A brand-new competition is calling on musically inclined public servants to share their skills and battle it out for the top spot in Dept of Rock. Founded by Leanne Thompson, in collaboration with Nigel McRae, co-owner of Smith’s Alternative, the musical showcases will extend over three months and shine a light on the lesser-seen side of our government workers.

“It’s not really the first thing you think about when you think of public servants, usually there’s that ‘Oh, they’re very quiet, risk-averse bean counter people,’ not in their spare time out playing rock music, but lots of them are. Lots of them are amazing musicians and very cool and creative,” says Ms Thompson.

Coming to Smith’s Alternative in heats from early October, bands will have three songs and a maximum of 15 minutes to impress a panel of judges with their original or cover songs. Expecting a mix of established and new bands, the judging criteria will be based on originality and audience engagement more than technical skill.

Aiming to show the creative side of the federal and ACT public service workforce in Canberra, the competition encourages new and established bands to sign up. Ms Thompson says that Canberra is a unique public service town and many employees in the sector have a deep connection to their creative outlets.

“I’m hoping it’s going to give some new musicians and bands the opportunity to get up on a stage maybe for the first time in front of a live audience, and just have fun playing music. It’s also an opportunity for musicians that are working in other bands to come together in a new format with their colleagues in the public sector,” she says.

With 18 heat spots available, the semi-finalists will head to competitions in November before the finals in early December. The winners will receive a trophy, the right to brag in the office, and prizes (yet to be announced), while the four finalists will all receive a live set recording from Mr McRae and the team at Smith’s. A portion of ticket sales will go back into the community through charities; Ms Thompson is working with Hands Across Canberra to determine the beneficiaries.

During much of her 25 years in the public service, Ms Thompson spent decades not touching a drum kit – that was until some people in her department were playing together and the drummer put up her hand to join. The group played some corporate gigs together.

“It was the most fun thing I had done at work for a long time. Not saying that I didn’t enjoy my job, it was just so cool to play with people,” she smiles.

Along with playing with colleagues, the dip back in the music pool gave Ms Thompson the confidence to start her own band, Matriarch. The four-piece is comprised of four mature women who love grunge rock and feminism. Recusing herself from the panel, Ms Thompson will be competing in Dept of Rock.

Also eyeing the championship trophy is Kath Hagan and her band, the Prod Commies, who with their punk rock sound might just smash the stereotype that economists are conservative, rational or uptight. From the Productivity Commission, Ms Hagan’s group is a brand-new band, forming for the competition. She says it is a great idea to bring teams together and connect with new people through a shared passion.

“I think something like this is really good for building community. You’ll get to meet other people who are musicians that you might not know, you just know them as another public servant at work,” Ms Hagan says.

Both women agree that public service employees need to be impartial, safe and responsible. However, once the lanyards come off, they are just like everyone else with their own passions and wild sides – and the Dept of Rock is the perfect chance to embrace these.

“It’s going to be cool, the music industry in Canberra is generally a lovely rich community of people … There will be people bringing along family, friends and colleagues who have never seen their manager or colleague not in a suit suddenly up on stage shredding a stage,” Ms Thompson says.

“We might smash some stereotypes or reinforce them, who knows … If it inspires some people who have always wanted to do it and haven’t done it to do it, that would be the best,” Ms Hagan says.

Entries close 15 September. For more, find the Dept of Rock on Facebook.

Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.