Meet our First Nations graduates - video transcript
[James Pullen, 2024 Graduate)]
My name is James Pullen. I'm a proud Dharug man with connection to Coonabarabran in western New South Wales on my father's side, and Sri Lankan heritage on my mother's side. I studied at Queensland University of Technology, and I did a Bachelor of Law (Honours) and a Bachelor of Justice majoring in Criminology and Policing.
[Joe Marsh, 2024 Graduate]
My name is Joe Marsh. I'm a proud Gidabal man within the Bundjalung Nation. I studied the Bachelor of Social Work and have honours in that in that area as well.
[Jessica Kiss, 2023 Graduate]
My name is Jessica Kiss. I'm a Goreng Goren woman. I grew up in Bundaberg, I moved to Brisbane for university, I did a Bachelor of Arts at University of Queensland, and I majored in Geography and International Relations.
[Question on screen: 'Why did you choose Policy Futures?']
[Jessica Kiss, 2023 Graduate]
I didn't know that I specifically wanted to be involved in public policy when I graduated. I knew that I wanted to do meaningful work, probably within the public sector, and it wasn't until I saw the Policy Futures Program that I realised that the public policy space was something that really appealed to me.
So far during the program I've worked on passing legislation and developing the Critical Minerals Strategy, the development of a consultation paper and so many more different policy tools.
I'm now on my third rotation with the Policy Futures program. I've experienced so much, and I have full confidence that I'll be able to navigate the public sector afterwards.
[Joe Marsh, 2024 Graduate]
I chose Policy Futures because I want to help make a change for our people, the First Nations people. The reason why I've actually the other reason why I've chosen that is because I've studied social work other areas, I've worked in sports areas, but I found that we can make a big difference in policy area and be able to make a change back in the community. So that is one of the reasons why I wanted to look into policy area.
[James Pullen, 2024 Graduate]
See, I always wanted to merge the worlds of governance and policy with criminology and justice, but I wasn't quite sure how to do that. Through the Policy Futures program, I'm given the opportunity to rotate to different departments where I could make that dream become reality.
You don't need a policy background to thrive in this space. I think that policy concerns every facet of life, so it doesn't matter what social or tertiary background you have, there are transferable skills that you've learned that the public service will definitely value.
[Question on screen: 'What advice would you give to someone who wanted to apply?']
[Joe Marsh, 2024 Graduate]
The recruitment process was really good. I had very good mentors, I had a good support person, able to speak to people, especially the mentor whenever I needed to and also talked to the Policy Futures team were very helpful so if I needed help they were there to give me that advice.
[Jessica Kiss, 2023 Graduate]
My advice for anyone looking to apply for the program would be to just go for it. Don't doubt yourself. Embrace your insecurities. If you're young or inexperienced from a different cultural background, these are all things that will make you a great public servant.
[James Pullen, 2024 Graduate]
My main goal with the recruitment process was for the Policy Futures team to understand who I am, where I come from and ultimately what I stand for. But by the end of the recruitment process I realised that I learned things about myself, and I think that's a testament to the amazing structure that the Policy Futures program offers.