7.15 AM

With my work gear pre-packed from the night before, I get dressed in my best corporate-casual and head to the office.

7.45 AM

I usually zoom in to work on the train (with a home-made coffee in hand) and today is no exception. I’m trying to transfer my money-saving habits developed in university across to working life!

8.30 AM

After a chorus of good mornings in our open-plan office, I sit down at my desk. This involves usually taking a moment to appreciate the impressive view from the 2nd floor of the Health Department.

I then check my emails and go through my to-do list, which I update at the end of each day. This process ensures I say up-to-date and prioritise tasks appropriately.

8.35 AM

I get started on the important work of the day, which is centred on my project.

In my current 4-month placement, I am working on a project which involves modelling the workforce of particular medical professionals. Modelling does not involve photoshoots as I first thought, but instead predicting the demand and supply of a workforce in the future. This will allow the government to plan crucial hospital services accordingly.

For today, I work on updating our stakeholder engagement plan. Many people are invested in this project which is exciting and I need to make sure all of them are consulted at the necessary stages of the project.

9.30 AM

I then have my regular meeting with my supervisor to update them on the project’s progress. Today this involves planning questions which we will discuss with our stakeholders in the next meeting. We also discuss the overall project report which I am working on throughout my placement.

10.00 AM

I head out with my team to one of the hospitals for a meeting. This is because we are working closely with the medical professionals that my project is focused on. This meeting is challenging and interesting, as I learn a lot about the public medical system.

12.30 PM

When I get back to the office it is lunch time already, the day goes really fast when there’s a few meetings in it. I head out to eat with the other 2018 graduates. We go outside to stretch our legs, get our fill of Vitamin D, and have a laugh.

1.00 PM

Feeling reenergised, it’s data analysis time. We have received some data from our stakeholders and now it’s time to put that into the workforce model I am building. This means I get to use the excel skills I have developed through a course I attended for work. Usually this is challenging and engaging, so when it starts to hurt my head I change tasks.

3.30 PM

In the grad program, we are encouraged to broaden our professional networks. As such, I have created a networking plan and emailed people I want to connect with. This was daunting at first but now I really look forward to these meetings.

This afternoon I have a networking meeting with an executive at the Department of Health. We discuss the positive impact that I can have as a graduate on the workplace culture as well as leadership development opportunities. I leave feeling empowered!

4.30 PM

I consolidate my to-do list and update a progress report for my supervisor. It’s then time to go home! I like to make sure I don’t stay late often at work or else I get stuck in peak-hour (and get really hungry).

6.00 PM

I love exercising after work and tonight I have WAAFL (footy) training. Running around and dodging tackles works wonders for my mental and physical health.

7.45 PM

It’s a late dinner when I get home tonight. After chowing food down, I pack for the next day, contemplate my casual Friday outfit, and wind down with a book or call a friend. Tonight I’ll finish reading ‘When Breath Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi. This book is focused on the challenges of working in health as well as being a patient and reminds me how lucky I am to work in this field and of the opportunities ahead (cheesy, but true).