Graduate testimonials

Bachelor of Business / Commerce

Throughout my first rotation as a FWO graduate I was given so many exciting opportunities which went above and beyond my expectations of what a graduate program would involve.

I not only was able to rotate through many of the different Strategy and Development areas within FWO, I was also able to gain a practical view into how each of these sections worked. I was able to observe the importance of the Fair Work Act 2009 to external organisations in their employment agreements and help assist in ensuring that workplaces were fair and equitable to their employees. I was able to assist with strategic initiative plans to improve agency efficiency.

I got to do some event management and participate in the organisation of an Awards night; I was able to assist with diversity initiatives and research and report on alternative recruitment processes.

I even got to work with certain adobe programs to develop e-learning modules for staff, which was really outside the box of what I expected I would be doing during my rotations. All of these experiences listed just name a few of the tasks I had the pleasure of working on whilst working in FWO as a graduate.

Not only is the work diverse and interesting, there is a large emphasis on Work Life balance and acknowledgement. The support you gain throughout the graduate program is amazing, with dedicated graduate and rotational supervisors, you’ve always got many people available to assist you.

The graduate program allows you to travel interstate and even liaise with other agencies, showcasing how exciting the program is, as well as all of the opportunities to network it provides.

The FWO graduate program not only provides fantastic growth opportunities, with invaluable training and support, the other benefits of salary, leave and flex is so much more generous than many private industries, and with a promotion guaranteed at the successful completion, why not join an organisation where the only move for you is forward.

Bachelor of Science / Law

Since commencing with the 2011 FWO Graduates, I have been working in the Field Operations Group in Canberra. This means I am working in a team of Fair Work Inspectors who spend their time investigating complaints and also educating employers. Based on what I’ve heard from other grads around Canberra, my experience is not the average experience. I get to spend plenty of time away from my desk undertaking site visits, interviewing employers and employees and popping into different shops around the Canberra / South Coast region on educational visits. I also carry my own case load, which means I take responsibility for the work I undertake.  While at my desk I could be doing anything from completing calculations for the underpayment of wages or writing a letter outlining a contravention, to having in depth discussions with my teammates over how an award is interpreted. It is such a rewarding feeling to finalise an investigation and have an employee receive what they are entitled to.

Considering the FWO is spread across Australia there are many opportunities to spend some time away from Canberra. In the short time I have been here, I have been able to meet senior management and other FWO staff in Melbourne and Newcastle in addition to travelling around the ACT and South Coast region for investigations.

Bachelor of Law

As a FWO graduate working in the Communications branch, I have been involved in a wide variety of meaningful work. I have:

• liaised extensively with external stakeholders in order to procure their services
• produced communication strategies for targeted campaigns
• written and edited articles for the agency website
• facilitated market research on key demographic groups
• been the project lead for a number of large projects (which has been both daunting and exciting!)

The work actually matters - you’re not given grunt work that has been specifically tailored for a graduate. You’re actually doing the same type of work as other people within your branch - work that has a purpose, and that will benefit the agency’s long term goals.

In terms of work culture, there’s not much a graduate can complain about. Everyone in the agency, regardless of their seniority, is extremely approachable. The people here, while always professional, also know how to have a good laugh, which is always a plus. The flexible working hours are also great. Being able to start early and then leave the office early, before the mad rush of peak hour public transport, is a huge bonus.

On top of that, working for FWO also provides other things, such as:

• the really competitive salary you get as a graduate
• the enormous super contributions you get in comparison to most companies in the private sector
• flex time
• just the right amount of interstate travel so that it’s enjoyable instead of exhausting
• a break over Christmas that isn’t deducted from your 4 weeks annual leave.

Bachelor of Business

Jumping on a plane to Sydney I sat back and enjoyed the moment, I had made it. It was my first day as a grad at the Fair Work Ombudsman and they were already flying me to Sydney to meet the rest of my team members, could it get any better? It did. In those two days I was involved in meetings with industry heads, met unique people all across the agency and learned more about industrial relations than I thought possible.

While this may not be a typical day at work, it gives you an idea of the sort of opportunities the Fair Work Ombudsman Graduate Program can bring you. Heading into the program I was apprehensive given that I was unclear about what the Fair Work Ombudsman actually was. Since then I’ve learned its focus is on educating people about employment rights and where necessary investigating and enforcing those rights. My role has largely involved meeting with unions and employer organisations, often challenging but always rewarding work and the sort of opportunities that you wouldn’t normally receive as a graduate at other organisations.

Forgetting the work, the one aspect of the Fair Work Ombudsman that has appealed to me most has been the culture. The people are fun to work with and always around to help and the social side of things is fantastic. The working hours are also very flexible so I can adjust my work around my life not the other way around. It’s been a fantastic experience and I’m looking forward to continuing on here after this year, although I’m a little sad I can’t be a grad forever!