30 minute read
Government sector
Overview
Working in the government sector can be a rewarding experience You learn what it takes to run a country, a state, a community – and the potential is immense
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You might be behind the scenes designing a new policy, or working closely with local constituents to understand and meet their needs Or maybe you are working to launch a new initiative that will help the lives of those around you
In Australia, there are three levels of government: federal, state and local
At the federal level, the Australian Government develops laws for the whole of Australia They are responsible for anything to do with the national interest: defence, foreign affairs and trade, immigration and border protection, social services, treasury and more These portfolios are overseen by a government minister and supported by numerous government agencies
For example, the Australian Government launched a new Home Affairs portfolio, which will be responsible for government agencies such as the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Border Force and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Similarly, the Treasury in Australia is responsible for providing economic advice to the Australian Government and oversees government agencies including the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the Productivity Commission, and Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)
Australia’s six states and two territories make laws for their specific region typically in the areas such as schools, hospitals, roads, police, prisons, emergency services, community services, and conservation and the environment In some cases, the responsibilities may overlap between federal and state Australian schools, for example, are eligible for both federal and state funding The state government operates in a similar way with ministers allocated a specific portfolio that is supported by state government agencies At the local level, there are over 560 councils across Australia These councils are responsible for making local laws, known as by-laws, and deal with matters ‘close to home’ such as local environmental issues, waste disposal, local roads and footpaths, parks and playing fields, libraries, and building regulations and development The size and area covered by a local council varies greatly
As you can see, there are a large number of government agencies and public bodies at the different levels of government, many of which offer graduate programs
Entering the government sector
Most government agencies and departments that recruit graduates have regular and well organised admission programs that take applications during fixed periods each year. The easiest way to learn more about the different programs, including application procedures and what will be expected of new recruits, is to search for graduate programs on the Australian Government or APSJobs website, or by visiting gradaustralia.com.au
The federal government for example, offers graduate employment programs, sometimes called an ‘entrylevel professional program’ These are advertised in February/March and June each year with closing dates around April and August Each state or territory government will have their own graduate program
Local governments in capital cities usually have annual (or twice yearly) graduate employment programs but regional and rural local governments are less likely to have regular opportunities To see if there is a local government graduate program, search for the council of the city you wish to consider
Government jobs tend to be highly competitive Given their popularity, you shouldn’t be surprised if the application process is unusually rigorous For example, to apply at the Department of Home Affairs, candidates must successfully move through a detailed online application, online testing, a video interview, an assessment centre, a referee record and security clearance
While competition for graduate roles is fairly high, it is important to note that grades are not the only factor considered Involvement in extracurricular activities as well as previous work experience are a good way to demonstrate your passion and interest in working for the government The starting salary will depend on the program and occupation Salaries typically range from approximately $50,000–65,000
Alternatively, if you are interested in politics and have an affiliation with a particular political party, it is worth reaching out to the organisation to see if they have any graduate availabilities Typically the best way to gain experience in these parties is by volunteering your time and joining a local branch
What’s involved
Like many of the other sectors, your experience in government will depend largely on your specialisation as well as which department or agency you join
For example, if you wish to enter the Department of Human Services you will need to apply for the National Graduate Program This program has a generalist pathway, made up of two five-month placements in diverse disciplines; and a professional pathway, which allows graduates to focus intently on one of six disciplines for 10 months As part of this program graduates will spend three days in a service centre or smart centre, and have the opportunity to apply for a three-month Indigenous and multicultural placement, where they may be placed in areas such as Alice Springs or Broome
Regardless of which area of government you may be drawn to, what’s required across all specialisations is a deep understanding of the role of government Understanding, for example, how parliament sitting weeks might work or how to introduce a bill for legislation is important if you work at the federal or state levels Governments, regardless of the level, are responsible to their constituents Being able to anticipate their needs, and develop policies and strategies to meet them, is critical
Graduate positions are mostly found within capital cities but as more general government jobs are available throughout Australia, there are ample opportunities to transfer once the graduate program is completed
Best and worst
Government jobs are synonymous with stability, with reasonable salaries often supplemented by excellent working conditions As many government jobs are based in Canberra, there are often programs to help government employees with their relocation process. Other benefits of working in the government sector include appealing professional development opportunities and attractive leave provisions While government salaries tend to be competitive, it’s also true that average salaries are higher in the private sector So, if remuneration is of high importance to you, you may feel frustrated within the government sector On the upside, seeing the impact of your work, particularly on a large scale, can be highly rewarding
Career progression
Since the government hires more employees than any other entity in Australia, government graduate jobs will see you well placed for ongoing employment
While the process for getting into government may be reasonably competitive, once you’re ‘in the system’, there is scope for moving around Within individual departments and agencies, there are opportunities for promotions, allowing movement from junior roles into senior positions that offer more influence. Upward progression may ultimately see you, for example, as the head of a department
Alternatively, it’s possible to apply for government positions after gaining experience in the private sector It should be noted however, this tends to be easiest either at the early or later stages of your career
Employer examples:
■ National government agencies ■ State-based agencies ■ Parliament
Choose this if you:
■ Are committed to public service ■ Understand that you may have to invest large amounts of time in a stringent application process ■ Can demonstrate flexibility when it comes to where you’ll be working
APRA graduates will benefit from a mentoring program, as well as a ‘buddy’ system and the opportunity to rotate to another APRA division in your first year.
On the job
Where are you from?
My family originates from the Kamilaroi mob and are currently living on Tharawal land
What is your job title? I am a graduate at ASIC
What did you study?
I studied a Bachelor of Business with a double major in Management and Human Resource Management I have a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management and am currently studying for a Master of Commerce
How did you get to your current job position? For how long have you had it?
I heard about ASIC’s prestigious reputation from my mum and uncle when I was close to graduating and at that time I was unsure of where I wanted to start my career I went online and did some research on ASIC before applying for the graduate program via their website I’ve been working at ASIC since January 2018
Suppose a student was considering your career. What would you advise them to study?
I recommend students study something that interests them In the end, if you’re studying a field you find intriguing then you will get more out of it than a field in which you’re struggling to maintain motivation
Which soft skills would be beneficial for students to develop?
No matter where you find yourself in your career, the main soft skills that will be beneficial are teamwork, adaptability and problem solving These soft skills will benefit you in all aspects of life.
What sort of person succeeds in your career?
Someone who embraces change, continuous learning and development, and loves variety As a graduate at ASIC, from day one you’ll be exposed to a diverse range of work
Which three pieces of advice would you give to students nearing graduation?
Always try something new; you never know what your next new favourite thing will be
Take it one step at a time and move at your own pace Not everything is a race to the finish line.
Share and communicate with those closest to you You can never underestimate the value of a solid support network
Find out more
wwwgradaustraliacomau Daniel May-Franks
Daniel May-Franks studied a Bachelor of Business, a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management and is currently studying a Master of Commerce. Daniel is a graduate at ASIC.
Study
Bachelor of Business (Management, Human Resource Management), Griffith University, 2017; Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management, RMIT University, 2018; Master of Commerce, RMIT University, (in progress)
ROLE
Graduate, ASIC
As a graduate at ASIC, from day one you’ll be exposed to a diverse range of work.
On the job
What does your employer do?
ASIO protects Australia, its people and its interests from threats to security. ASIO’s finance team are here to enable ASIO to do this within Australia’s financial framework. My team and I are supporting our people and the organisation to do incredible work that makes a real difference to the community
What are your areas of responsibility?
My current role is running a small team delivering accounts payable and receivable services, with responsibility for fringe benefits tax and GST, preparation of the annual financial statements as well as monthly financial reports to management The role also involves ensuring the organisation and its staff are positioned to comply with financial legislation, accounting standards and government guidelines
Can you describe a typical workday?
My work day depends on which week of the month it is There are daily deadlines getting suppliers and staff paid and a lot of accounting adjustments and reporting each month end We have just had the big end of financial year push to ‘close the books’ and prepare the financial statements ready for the auditors mid-July
There’s always something to do, so it’s definitely a job for someone who enjoys a fast-paced, deadlinedriven work environment While financial services is an enabling function, you can definitely see how it contributes to what ASIO does on the ground, especially as we get to attend regular sessions on the operational side of the organisation
Where could you or others in your position go from here?
I was attracted to this organisation because of the opportunities for advancement within financial services, but also opportunities to move to other areas within ASIO or even more broadly within the National Intelligence Community and government Accounting is the type of career that is very portable between the public and private sectors, and all industries I believe the ASIO Corporate Graduate Program has provided me with a great foundation for wherever I decide to go with my career in the future
What would your career be if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?
Had I not chosen to come to ASIO, I would likely have pursued a career in private practice or in consulting Being exposed to national security issues makes me really glad that this is the career path I chose
What do you love the most about your job?
As an ASIO accountant I love being able to see how my day-to-day work enables and contributes to ASIO’s overall mission At the same time, I am fortunate to work for an employer who offers flexible working hours
What’s the biggest limitation of your job?
You are not allowed to talk about the work you do or even the fact you work at ASIO, which can be difficult, but on the other hand, I can’t take any of my work home with me!
Jane
Jane studied a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) and is a team leader in Financial Services at ASIO.
Study
ROLE
Team leader, Financial Services, ASIO
Accounting is the type of career that is very portable between the public and private sectors, and all industries.
Day in the life
Valerie Wong
8.00AM
Out the door and on my way to the APRA offices in the Sydney CBD. I have a bit of a commute, but I enjoy time on the train with a bit of music and the Harbour views
8.30AM
I check my emails to see if there is anything that needs my attention, so I can prioritise my tasks for the day Today will be a longer day than usual because I have a call with a European prudential regulator to discuss one of the entities in my portfolio that has operations in Europe and Australia
9.00AM
In my role as a frontline supervisor, I need to undertake quarterly financial analyses for each of the entities in my portfolio Today I am reviewing the data prepared by our data analytics team on one of my entities The review includes understanding their financial performance, how they’re tracking compared to their business plan and the previous quarter, and if there is anything essential that I should follow up on
10.00AM
I meet with one of my colleagues for a coffee As part of the graduate program we are partnered with a buddy who has been in the graduate program the previous year It’s great to have a sounding board who has already been through the program
10.30AM
I call my contact at the entity whose data I had been reviewing We discuss the changes and they explain what had happened I note the relevant matters in my analysis report
11.00AM
I have a meeting with my team and some of our specialist risk
Valerie Wong studied a Bachelor of Commerce (International Studies) and is a graduate analyst frontline supervisor at APRA.
team members The meeting is in preparation for an upcoming prudential review into a specific risk area of one of our entities We spend the meeting looking into documents submitted for the review and making notes of matters to discuss when we meet with the entity
I enjoy meeting with the risk specialists within APRA because
they’re very collaborative and happy to share their specialist knowledge
12.15PM
I head out of the office with some colleagues for a lunchtime game of netball It’s great to get to know some of my colleagues away from the office, even though our team is more about enthusiasm than winning
1.00PM
I have my weekly one-on-one meeting with my manager We use the time to chat about how I am going, raise any issues and ask for advice I am still developing my general insurance industry knowledge and my manager is always happy to help me I have been stuck on the technical application of one of APRA’s prudential standards, and my manager talks me through the calculations and gives me advice on how to understand the wording of the standard
1.30PM
My team and I are part of a licensing review for an entity that has applied to operate in Australia Our licensing team manages that process, but we have been asked to review the application and develop a submission on the merits of the application We have a meeting to discuss the application tomorrow, so I spend time finalising our submission on our position as to its ability to meet the licensing criteria I also make notes on what I would like to present to the licensing team
3.00PM
To make sure I am across the new and emerging trends in the industries we regulate, I attend an information session from our policy and advice division
Today’s session covers a number of important topics, including details of some upcoming prudential standards and an update on the work APRA is doing with the Basel Committee on banking supervision These sessions are really helpful in ensuring I have all the information I need to help my entities understand the new standard and what it might mean for them
4.00PM
The entity I called earlier today has resubmitted their data and I examine the spreadsheet, looking for any other areas of interest I also pull out an industry-wide spreadsheet that our data analytics team prepare every quarter and make sure that the numbers I personally received from the entity have been updated within APRA’s systems as well. I finish writing up my analysis before sending it to my manager for review
6.00PM
Due to the significant time difference between Sydney and Europe, my team and I finish the day with a conference call with the international regulator As one of my entities is headquartered in Europe, we make sure to catch up periodically to discuss their performance in both jurisdictions I take notes on how the parent company is performing and consider if there are any areas to follow up with the Australian entity
7.00PM
My manager thanks us all for staying late and encourages us all to take an early mark tomorrow Finally home time!
7.30PM
I attend a pilates class because it’s always good to move around after a busy day of work
9.00PM
I go home, relax with my family and catch up with some friends over the phone
11.00PM
Sleep time
On the job
Jack Oliver
What does your employer do?
The Department of Home Affairs undertakes a wide array of functions These include immigration and migration policy and facilitation, border security and transport security operations, national security policy and operations, counterterrorism coordination, and even relief efforts for areas affected by natural disasters
How did you choose this area of work?
A friend was applying for the Australian Government graduate programs. This was the first time I’d heard of the Home Affairs Graduate Development Program I decided to apply given my tertiary background in policy and interest in national security issues I was drawn to the Department’s vision of social justice and community support I found the prospects of internationally based project work and the work the Department does in relation to national security policy very exciting
What are your areas of responsibility?
I currently work within Border Alignment Policy There are a number of border programs and operational frameworks that exist between departments To reduce the burden on industry, the public and on the public service, I contribute towards having these work together more cohesively rather than separately
Can you describe a typical day?
It can vary between research tasks, studying and clarifying legislation that will inform my work, and engagement with one of our stakeholders to determine next steps for implementation of a project
Suppose a student was considering your career. What would you advise them to study?
I would suggest pursuing a tertiary qualification in policy, international issues or a development topic While this does not necessarily need to relate directly to the subject matter, the transferrable skills and knowledge are likely to be applicable I’ve worked with graduates who have backgrounds related to law, policy, international relations, human resources, accounting, national security, counter-terrorism and even the armed forces
What’s the biggest limitation of your job?
The biggest limitation has been the relocation It’s not easy leaving friends and family behind, but the opportunity to participate in exciting work and make new friends along the way helps Also, the degree of stress can sometimes peak but it never becomes overbearing If anything, getting the tap on the shoulder for high-priority work is an indicator of your own value within the Department
What have you enjoyed the most?
The highlight of my graduate year has been the graduates themselves I’ve never had so much fun making friends at work We’re like family and the Department supports networking openly
What advice would you give to a student?
While a position in a government department is a big deal, it’s not something to be intimidated by Don’t be discouraged if you don’t know everything about politics I certainly didn’t, but I was willing to learn Development of staff is a key element of the Department, which means a lack of experience is something colleagues look to nurture and improve People are approachable, happy to provide support and always understanding of your inexperience within the role
Jack Oliver studied a Master of Social Policy and is a graduate in Border Alignment Policy within the Department of Home Affairs.
Study
Master of Social Policy, University of Melbourne, 2016
ROLE
Development of staff is a key element of the department, which means a lack of experience is something colleagues look to nurture and improve.
On the job
What does your employer do?
Our department works on infrastructure projects all around Australia, as well as overseeing most transport policy and regional development policy
What are your areas of responsibility?
At the moment, I’m working in the environmental standards section of surface transport policy It’s an incredibly interesting area to be working in There’s a lot of work around electric vehicles and vehicle emissions to be done at the moment!
Can you describe a typical day?
A lot of what I do is work on drafts of briefs for either ministers or the executive of the department Ministers and executives have a lot of information to absorb, so it’s important to be able to summarise succinctly what you’re working on and why it’s important for them to know!
What sort of person succeeds in your career?
One of the most important things for success is having good interpersonal skills Your team will work better if you understand their emotions and become a member that your team wants to have around Everyone works harder if it’s an enjoyable work environment and the best way you can foster that is by being a fun, nice colleague!
Could someone with a different background do your job?
It’s my opinion that this is definitely the case. The skills required for my job are not the skills I learned in my tertiary studies I feel that as long as you have decent written and verbal communication and a willingness to learn, you would be able to perform quite well in my role I think this is well illustrated by the diverse range of educational backgrounds of the graduate cohort this year
What do you love most about your job?
The working conditions in the public service are excellent Any hours over your contracted 37.5 hours are accrued as flex leave and the culture is great People value you as a graduate and give you interesting tasks, which really benefit your development and learning So far I have really enjoyed the research tasks It can be really interesting to learn a whole lot about electric vehicles!
What’s the biggest limitation?
The hardest thing about my job is that I don’t possess the skills to complete all tasks, even if they are urgent My team understands this so they don’t give me these tasks – and I will develop these skills over time – but in the meantime it can be difficult to sit back while my team completes urgent tasks
What advice would you give to a university student?
Make a lot of friends The people you meet at university could go on to be some of the most successful people in their respective fields. Be friendly with people in your classes and they may just remember you when they’re interviewing you for that next job!
Daniel Wall
Daniel Wall studied a Bachelor of Commerce (Management)/ Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) and is a graduate at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
Study
Bachelor of Commerce (Management)/Bachelor of Arts (Political Science), Australian National University, 2016
ROLE
It’s an incredibly interesting area to be working in. There’s a lot of work around electric vehicles and vehicle emissions to be done at the moment!
On the job
Where did you grow up? What were some important stages of your life?
I grew up in Rozelle, Sydney Prior to starting university, I took a 10 month gap year backpacking around Europe Throughout university, I had several different jobs, which were all valuable experiences I also rowed competitively The discipline, focus and drive from rowing were valuable traits that I continued to apply to my life and my work
How did you get to your current job position?
I’ve been in my role at the Treasury since February 2019 When going through the Treasury graduate website I was really surprised by the number of different areas within the Treasury and I thought, this is just too much of an incredible opportunity not to take the plunge for and I applied!
What was your interview process like? What kind of questions were you asked?
The questions were focused on my experiences, like explaining a time when I was in a situation when things went wrong and what was done to resolve the situation The final question was related to a key policy issue for the Treasury that I think is important and why My response was about the low wage growth in Australia
What does your employer do?
The Treasury analyses a range of issues from an economy-wide perspective, working with the government, stakeholders and community to address issues and respond rapidly to current circumstances
What are your areas of responsibility?
Facilitating the government’s fiscal strategy and macroeconomic balance by managing the Commonwealth’s budget process and advising Treasury ministers on the overall strategy for the Budget and tracking the Budget aggregates in real time
Can you describe a typical work day?
My typical work day involves coordinating and communicating with other areas in the Treasury and other departments, working in my close-knit team to provide policy advice on various government proposals and the real-time tracking of budget aggregates
What are the career prospects with your job?
You could move across different government departments and work on a range of careers in economic, legal or policy roles The quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, understanding of government processes and experience in fiscal policy is an incredible asset to any career
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes absolutely, as long as you have an appetite to learn and be challenged, my role would suit anyone with the enthusiasm for a challenge and enjoys working in a team environment
Which three pieces of advice would you give to a current university student?
■ Remember to enjoy the university experience outside of academics ■ Don’t sweat the small stuff When you make a mistake, learn from it and move on ■ If you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to ask for someone to explain
Andrea Macleay
Andrea Macleay studied a Bachelor of Economics and is an analyst at the Department of the Treasury.
Study
Bachelor of Economics, University of Sydney, 2018
ROLE
Analyst, Department of the Treasury
Don’t sweat the small stuff. When you make a mistake, learn from it and move on.
On the job
How did you get to your current position?
After my studies, I took a job as a business analyst, which was great because I was able to work on challenging problems However, I eventually decided I wanted to change direction, which is when I discovered the NSW Government Graduate Program The application process was long and competitive, but I received plenty of updates and guidance along the way I’ve been in my current position since February 2019 I think there are two main reasons why I was offered a role. The first was my experience, which gave me convincing examples to talk about in interviews, and the other was my academic background Studying economics and computing gave me a unique skill set
Could someone with a different academic background do your job?
There are certainly economists who had not studied economics prior to starting their careers, but they are few and far between and many pursue post-graduate qualifications. The work is deeply linked to university content and without that background, the already steep learning curve could be difficult. I would say though, that an economics degree is not the requirement, but rather a degree or experience that develops quantitative research skills and a general understanding of economics concepts
What does your employer do?
My first rotation was in the Department of Communities and Justice, which is responsible for the provision of social housing and child protection services to the most vulnerable people in NSW Here I was placed in the economics team The team was cross-functional and worked on projects like investment modelling, unit costing and costbenefit analysis. The investment modelling project looked at client pathways through the social housing system to estimate and identify the drivers of economic liability, projected out into the future
My current rotation is with NSW Treasury, which is a central agency responsible for preparing the NSW budget, financial management, providing informed advice, risk management and evaluation Within NSW Treasury, I am working in the macroeconomic analysis, research and strategy team Here, I regularly prepare and distribute snapshots on key economic indicators such as business conditions, retail trade and consumer sentiment My team is also tasked with responding to various requests, which may be briefs, research topics or presentation slides Periodically, we also have forecasting rounds where the team conducts deeper modelling of all components of the economy to produce a well informed opinion of the outlook, which then informs policy decisions
What are the pros and cons of your work?
A great aspect of my role is developing a skill set that is widely transferrable Technical skills like research, modelling, forecasting, accounting and programming are useful in many different roles The biggest limitation is that there is always a lot of work to keep up with and there is frequently something urgent to work on Research is my favourite part of the job
Nafees Alam Beg
Nafees Alam Beg studied a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance)/ Bachelor of Economics (Financial Economics) and a Graduate Certificate in Computing. Nafees is an economic analyst at the NSW Treasury, NSW Government.
Study
Bachelor of Commerce (Finance)/Bachelor of Economics (Financial Economics), Graduate Certificate in Computing, University of New South Wales, 2018
ROLE
Economic analyst, NSW Treasury, NSW Government
Technical skills like research, modelling, forecasting, accounting and programming are useful in many different roles.
On the job
What are your areas of responsibility?
An auditor’s responsibilities consist of gaining an understanding of their client, developing an audit plan, then obtaining audit evidence and testing it against financial statements – providing reasonable assurance that these statements are free from material misstatement
For this financial year I am working on the Department of Social Services audit My last task was to gain an understanding of their processes around purchases and payables To do this, I attended a series of meetings, took notes/minutes and prepared a working paper detailing my understanding This will be reviewed by a senior officer and become audit evidence
In terms of career progression, where could you go from here?
Within the ANAO I can aim for leadership roles, including senior auditor and audit manager I could also move to other Commonwealth or state public sector departments, or the private sector The technical and soft skills you gain as an auditor are highly sought after
Could someone with a different background do your job?
To work as an assurance auditor, a finance/accounting background is highly recommended That being said, I do believe graduates can learn on the job, so a graduate with the right mindset would be able to learn the skills In addition, the ANAO has different groups – for example, performance audit, data analytics and corporate – that accommodate the vast majority of backgrounds from politics to archaeology
What do you love most about your job?
What I love is using my professional scepticism and objectivity, and being able to think outside the box to address different challenges in different situations
Thiago Gomes
Thiago Gomes studied a Bachelor of Accounting and Business Law and is an auditor in the Assurance Audit Services Group at the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO).
The NSW Government Graduate Program gives graduates an opportunity to shape and change the future of NSW. With three six-month rotations across government agencies, the 18-month program offers an incredibly diverse experience that allows you to build your own career, no matter what degree you studied.
Further study
Peta Compton
What’s your job about?
I work in the Treasury’s Foreign Investment Division I’m currently an assistant director in the Australian National Contact Point (AusNCP) and International Unit There are two key parts to the AusNCP’s work: promoting the OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on responsible business conduct to our domestic and international stakeholders; and providing a mediation and conciliation service when we receive complaints against multinational enterprises Having seen firsthand the negative impacts of unethical corporate behaviour on local communities overseas, I enjoy being able to contribute to the prevention, reduction and mitigation of such activities
This role builds on my previous experience in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), where I began my public service career Some of my best experiences in DFAT were leading policy work on the UN and Commonwealth portfolios and coordinating Australia’s participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London and the UN General Assembly’s Leaders’ Week in New York Prior to that, I had a diplomatic posting to Brazil, worked on implementing Australia’s new live exports regime in five countries across the Middle East, and worked in India to promote Australia as a world-class study destination
Can you tell us about your posting in Brazil (2013–16), especially managing the Australian Embassy’s public diplomacy program?
I ran cultural and education events all over the country and we had great success attracting crowds A major achievement for the team was managing the biggest Australian cultural program ever delivered in Latin America – we held more than 100 events across 11 states in 2016 I’d like to think some of my efforts led to more Brazilians coming to Australia for study or tourism
Why did you choose Crawford School of Public Policy?
I plan to anchor my career to the public service, so Crawford was the obvious choice to consider new ways to anticipate and meet contemporary policy challenges
Decision-making responsibilities and accountability sharply increase as you progress through a career in the public service I see the Executive Master of Public Policy (EMPP) as an important avenue to understanding contemporary best practice in public policy making, supporting my leadership and decision-making skills
Can you tell us about the EMPP?
The course provides the opportunity to learn from worldclass public policy scholars To ensure an executive-style learning environment, the Australian National University limits student places in the EMPP This places a stronger emphasis on the student experience and provides much greater professional development
So far, it has been one of the best learning experiences I’ve undertaken I feel challenged and engaged by the course content, love the exposure to high-profile guest speakers and am applying what I have learned to my current role
Peta Compton is studying an Executive Master of Public Policy at Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University.
Course
Executive Master of Public Policy
More info
visit crawfordanueduau/ study/graduate-degrees/ executive-master-publicpolicy
