What's your job about?
Currently, I am a part of Organisational Development in Essential, my team develops and implements strategic initiatives that define the employee experience and anticipate the future needs of the workforce. This is achieved through business function in performance management, Early talent Pathways, inclusion, and Diversity.
The initial part of my grad rotation sees me working in the Inclusion and Diversity space. Essential Energy is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce, reflective of the communities we serve. My daily work consists of collaborating with the OD program specialist in Inclusion and Diversity and employee members from the six reference groups to create opportunities and advocate for inclusion and diversity efforts across the business.
At present my daily work involves project plan development for upcoming I&D events and actioning strategic initiatives that contribute towards the business goal of achieving actual Inclusion and Diversity outcomes for the workforce. A project that I am working on is a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
A RAP’s purpose is to assist businesses to embed the principles and purpose of reconciliation. A description of my actions taken to achieve this includes.
What's your background?
I grew up out west in Dubbo, living close to the zoo I could hear some of them in the morning when there woke up as well. When in Dubbo I completed most of my primary education there and played team sports, soccer in the winter and cricket in the summer. When I was halfway through year 6 the family wanted a sea change and we relocated to the amazing coastal town of Port Macquarie.
I have lived in Port Macquarie for just over 11 years now and have enjoyed every time I get to the beach, early morning or late-night runs along the break wall, and the relaxed atmosphere this place brings to my life. I travel abroad frequently, aiming to see a new country and experience a new culture once a year (excluding 2020-2021).
I studied locally at Charles Sturt University from 2018 – 2022, completing a bachelor’s in Business Studies, where my major focus was on the Human Resource function of a business. I have always been drawn towards creating an environment where people could be their best. My previous role in operations for a Hospitality venue involved hands-on mentoring and coaching, developing interpersonal relationships, and value-adding for not only the customer of the business but the ground team that contributed to this.
I was fortunate enough to complete my studies around the same time a Human resource Graduate position was advertised with Essential Energy, and after many assessments, interviews and meetings with the team, I was selected to be the First HR graduate that Essential Energy was onboarded.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
I believe that anyone from any background, with the right characteristics, can be successful in a Human resource position. Soft Skills such as interpersonal, communication, empathy, and problem-solving skills are all attributes of leadership that create great human resource managers.
Hard skills such as theoretical knowledge of human resources and business can assist in the transition to an HR role. But ultimately anyone with great leadership qualities and a want to nurture and support the workforce can be relatively successful.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I enjoy working with such an inclusive and supportive team that has created an environment for me to feel comfortable in asking questions, relaying my ideas and opinions in a safe space, and pointing me in the right direction for resources and data that I need to complete my jobs.
During my first month, I have been able to organise, promote and deliver on different Inclusion and Diversity events such as International Women’s Day, Harmony Day and the development of the Reconciliation Action Plan that will have a position impact on the workforce experience.
What are the limitations of your job?
Hybrid working environment
This style of work can be great but also has its limitations, there is more disconnect when working from home, or even being the only person that comes into the office. Also, this style of work leads to increased…
Zoom meetings.
A great way to connect with the team, but they can be excessive, often the minimum length of a meeting is 30 mins, and some ideas can be actioned within the first 5mins.
Increased responsibility
It comes with the territory, as a graduate you plan to move up in an organisation and that involves taking on increasing responsibility, my current role is “responsible for the employee experience” for the entire workforce… 3000 employees.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
It is important to understand that tertiary education is a fast track to career development within most organisations and has started trending towards being a prerequisite for many high-level positions. And The sacrifices made during this period of life will have a return on investment later in life.
Don’t fall for the common saying that P’s Get degrees, this style of learning and ‘just getting by’ is something I am guilty of in my first year of Uni and a theme that then bleeds into the other areas of life. Apply yourself fully.
Time Management is crucial, the juggling act of full-time work, part-time study, relationships, friends, family, health and well-being can become overwhelming, Time Management skills are required not only to schedule time for Uni but time away from Uni.