“The main thing I like about working at Treasury is the attention paid to reaching your potential through the many personal and professional development opportunities made available. I also appreciate that although there are many clever and talented people working at Treasury, the focus is not on who is the smartest in a room.”

I'm currently working as an Assistant Research Officer (Cadet) on Treasury's Cadet Program. The cadet role varies depending on what branch you are in and how far through the program you are. Currently, I'm very fortunate to be working within a project team on the Treasury Secretary's Fiscal Sustainability Report. It's been an extremely rewarding and valuable experience, where you can really focus on all aspects surrounding the Report - in my case the long term sustainability of the State's finances. I provide executive assistance within the Project Team and am given the scope to contribute and take on more involved tasks where appropriate. As part of the project team, I have also had the opportunity to directly observe high‑level decision making processes within Treasury.

In what now seems like a whole other life, I used to work in the broadcast television industry. For nearly twenty years, most of which was spent at a major commercial network, I had an amazing career flying around the country and sometimes the world, producing news broadcasts, election coverages and sporting events such as Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games, tennis, golf, football (all types) and cricket. However, after I had my daughter Molly, I stepped back from fulltime work. I had been experiencing some disillusionment with the industry I had worked in since I was a teenager and felt I needed a change that aligned more with my core values. Although I'd had a wonderful career and was well‑regarded and highly experienced within the industry, I was concerned that my skills were not transferable to another industry. I also had no other qualifications - I actually had never even graduated from high school, let alone university. I felt like my options for a career change were limited.​

At the age of 39, and with great trepidation and no real idea of where it would take me, I started an undergraduate Bachelor of Business degree at the University of Tasmania. It was within my Business degree that I discovered economics and I knew that was my thing. I have always been a keen political observer and economic theory explains so much about government policy decision making and more importantly, how those policy decisions affect outcomes for ordinary people.

When the Treasury cadetship opportunity came up last year I thought I was too old to be a cadet. I thought my previous career wouldn't count for anything in the public service and that I was woefully underqualified. Even though I didn't hold out much hope, I called Treasury for more information and learned that Treasury actively seeks to engage a diverse workforce. I was told that my work and life experiences would be valued and that I should definitely apply for a cadetship. The cadetship has proven to be the perfect entry for me into a new and unfamiliar working environment as you get to interact with a diverse range of people and be exposed to many learning opportunities by rotating through the branches of Treasury. You are also given plenty of time to focus on your studies and are supported to maintain your academic performance.

The main thing I like about working at Treasury is the attention paid to reaching your potential through the many personal and professional development opportunities made available. I also appreciate that although there are many clever and talented people working at Treasury, the focus is not on who is the smartest in a room. It is a truly collaborative environment where engaging discussions about real issues with colleagues can lead to real world results. The feeling of contributing to better outcomes for Tasmanians, even in a small way, is tremendously satisfying. 

The other thing I would say is great about working at Treasury is how flexible working arrangements and a generally supportive environment have taken the stress and anxiety out of the constant work, study and family responsibilities juggling act I am currently knee-deep in. This is so important for parents, and especially for women, for which these factors can be significant barriers to achieving a successful mid-life career change or re‑entering the workforce after caring for young children.

I grew up in country NSW, and although I left school aged 16 having not finished high school, I had a strong work ethic and before I was 20 I was on my way to a successful career in television broadcasting. Throughout my television career I have learnt valuable skills such as creative problem solving, effective teamwork, conflict management, and how to work effectively under pressure. But ultimately it was a values misalignment that made me look for more personally fulfilling work.

Completing a university degree was long on my to-do list, both of my parents were educators and a tertiary education was always regarded highly in my family. Nothing has made me more proud, confident and optimistic for my future than when I successfully completed my first year of university studies with a perfect GPA. I think at the age of 42, I have many skills to draw on when it comes to working at Treasury and in my short time here, I have already seen the advantages of what my experience and perspective can bring to the table.

Art was really important to me during school and recently I have been getting back into painting. There's so much inspiration in the colours and textures of the extraordinarily beautiful Tasmanian landscape. My husband and I are getting in to breeding miniature goats which is equal parts hilarious, terrifying and labour intensive. Before the pandemic hit, I was planning a family trip to Vietnam. I really enjoy planning budget trips using public transport, locally owned hotels, homestays and restaurants wherever possible. Sometimes it's difficult to find places, and it is more work, but you are always well rewarded for your efforts with a much more engaging and authentic travel experience.