Jo Tarnawsky entered Parliament House at 12 after winning a TV competition, carrying a dream forged in that single afternoon. She built a two-decade career as a diplomat and political operative, thriving in crisis zones and complex postings. In 2022, she returned to Australia as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister—her childhood dream role. Within two years, she was locked out of her office, barred from her workplace, and pushed toward silence. Rather than slip away quietly, she chose to speak publicly, eventually filing suit against the Deputy PM, the PM’s Chief of Staff, and the Commonwealth. The case settled on a no-liability basis in early 2025. Since then, she has redirected her energy into helping others navigate toxic workplaces through educational resources, videos, and advocacy work.
Jo Tarnawsky is a career diplomat and political staffer who worked for the Australian Government across multiple continents—from Iraq to Italy to Zimbabwe—before returning to Australia as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister. In 2024, she took the federal government to court over workplace bullying in Parliament House.
In this Grit Diaries conversation with Mon & Mazz, Jo shares the story behind the moments below.
🎙️ IN THIS CONVERSATION:
• Workplace bullying in institutional settings is often covert and sophisticated—exclusion, email omission, and exclusion from meetings rather than overt aggression—making it harder to name and easier to doubt yourself.
• High performers and ethical people are targeted specifically because they pose a threat to systems that want to remain unchanged; the bullier’s insecurity manifests as a need to neutralize those who shine a light.
• Early intervention with human dignity, apology, and reasonable accommodation can prevent escalation to litigation; institutions that default to legal protection and risk management often create the very crisis they’re trying to avoid.
• Isolation is the most damaging weapon in workplace bullying; when you cannot eat in the cafeteria, access your own office, or know what’s happening in your own portfolio, the psychological toll accelerates rapidly.
• Children offer clarity in moments of despair; a child’s simple suggestion to tell someone what is happening can become the permission slip to stop protecting the system that harmed you.
• Speaking publicly about a painful experience does not require you to define yourself by it; you can be a voice for others while still building a future that moves beyond that single chapter.
🕒 CHAPTERS:
00:31 Introduction: Workplace bullying in Parliament House
02:30 Jo’s upbringing in Tamworth and early inspiration
03:10 Winning Wombat competition and meeting the Prime Minister
04:12 The moment at Parliament House that changed everything
05:20 Decision to study law and first job as parliamentary attendant
07:29 Birth order and family background
08:17 Law degree and pivot to political science
09:11 Falling into diplomatic career with DFAT
10:24 Iraq deployments and proving herself
11:11 Crisis work across Zimbabwe, Africa, and India
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Kintsugi Heroes is a not-for-profit Australian podcast network sharing real stories of resilience and transformation. Named after the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold — the philosophy that what’s been broken can become more beautiful for the mending — every episode honours the cracks, the rebuild, and the human underneath. We believe every story matters. Every scar has something to say. And every person quietly finding their way through deserves to be heard.
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Welcome to the Grit Diaries with Mon and Maz, where every episode features a motivational story that highlights how individuals navigate life challenges. We aim to inspire viewers with journeys of personal growth and overcoming adversity, fostering resilience. May their courage guide you on your own life is a journey. 💖