Audrey Clarkson

I was initially attracted to the Tasmanian State Services Graduate Development Program because of the opportunity to work in a number of different policy areas through regular rotations. I was also interested in staying in Tasmania and using my tertiary qualifications in Arts and Law to help the Tasmanian community.

The Graduate Program is a very supportive environment where I can put my academic skills into practice to develop my career as a professional. I have received great mentoring from my managers and colleagues and feel encouraged to provide my own opinion and advice in relation to my work. As a graduate, there are also plenty of opportunities available to develop your skills, which is fantastic.

Throughout the Graduate Program I will be working in different areas within the Department of Communities including in Sport and Recreation, Housing and Disability Services, Children and Youth Services and Youth Justice. The Department of Communities has been a rewarding place to start my career as I feel that my work genuinely helps the Tasmanian community.

I was also supported to undertake a legal project at the Integrity Commission in which I had to read and interpret legal advice from the Solicitor-General and create an annotated version of the Integrity Commission Act 2009 for the Board. This was an excellent experience because I was able to put all of the skills I had studied in Law – such as reading case law and understanding public law principles – into practice.

I would recommend the Graduate Program to those wanting to receive ongoing support and training while undertaking their job, and who have a desire to contribute to the Tasmanian community in the context of working in Government.

Audrey Clarkson, Bachelor of Arts and Laws, University of Tasmania