impact Policy Podcast and together unpack key takeaways from the National Planning Congress in Darwin. Tune in for sharp insights on Aboriginal communities, planning, and community-led change.

Here's what you'll hear about in this episode:

First-hand reflections on the National Planning Institute of Australia Congress, including the growing presence of Aboriginal voices in the sector

The critical role of planning systems in both historical dispossession and empowering future land rights and cultural heritage

Real-world legacy issues still felt by Aboriginal communities due to past planning policies—plus examples of ongoing practical challenges

The importance of co-design, centering Aboriginal voices, and shifting from tokenistic engagement to genuine power-sharing in policy

Standout initiatives, case studies, and award-winning projects leading the way for culturally responsive planning in Australia

Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, and share if you find value in these discussions!

Impact Policy Podcast, Aboriginal communities, planning sector, National Planning Congress, cultural heritage, land rights, co design, community development, legacy issues, social policy, country, colonisation, planning system, native title, agency, country outcomes, community voice, infrastructure, social change, truth telling, co design principles, planning with country, policy, sector reform, impact, Roads to Home, Cumberland Plains, Knowledge Circle

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In this Episode of the Impact policy podcast, Sam Johnson sits down with Terri Janke, a celebrated leader in Indigenous cultural and intellectual property (ICIP). Terri shares her passion for empowering First Nations people through arts, culture, and business.

00:00 "ICIP Insights with Terry Janky"

07:36 From Law to Arts Activism

13:26 Copyright Triumph in Aboriginal Art

21:44 Indigenous Cultural Rights Advocacy

26:38 "True Tracks: Indigenous Cultural Integrity"

30:33 True Tracks: Multidisciplinary Collaborative Pathways

33:07 ICIP Empowering Aboriginal Staff

38:23 Aboriginal Staff Accountability Challenges

48:04 Collective Contract Negotiation Strategies

53:01 Repatriation and Community Investment Focus

56:25 Navigating ICIP Disputes Locally

01:03:01 Aboriginal Language Preservation Framework

01:09:32 "Trauma-Informed Strengths-Based Approach"

01:13:00 "Respect and Responsibility for Knowledge"

01:16:33 Guest Appreciation and Contact Info

Here are some keywords for this episode: Indigenous cultural and intellectual property, ICIP, True Tracks framework, Terri Janke, First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, intellectual property rights, copyright law, social justice, cultural heritage, consent, empowerment, knowledge management, community engagement, cultural safety, legal gaps, indigenous knowledge, cultural continuity.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.