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Department of Veterans' Affairs

  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Cassandra

There is a wide diversity of backgrounds within the department. DVA is a very close-knit, supportive environment to be a grad and to work in afterwards.

What's your job about?

My job is in the Portfolio and Program Office (VCR). Here I look after the benefits and the risks for the VCR program and department, with an amazing team. The work is time-heavy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! I enjoy the fast pace, the constant connection with high performing stakeholders and working hard with the best multi-disciplinary team.

Day to day, I attend a multitude of meetings with project teams, providing benefit and risk documents that are key for the longevity and success of DVA projects. Each week is different, but overall the days are packed full and a lot can be, and is, achieved. The job in its simplest form can be explained, however the day to day work can become complicated and a holistic and intricate knowledge of the department is required.

If someone likes to be at the forefront of a department’s transformation journey, this would be the job for you!

What's your background?

I grew up in Perth (until I moved for DVA to Canberra).

I have done many things during my education. During uni I had study periods abroad, high levels of leadership training and experience. Some key experiences included mentoring leaders within the university, working with many non-profits to achieve tangible project outcomes and being given many opportunities to meet, discuss and dine with Australian leaders such as the CEO of QANTAS and many politicians.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes.

Anyone who is willing to be continually learning and be open to adapting their skills to different tasks will do well. Your background is definitely not a limiting factor. There is a wide diversity of backgrounds within the department. DVA is a very close-knit, supportive environment to be a grad and to work in afterwards.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

My team! The team takes a collaborative approach. We work together, ask questions when needed and always take time help each other to complete work.

What are the limitations of your job?

Time limitations and competing priorities.

Sometimes there is an influx of work that requires high levels of work prioritisation. It’s important to always tell your team what you are prioritising, especially if something isn’t going to make the submission date. You need to be flexible and resilient.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

  • Do what interests you most
  • Increase your people skills (some emotional intelligence is key)
  • Don’t be afraid to take yourself out of your comfort zone

What were the best things about the DVA Graduate Development Program?

The best parts of the graduate program include the grad-team, the APSC work and the overall approach of starting in the Australian Public Service. The team of grads in 2018 were very capable, high performing and just a good bunch. We learnt together and from each other, a great way to receive support in a new job. The APSC graduate program was intuitive and taught a lot of skills and knowledge to the students – this has become very useful going forward into full time employment in the APS, I most definitely learnt a multitude of things that I wouldn’t have otherwise known.

Any ideas for improvement?

Improvement could be in the form of support outside/inside work through more mentoring. Sometimes it was difficult in a new city not knowing anyone. Although now I am sure most of us have one or two mentors or coaches, I believe it is vital to have someone to talk to ‘off the record’ or even be around people/groups that could provide the same thing.

What are the three most important things you learned from the DVA Graduate Development Program?

What I learnt was indicative of coming from the private sector and not from an office environment.

I learnt that the public service isn’t for everyone, but the grad program can propel you into the more exciting parts of the APS. Having three rotations allowed everyone to experience a multitude of roles that saw some of us (including myself) find areas that we would not have necessarily chosen for ourselves.

Work life balance! Okay everyone talks about this, but it is important! Work life balance is relevant to who you are and what is important to you, and it is vital to ensure that you balance the crazy times at work with something that you enjoy.

FRIENDS! You can never have too many friends! The graduate program allowed some unsuspecting friendships to happen inside and outside of work. The program puts you in a unique position to meet new people from different places, with different experience and different perspectives.