8 AM
I’m not a morning person, so the best thing about living close to work is getting to have a sleep in. Especially as the days start getting colder. I’ve learn there’s an unspoken rule in Canberra that you can’t turn your heater on before ANZAC Day, but with these cold mornings, I’m getting close to breaking this rule. I eventually brave the cold, and arrive at the office just before 9am.
9 AM
My current rotation is at the National Office for Child Safety (NOCS). A relatively new branch at PM&C, created in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. I spend the first hour going through my emails and reading up on the news. It’s important to stay on top of what’s happening, especially anything relating to child safety. Our branch then meets for a “stand up” where we all go through our priorities of the day.
10 AM
NOCS’s current project is working on the National Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, a key recommendation of the Royal Commission. It’s surreal to be working on something that is going to be having such a positive impact on people. A while back, we had sent general summaries of the Strategy to a range of non-government organisations and individuals. My job is to read through the responses, where organisations and individuals have written back with ideas for the Strategy, and collate them all. I’ll be meeting with my supervisor later this week to go through and identify any common suggestions or key ideas that we think should be incorporated into the strategy. NOCS have really made an effort to consult externally for the Strategy, and it’s great to see them listening to people who have firsthand experience and knowledge of what the main issues out there are.
12.30 PM
Some of us from the branch walk over to the Barton Grocer for some lunch. It’s always so busy, but a great place to go for a healthy lunch. Our branch is having a Wellbeing Afternoon Tea, so I pick up a few goodies for that.
1 PM
Back to reading submissions
4.30 PM
Our branch finishes the day with a Wellbeing Afternoon Tea. It can be draining working on such heavy topics all day, so the head of our branch always likes to make sure we balance it with wellbeing activities.
5 PM
Finished for the day, so I head home on the bus.
6.30 PM
Way back at the start of the year, I joined a social netball team. I didn’t know any of the people on my team before this year, but the great thing about being a grad in Canberra is that so many people move here not knowing many people and are keen to meet new people. We’ve got a game tonight, and we’re playing against another team of grads, so the pressure is on.
7.30 PM
It was a close game, but we ended up losing by a point. Despite the loss, and my competitive streak, there are no hard feelings so some of us from the two teams go out for dinner at a nearby pub, The Duxton Hotel.
9.30 PM
I get back to the apartment, cleaning up a little bit. I have a quick FaceTime with my family back in Perth, and then head to bed (promising myself I won’t stay up too late on my phone!).