About you
Hi, I’m Ciara. I have spent most of my life in Brisbane, including university. I studied a Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations)/Arts (Criminology) at the University of Queensland and graduated at the end of 2022.
During my studies, I had a range of different jobs in admin, hospitality and sales. I also was fortunate enough to intern with the Local Government Association of Queensland, which in hindsight may have sparked my interest in working in government.
What interested you most about the program?
I was lucky enough to have my political communications tutor recommend government graduate programs as a post-graduate pathway. I remember that same day, I searched the Queensland Graduate portal and stumbled across the Policy Futures program. Unluckily for me, the close date for applications was just a few days after I found the program, so I had to very quickly pull together an application, which I do not recommend. Having done some policy work in my degree, I thought I might as well apply, if not just for the experience. Why not!
As I began to consider policy as a career path, I realised that it was almost a perfect combination of both my degrees! I could draw on my writing skills from my communications degree and research skills from my criminology degree.
How was the recruitment process?
The recruitment process was daunting at first but it was much more manageable than I had anticipated. You will be asked to complete a variety of different tasks to showcase your skills in different areas, at separate rounds. This means that it is broken up and you aren’t expected to perform at only a single interview for example to assess your suitability for the program. This takes a lot of the stress away.
Is the program what you thought it would be?
I had no idea what to expect from the program. But, it has certainly exceeded all expectations!
The program begins with a full week of training before you commence your first rotation. The training gives you an introduction to the Queensland Government and parliament, teaches you how to write for the government and most importantly allows you to form meaningful relationships with other graduates in your cohort.
For me, this week of training was a nice transition into the full-time corporate world and allowed me to ask any ‘stupid’ questions before starting my rotation.
How has the program shaped your career direction?
I was in quite a unique position, as I was able to secure a position in the program before I had graduated from uni. The program set me up straight out of uni and made my transition out of uni and into the workforce seamless.
Since commencing in the program, it has been amazing in shaping my career direction with the Queensland Government. The program is quite highly regarded amongst the government so, in addition to the many training opportunities provided by the Policy Futures team, it helped me interview for and land a permanent position with my current team, just 12 months after I began the program.
What have the highlights of the program been so far?
The highlight of the program so far has been the Strengths of Our Stories program run by the Department of Resources. This program focuses on truth-telling and understanding the history of the Queensland Government and Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We considered ways in which, as public servants, we can meaningfully contribute to Path to Treaty and include First Nations Perspectives in the work that we do for the government. I will carry the learnings from this workshop with me for the rest of my career.
Being able to participate in training sessions and workshops with my fellow graduates has been another highlight. We have been given ample opportunity to connect and I feel confident that I have a strong network across government who I may rely upon for assistance in my work but also my personal life.
Do you have any tips and advice for students/graduates thinking about applying for Policy Futures?
Something I wish I had done was get across what is happening in government and politics in Queensland. The news is your best friend and is often an indicator of policy drivers.
Also, start networking with the people around you, do you know anyone or even know of anyone who is currently or has worked as a public servant? If you do, reach out to them whether that’s by sending a message on LinkedIn or arranging a coffee catch-up. Most people are more than happy to share their insight, so take advantage of this where you can.