Policy Futures graduate program 2

For me, being a policy officer is all about bringing your skills and your background to find the best solutions to societal issues. I think policy is not only about taking ideas and turning them into reality, but also solving the real challenges that people are facing. I see working in policy as a way for me to make a difference in the lives of Queenslanders. Public policy itself is diverse. It's everything from national parks to educational standards to even seat belt requirements. All of that is public policy and it's the government making decisions for the public good.

Having the opportunity to work across three different departments and to really get an idea of different line agencies or central agencies and how you can contribute, I think that's definitely what set it apart for me. So I chose the Policy Futures graduate program because I'd been interested in policy for a long time through my studies and with the rotations across the different government departments, it was a unique opportunity to get a broad experience rather than just being in one department.

I was really surprised as to the breadth and scope of what policy is and it's been really enjoyable to be a part of. I'd really like to stay in government at the conclusion of the program and I know that being a part of the program gives you a really good step up when it comes to advancing your career options in the policy space with the Queensland Government. My favourite part of the Policy Futures graduate program has been the network of other graduates that I've been able to become friends with. I have made connections both professionally and personally that I'll keep for many years and it has been fantastic to be alongside a cohort of inspiring, intelligent and supportive peers. For me, my favourite part of the Policy Futures program has been the opportunity to work alongside colleagues from various backgrounds but all of whom wake up in the morning with the goal of affecting positive and purposeful change in the community.

Starting with a really intensive week that gets you ready and excited to get at your desk, the program is followed up by one-off days that really get you thinking about deep policy issues, the skills you can develop and the benefits that you can bring to the Queensland community. The one piece of advice that I would have for someone who's interested in the program is to keep an open mind, policy can just really spread across so many facets of things you wouldn't even consider, so I think really keeping an open mind and having an attitude of giving everything a go is essential. As a policy professional, I think being able to actually contribute back to society and have and make and produce meaningful work is definitely something that inspires me to continue as well.