What’s your job about?

I work at Services Australia, in the Application Infrastructure Branch. Services Australia operates the largest in-house technology shop across all federal government agencies and up to 90% of our customer interactions are digital. Our agency is responsible for delivering government payments and services to Australians, so it’s vital that our systems are reliable and available 24/7, with as few unplanned outages as possible.

I’m responsible for helping coordinate new updates and releases for our Income Security Integrated System, which delivers crucial services such as Centrelink and Medicare to millions of Australians. When I’m not preparing for these releases, I spend my time scheduling jobs, monitoring system performance, completing trigger requests to help process customer payments, and maintaining our tools.

Our systems need to be dynamic, scalable and on standby, in the event a disaster or emergency disrupts people’s lives. By ensuring the integrity of our releases, I help make sure we’re always able to help our customers – the Australian public.

What’s your background?

After graduating high school, I tried a few different degrees and part-time jobs before landing on a Bachelor of Information Technology at Victoria University. It was something completely out of my comfort zone, yet its problem-solving nature was very similar to the creative process – something that really appealed to me.

Whilst at university, I found a part-time job that I flourished in and realised that helping people is another facet of work I really enjoy. With that in mind, I applied for the Services Australia National Graduate Program and received an offer not long after completing my degree. The idea of moving to Canberra for the role was daunting but I had a great support network around me. After making the move at the start of the program, it wasn’t long before I really found a place for myself, and I can safely say that this is exactly what I needed to grow.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

My job is unique and sometimes there’s a fine line between it being a technical or non-technical role. My duties aren’t demanding in the same way as a software engineer or in a cyber security position. However, there are different types of demands, such as communicating with our stakeholders, being rigorous with our checks and processes and chasing up change requests. It’s a unique blend of skills that could suit many people, provided they‘re comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment.

What’s the coolest thing about your job?

I really enjoy working in such a large and varied environment. My job is one link in the wider chain of a vast, complex and constantly evolving system. There’s no shortage of things to learn, new situations to broaden my experience or issues to be challenged by. I perform at my best and am most engaged when I’m thrown into those new situations, especially the tricky ones. They can be difficult, but even the smallest victories make the process worth it.