6.30 AM
Wake up and have breakfast with a quick scroll of the usual social media culprits thrown in! My wife and I and usually have coffee together and watch the ABC morning news (Hey, there’s the Minister being asked about the flu vaccine!) before heading off to work.
7.30 AM
A quick walk around the corner to the bus stop for both of us before catching the bus in separate directions to work (my wife into Civic, me down to Woden). I love catching the bus to work - it takes around half an hour and it’s a rare half an hour in the day that I get entirely to myself. I have a few podcasts that I listen to religiously on the bus (today - Zach Lowe is talking NBA trades) and before I know it, the bus arrives in Woden.
8.15 AM
A very short walk from the bus stop in the sunshine before heading into the Sirius building in Phillip. Having flexible working arrangements means that (within reason) I can set my own working hours. I tend to get to work earlier than most and head off while there is still some life in the day! I get to my desk, flick my computer on and head into the kitchen to put my lunch in the fridge and make coffee #2 for the day. The first part of the day is mainly saying good morning to co-workers, catching up on emails, figuring out what my day looks like and whether there is anything urgent needed, and having a short read of the media Daily Briefing. The Daily Briefing is a round-up of all major print, radio and TV media that may have an impact on the Department, our Ministers or our work. Some days are quieter than others but it is always worthwhile having an understanding of the wider political and social landscape and how it affects the Department.
9.00 AM
There is nothing urgent this morning so I get stuck into a longer-term piece of work I have been working on for a few months. One of the rural workforce programs my section is responsible for was audited earlier in the year; as part of the Department’s internal audit agenda. We were identified for an audit as the program underwent a major redesign in 2015 and the effects were just recently able to be quantified. My work is to lead the response to the audit - this has involved communicating with areas across the Department (Evaluation Centre, External Accountability, Risk and Medical Benefits) and outside the Department (Department of Human Services) to ensure we adequately address the recommendations made.
10.30 AM
Coffee # 3 (I may have a problem) before a branch stand up meeting. Our branch head gives us a rundown of the latest news from the Departmental Executive before each Director in the branch sums up the week’s work for their section and identifies any key issues or stakeholder engagements taking place. It is interesting to hear what the rest of the branch is working on and how all of our work comes together.
11.00 AM
Stand up out of the way, I am back to my desk and back to work. I manage an email inbox where overseas trained doctors can make enquiries about the pathways to work in Australia. I answer those enquiries that I can flick some to other teams in the branch for them to answer and chase up overdue responses. Emails under control, I joined my supervisor for a policy meeting with a team from another branch. While Budget is still more than six months from now we are deep in discussions about our contribution to large policy reform that will be a cornerstone of the Department’s Budget package. As all Budget conversations and related work are confidential I am careful not to leave any paper related to this work lying about on my desk and communicate with co-workers about Budget related matters using the Protected network. From this meeting, I have some costing numbers to review before the end of the day.
12.30 PM
Lunchtime! Sandwich at my desk and then off for a half-hour walk. Before I started with the Department I was a physiotherapist and the transition from being on my feet all day to sitting at a computer all day has been tough. I try to never sit for longer than thirty minutes at a time and always try to get out of the building at least once every day. A stroll and some fresh air have me feeling refreshed and ready for the afternoon.
1.15 PM
Following on from our meeting this morning I have to review some costing numbers for the Budget proposal our section has been working on. We are examining the changes to Departmental expenditure of different potential policy reforms; some that will save us money and some that will cost us money. All have their different pros and cons and we want to put forward three or four solid options to the Executive and the Minister for a final decision. Before I started in the Department, I could barely use Excel but after a few online training courses and some trial and error, I’m getting fairly adept. I compile a summary of our current best options for reform and send to my team for their comment and input before it heads back up to our Executive.
3.15 PM
Coffee #4 (those numbers were rough) is a quick catch up with a supervisor from a previous rotation. We talk about how the work of the section changed since I left, what sort of work I am doing now and where I see myself going after my grad year is finished. Having a number of supervisors over the grad year has given me access to advising and knowledge which I have found very valuable.
3.30 PM
My final hour or so involves a few phone calls about the numbers I sent around earlier this afternoon, reading and sending some emails, talking to my supervisor about the status of a few current pieces of work and writing an agenda for a meeting with some external stakeholders later in the week.
4.45 PM
Quittin’ time! I jump back on the bus and head to the gym. Being cooped up in an office means I have to expend some energy every day to preserve my sanity.
7.00 PM
My wife and I make and eat dinner while looking at properties for sale (we want to buy a house - Canberra, you’re not too bad!) before a Netflix binge. Tonight is Mindhunter followed by The Good Place.
11.00 PM
Bedtime - gotta at least try to get seven or eight hours so I can function tomorrow!