About you

Hi, I'm Emilie. I grew up and still live in Moreton Bay. I studied a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons) at QUT and completed my Honours research project through Red Cross Lifeblood, with a focus on preventing the transmission of mosquito-borne viruses through blood donations. While studying, I worked in disability support.

What interested you most about the program:

I was approaching the end of my degree and had grown to feel that working in a lab wasn't for me. I wanted a career where I could make a positive impact and use my analytical and writing skills. A friend who was working in DPC at the time told me about the program. He said it would be a great chance to explore government and use the skills I'd picked up through my degree in a different environment.

How was the recruitment process?

Very smooth! The Policy Futures team were so open throughout the process, and quick to respond to questions. There were several rounds of assessments and interviews, and turnaround between completing an assessment and receiving a response was so fast. We were also given very clear instructions for each stage of the process.

Is the program what you thought it would be?

I really wasn't sure what to expect from the program. There was definitely some imposter syndrome and a worry of not keeping up, especially as I came in with what I thought was an "atypical" degree (although there are many other graduates and policy officers with health backgrounds). But the Policy Futures team sets their grads up for success. We had a week of induction training before we went to our first rotation, and this included things like a policy writing crash course and an introduction to Parliament processes. And they have been a constant source of support throughout the program.

Has the program shaped your career direction?

Policy work is so varied. I have been lucky to work across three very different teams in my rotations, and the diversity in experience has helped me narrow down the direction I'd like to go in after the program. I'm grateful the program is rotation-based as I've had the opportunity to work in teams that might not have been on my radar otherwise.

What have the highlights of the program been so far?

The quality and amount of training we get in this program has been a highlight. I particularly enjoyed the cultural capability workshop and statutory interpretation training.

The other highlight is the vast network across government that you join by being a graduate. I've met and worked with former Policy Futures grads in every department I've been to, and other teams I've collaborated with for projects.

Do you have any tips and advice for students/graduates thinking about applying for Policy Futures?

Be confident about what you have to bring to the program. The graduate cohorts every year are so diverse, so be confident in your unique experiences and what you can bring to the program.