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COMMUNICATIONS
COLLEGIANS AT WORK Read about the exciting and diverse career pathways of six of our Collegians as they share what they have been up to since graduating from Toorak. ENGINEERING Congratulations to Chloe Davenport (TC'20) who, while at Toorak, was awarded a cadetship at Downer. "In the summer of 2020/2021 I began my engineering cadetship at Downer in the road infrastructure services of DM Roads. I have loved the beginning of this journey and have already been involved in so many amazing projects. It has been such an incredible experience for me to work with the Project Engineer and all the different managers and supervisors at DM Roads and seeing what it is like to work in a large business. I decided to pursue a career in engineering/ science because I believe it is a vital aspect to solving some of the world's greatest problems. I love learning about the different ways environmental engineering and science can challenge the way we do things and make a positive impact in the world and its environment. I am so excited to start my next rotations with Downer and I can't wait to learn more about different aspects of this company.”
SCIENCE Maddie Smith (TC'17) was first inspired to enter into the field of science after growing up admiring medical professionals and their ability to change people’s lives. Maddie knew that a degree in Biomedical Science had the ability to open many doors and allow her to choose from a number of different options for her future. 2020 marked Maddie’s final year completing her degree and this year she is completing a research project in radiation therapy at Peter Mac, as part of her honours year. Maddie’s advice for anyone considering joining this industry is “don’t ever think that something you don’t ‘get’ or don’t understand now is standing in the way of you succeeding in a science degree or a career in science.”
At the age of just 15, Lena Klein (TC'13) began to understand the power of communication through online channels. Coupled with her love of art and storytelling, Lena set about growing her Instagram, Podcast and Patreon followers, allowing her to share her life experiences and creativity with the world. After completing a degree in Journalism and Philosophy, followed by a Masters in Digital Marketing Strategy, Lena was accepted into the Business Leadership Program at LinkedIn - a rotational graduate scheme designed to shape people into future leaders and sales professionals. Using the skills learned through this program, Lena has been consulting for companies on their learning strategies, and showing them how LinkedIn Learning can help bridge skills gaps. In speaking about her line of work, Lena notes “on paper, I work in sales, but there’s a lot more to it – I work in the tech field, which is fascinating, fast paced and constantly changing, and I help businesses solve real problems." Lena is shortly taking up her next role with global customer service software company Zendesk, where she will be helping growing companies improve customer support strategies.
GOVERNMENT Brooke Barling (TC'12) moved to Canberra to commence work with the Department of Defence though their Graduate Program, and has since remained there, working in joint environments alongside members of the ADF, supporting the development of strategic policy, military strategy and capability acquisition. Brooke is passionate about her role and accredits the vast array of opportunities available within her industry for keeping her motivated and engaged. Brooke reflects “It constantly shocks me just how tangible results are - one day I am writing a submission to government explaining why we need a new capability (for example an armoured vehicle) and what it can offer, and a year or so later I am climbing all over it and watching the ADF demonstrate how they use it in a war fighting environment. The industry is incredibly innovative, fast paced, and offers insight into the forefront of scientific, engineering, and technological advancements.” In such a challenging role, Brooke reflects on her time at Toorak College setting her up for success “my days at Toorak College helped me build resilience in the face of challenges and showed me how to work effectively in a fast paced, competitive environment.” Committed to a long-term career with the Department of Defence, Brooke is currently undertaking a Masters in Special Operations and Irregular Warfare, to help broaden her understanding of military operations and how the ADF can be used as a Whole-of-Government tool.
