Updating Results

Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

4.2
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Andrea Stewart

This environment allowed me the try things and get feedback on them, achieving my goals of designing assessable content.

What's your job about?

As a Graduate in the Design stream, my work centres around Information Design. Work will come to me from varying areas of the team, and I’ll work with them to understand the intent and goals of the content. Once understood, I’ll develop options which achieve these wants visually. For example, developing a graph or infographic to deliver content or a layout for a presentation. From here, I’ll continue to work with them to get the document to its final state.

What's your background?

I’ve lived in Canberra all my life. The biggest touch points in my life were years 11 and 12, which led to my first job. I worked at that job for two years while I figured out what I’m passionate about and how that could translate into a career. I applied to the ANU School of Art and Design and interviewed for the Design program. Completing a Bachelor of Design opened my eyes to what design is and how my voice can contribute – leading me to the end of my undergraduate degree, where I accepted my position in the 2022 ATO Graduate program.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Anyone with a different background and an interest in human-centred design could fill a position in the ATO design stream. I recommend a previous interest in human behaviour and want to learn how to understand and build an experience. Applicants need a flexible, open-minded mentality, willing to take feedback and learn from it. For those looking to work with Information Design, I recommend some experience in visual-based practices.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

What I like most about my job is the opportunity to learn design methods and principles in a corporate context. I enjoyed learning to use PowerPoint in a more detailed way. It’s always very satisfying learning new software and having something you’ve developed look the way you had envisioned. This environment allowed me the try things and get feedback on them, achieving my goals of designing assessable content.

What are the limitations of your job?

The biggest limitations in this position are the tight turnaround times on work which can mean some days can be jammed packed with little downtime.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

  1. Studying broadly. Try different disciplines and practices to add to and innovate your own projects.
  2. Be open to your path changing.  You may start your degree knowing what it will look like at the end but don’t be afraid to take on new challenges you didn’t expect. 
  3. Have something unrelated to study or work to keep your career from overtaking your personal life.