[Instrumental music plays]
[Amber speaking]
My name is Amber. I'm a proud Wergaia woman from the Wimmera region of Victoria. I studied a Bachelor of Science, majoring in zoology.
[Lauren speaking]
My name is Lauren. I studied communications. My mob are Kaanju and Wuthathi from up in Cape York, and I grew up in Darwin.
[Amber speaking]
I came through the Aboriginal pathway in the generalist stream.
[Lauren speaking]
And I came into the grad program through the generalist stream and the Aboriginal pathway.
I think the grad program probably exceeded my expectations.
I felt like my managers really trusted me with the work that I was given and the projects I was doing, and the opportunity to work across the different departments allowed me to work in areas that I never thought I might have an interest in, like I'm working in workforce policy and reform and it’s definitely something I could see myself doing in the future.
[Amber speaking]
My third rotation, I was a part of the First Peoples State Relations team. We organised events such as the Ricci Marks Awards and the Aboriginal Honour Roll, so it's been amazing to see the diversity within government.
I also have enjoyed networking and collaborating with other mob within the sector. It's helped me connect my culture with my work within the government space.
[Jason speaking]
My name is Jason Cockatoo, my people are Yupungathi, Kuky-Yalanji and Woppaburra people from Cape York, Queensland.
I’m the Aboriginal senior adviser within the Aboriginal Employment Unit.
I support our grad program participants right through from the application process, through the graduation period and also ongoing, as a Aboriginal staff network support as well.
[Lauren speaking]
After opting into the Aboriginal pathway, someone from the Aboriginal Employment Unit got in contact with me, and they provided support on the whole process of assessment centres, and online interviews, which I found super helpful.
[Amber speaking]
It was a bit of a daunting process, it is a long recruitment, but I found that the support through the Aboriginal Employment Unit really helped to ease my nerves and anxieties.
[Lauren speaking]
The Aboriginal employment team reach out and check in on the grads regularly and they've organised cultural activities, and networking events.
[Amber speaking]
A benefit of going through the Aboriginal pathway has been having that smaller, tight-knit community of other Aboriginal grads.
To be able to have that space where we can talk and share our experiences and connect has been really rewarding.
[Lauren speaking]
If you feel culturally safe in your workplace, it actually makes you want to come to work. You don’t have to feel like you're hiding any part of yourself.
[Jason speaking]
My advice for people who are potentially thinking about becoming grads with us is have a go.
[Lauren speaking]
My advice is to take full advantage of the pathway.
[Amber speaking]
Reach out to your family or friends or the Aboriginal Employment Unit – anywhere that you feel culturally-safe to check into see if it aligns with your job and career goals.
[Lauren speaking]
One of the purposes of the pathway is to guide you and also give you that extra support if you need it.
[Jason speaking]
Give us a call if you feel interested in it. Talk to other people about the grad program.
[Amber speaking]
You're better off to just see where it takes you, and to always say yes to any opportunities that could lead you somewhere that you wouldn't expect.
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