Humans of Carey: Dira Lok

Service Delivery Analyst

I began my career at a small software company specialising in insurance underwriting, followed by working at a multinational service management provider. I eventually came to my current position in Carey’s ICT Department as the resident Service Delivery Analyst, and I am so grateful for the opportunity.

My position at Carey represents my first time working in an education environment. I did not know what to expect on arriving here, but I quickly realised how brilliant the atmosphere is and how dedicated people here are to fostering a supportive and positive place for students and staff alike. What immediately struck me was the sense of community and how the staff are easily some of the warmest and friendliest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting in a workplace.

Outside of work I am a fitness fanatic, an avid gamer, and an Army Reservist. I enlisted back in 2010 during my second year of university and have been part of the organisation longer than I have had a professional career. To say it has helped shaped me into the person I am today would be an understatement.

I am proud of my service and I have been involved with many exercises and public activities, and I have been fortunate enough to be a part of two operations, with the most recent being Operation Bushfire Assist (pictured). Right at the start of the year, the bushfires began to spiral out of control and the government made the historic decision for a mandatory call-out to Reservists for additional support. With 24 hours’ notice, I had my basic belongings packed and was on a chartered bus to the northern Victorian Alpine region. As we all saw during the summer period, the devastating bushfires had an enormous impact on countless communities and lives across the country. I will never forget the aftermath of the destruction and the confronting stories of personal experiences.

I was assigned to a task force responsible for assisting the local government in clearing flammable debris from crucial infrastructure, and monitoring live fire maps to ensure the safety of frontline members. The task force also assisted local council engagement efforts by contributing to building the foundation for community events such as the Brighter Days Festival and Katy Perry’s Fight On bushfire relief concert.

It was not long after this that the coronavirus had concentrated in Australia and the Defence Force was once again called upon. While I have not had the opportunity to contribute yet, I look forward to playing my part and giving back to the community with the full support of Carey that has always been afforded to me.