Tintern Grammar Career's Night 2023

Welcome to the 2023 Alumni Student careers night

FIND YOUR FUTURE SELF

Welcome to students, families, alumni and guests as you join us to help our young men and women Find Their Future Selves! Family lives are very busy, and I thank you for consciously taking the time to offer this opportunity to a young person in your family. By doing so, you are showing them, like Tintern Grammar, you value the education in future possibilities that events such as Careers Night holds.

At Tintern we believe strongly that career education opens the eyes of young women and men to what is ‘out there’ for them to consider in their future. While many students and families will understandably be focussed on the ATAR as the vehicle for tertiary entry, at Tintern, we believe that offering the opportunity to speak to those working in areas of interest is also a key element of vocational awareness and planning.

I thank our alumni who are giving the gift of their time and experience. I am very grateful for their willingness to pass on their knowledge and growth to a new generation, and I am sure both the younger and the older will enjoy the discussions.

While reading the profiles of our alumni women and men, I am struck by the diversity of those present, which is remarkable, and accurately reflects our diverse and vibrant Tintern Grammar community, as well as reinforces our culture of giving which has been consistent throughout Tintern’s history. I wish you all enjoyment, adventure and the acquisition of knowledge at this event and I am sure that you in turn will express your gratitude to these terrific alumni who have come to guide and mentor our young men and women!

Bradley Fry Principal

(Class of 2010)

Industry: Architecture

Job title: Director - Registered Architect

DesignTheArts & Architecture Laura (Miller) Uberti

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/laura-miller-6822a7bb

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Yes, I had ambitions to become an Architect from my first years in High School.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Yes, after graduation I went on to complete a Bachelor of Environments and a Diploma of Languages (Mandarin) followed by a Master of Architecture all at the University of Melbourne.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes, my studies were integral in my current career as an Architect. In Australia, an Architect is a registered profession which requires a minimum Master level degree as completing the requirement of the registration process post-graduation. Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

Lead project teams and consult with client groups and authorities from conceptual design through to construction with a focus on high-end residential and boutique resort projects.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Leadership and problem solving skills are critical in Architecture. Someone with strong spatial awareness and a eye for detail, as well as strengths in taking initiative and thinking outside the box.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Every project and client is different, which creates exciting new opportunities in the design response and can produce different outcomes each time. The design and construction industry is always innovating which means there are always new things to learn and different ways to design.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

It is a long path to becoming an Architect, you have to be motivated, committed and passionate about architecture however it is worth it once you get there!

Maddison Edwards

Industry: Interior Design/ Architecture

Job title: Interior Designer

(Class of 2016)

DesignTheArts & Architecture

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I thought I did. Whilst I was studying at Tintern, I was convinced that once I graduated, I would become a baker. Whilst I still bake as a hobby, it wasn’t the long-term goal. That dream started to fade around year 11. To be truthful, I was unsure about what career I wanted to have at that point. I knew I wasn’t built for the standard; Nurse, Teacher, Engineer or anything along those lines, Not that there is anything wrong with that. It just wasn’t for me. I knew I was meant for something creative, but had no idea what options were out there in the world.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I Did! I eventually went on to study a Bachelor’s in Art (Interior Design) and graduated in 2022. The catch was, I didn’t start on this path until about 3 years after I graduated. I spent a lot of time contemplating what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. It wasn’t until I did further research into some of my hobbies and favourite tv shows that I realised Interior Design was a legitimate career.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

My bachelors degree has certainly helped in my journey. My pervious role as an Interior Design/ Electrical Consultant with Metricon Homes required that I have a formal qualification to be fit for the role. Its strange with a career like mine, most people can do it without any formal training. And they can be amazing at it. But the degree that I received teaches aspiring designers all the current computer programs and technical knowledge that is key to landing an amazing job at any major design firm.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

Currently I am working for a small design firm that focuses on sales office fit-outs for new land estates and developments. So basically if you are driving through a new estate and they have a small to medium sales office with their giant sign out the front that says “land now selling” or other phrases along those lines. I have probably designed the interiors of

that sales office. So this is classified as a commercial interior designer but I have worked across residential projects as well, including a few display homes for Metricon Homes that are currently under construction and you should be able to walk through very shortly. What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

I think anyone can really become a designer if they have that knack for creativity and colour. Not just an interior designer, there are so many branches of design to explore. But I think if you are creative and have an eye for detail you can do almost anything. You don’t need the best grades or scores, just dedication and a passion for design will do someone wonders.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I love the balance. Half of my time is spent picking out materials, playing with shapes and really experimenting with textures and colours. It’s a really hands on and visual time to put together mood boards and concepts. The other half of my time is spent documenting those selections and ideas into these beautiful renders and documentation packages to give to the builder and clients. Its an amazing mix of creativity and focused work. What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

I think my biggest career highlight is seeing myself in a position where I am happy and proud of the work that I am doing and the position that I am in professionally. It is the constant developing and progressing that has me excited. The biggest career challenge was deciding what I wanted to do with my life, career wise. Those 3 years after high school involved a lot of trial and error when it came to jobs and hobbies, trying to find what was right for me. Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Ask around. Follow people on Instagram. Send an email. You never know how far one email will get you these days. More importantly, look around at creative career pathways, ask the career advisers what options you have. There are so many more options out there in the world, than the select few that you learn about in school.

Emily Mignot

(Class of 2012)

Industry: Architeccture and Built Environment

Job title: Town Planner and Community Engagement Facilitator

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mignot/

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

No idea! I wanted to be a different thing on a weekly basis!

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I still wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do, so I chose something general with different options so I could change to if I wanted. I studied the Bachelor of Environments at the University of Melbourne (now called the Bachelor of Design) which included things like architecture, construction, urban design and planning, and landscape architecture. To keep music in my studies, I also undertook a concurrent Diploma in Music (Performance, Voice) at The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes, but ultimately the skills I gained in my course were critical and analytical thinking, research, and teamwork skills, rather than content that was directly related to what a town planner does in the workplace. Keeping up performance studies alongside also helped my presentation and public speaking skills, so it still provided enormous benefit, even if I didn’t choose a career path in the arts (yet…).

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

At the moment I am a town planner and community engagement facilitator.

DesignTheArts & Architecture

Town planners help to make sure that as our population grows and we adapt to a changing climate, our cities and places keep up with this change, planning for the critical infrastructure, housing, schools, economic centres, employment and social services they need, and helping it get built. But because we have to think 10, 15, 25, even 50 years ahead, this often requires huge change, and a limited opportunity to get it right.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Working with people and building relationships – planning cannot be done alone, you need lots of people with different expertise to work together. Being able to communicate technical information in ways that are easy to understand. Listening to people, understanding what’s important to them. Empathy. And being able to bring together lots of moving parts (and people) to solve problems.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Anyone can be a town planner, or a community engagement facilitator. If you have great communication skills, you love working with others, you like technical complexity and solving problems…you can dive straight in or come to planning from a whole range of career paths. In fact, it often helps to come from other disciplines because you can bring a different point of view.

Caitlin Spears

Industry: Arts

(Class of 2011)

Job title: Actor/Performer (most recently Tracy Turnblad Standby in Hairspray the Musical)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-spears-080698206/

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I changed my mind a few times at Tintern about what I wanted to do, by Year 11 I was convinced I wanted to study Opera, but I enjoyed the school musicals so much that I knew what I really wanted to do was Musicals.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I went straight into a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

I have been working in the performing industry since I graduated, on a number of different productions. I have worked across Opera, Music Theatre, Shakespeare, Short Films, performed in a rock concert and produced my own work. In between gigs I have also worked across hospitality, retail and administration. Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I am a Performer and Producer, working across multiple art forms, but with a main focus on Music Theatre.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

This is not for the faint of heart. You need resilience and passion, and the ability to get back up in the face of multiple rejections. So much of this work is self-driven, once you have finished training there is no one there to push you, you have to push yourself. On top of that, you need good singing skills, I would recommend training in both contemporary and classical, good acting skills and good dance skills, if you’re a strong dancer – excellent, if not work towards being a strong mover and getting better

DesignTheArts & Architecture

at picking up choreography – all shows have movement/dance in some form. I am a strong mover.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I love to perform onstage and connect with other actors, there is a joy to it all. Honestly the applause is also great, there’s nothing like a huge crowd cheering after a really hard show to make you go, yeah I could do that again. What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

My biggest highlight was most recently in the role of Tracy Turnblad Standby in Hairspray the Musical, it was also my biggest challenge as I have never been a Standby before, and navigating that onstage and off was difficult but rewarding.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Be a chameleon, you are not just a music theatre performer – you are an artist. Work across multiple streams, don’t pigeonhole yourself. The more employable you are the better (and the more fun). Don’t get into this line of work for the money, yes people can make big salaries, but that is YEARS into their careers, and some will never make huge incomes. I do this because I can’t imagine doing anything else, and nothing else has ever brought me the joy that this work has, it is still a job, but to me it’s the best job in the world.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I love a project and do quite a bit of DIY. I love spending time by the water, and brunching with friends and family (most of my work is at night so I LOVE a good brunch).

Nicholas Elliott (Class

of 2016)

Industry: Banking and Finance

Job title: Associate at Nab

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-elliott-b412311a4

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I had no clue! I think part of the fun has been working out what I enjoy doing and how work aligns with my interests.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Yes, I completed a double degree at Monash University from 2017-2020. Bachelor of Business (Majoring in Economics) and Bachelor of Arts (Majoring in International relations, Minor in History). I’ve also completed various industry courses such as Career Qualified in Banking (CQIB) & Australian Financial Services License Tier 2 Accreditation.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

My Business degree definitely has enabled me to work at NAB. The majority of people I work with have some form of Accounting/Finance/Commerce degree. Prior to my current role I worked in a Graduate Role at NAB in a program called “Customer Operations”.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I’m an Associate at Nab working in Customer Lending Solutions. I perform financial analysis, credit analysis and compliance for business clients of NAB applying for various lending products. I focus on businesses in the South East of Melbourne with a turnover of up to $100m.

Business&Commerce

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Strong organisational skills, ability to cope with pressure, financial knowledge/ numerical skills (or be willing to learn these). Many of my colleagues have a background in accounting as well which helps but is not 100% necessary.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Get really good at your core skills ie analysis, numerical skills, reading and writing. Look for any work/experience in a relevant company/ industry that you can get. Always be willing to learn new things/skills even if you don’t think what you are learning is relevant to what you want to do. You never know when you might need it.

Georgina Fordham

Industry: Accounting and Finance

(Class of 2007)

Job title: Head of Finance and Company Secretary

Business&Commerce

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I had no idea what I wanted to be when I was at school....I think at one point because I loved sport I was going into physio or graphic design. Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Yes, I studied at Monash University and did a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting and Business Law and also did a Bachelor of Law. Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I currently work as the Head of Finance for Sou’West. Sou’West is a brewing and hospitality group. I basically spend my day making sure the business can run so people can enjoy our facilities. I also look at future opportunities for growth in the hospitality industry.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

I believe in this day and age in the corporate world and possibly in most industries you need to be organised and very adaptable. Things can change at the flick of a switch, and you have to be ready for it. That is what makes it so exciting.

What have been some of your biggest career highlight, and your biggest career challenge?

I previously worked at Mercedes Benz as their senior accountant and got the pleasure to travel around the world however, still to this day driving Lewis Hamilton to his media engagements for the F1 here in Melbourne was a highlight. Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

I think don’t discount where being an accountant can take you….business foundations always pay off in any role you want or any business you may want to run.

Industry: Business Management

Job title: CEO

Website: https://mentorlist.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-l-m-green/

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Yes, I wanted to own a restaurant or cafe.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I went to Griffith University on the Gold Coast (Bachelor of Business, major Hospitality/Tourism). I did not complete this degree, as I was keen to get into the workforce. I did however at age 35 go back and complete my MBA.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers

did you have prior to your current one?

My study taught me some excellent foundations of business, yet it also made me realise I was quite entrepreneurial and therefore wanted to get to work, start building businesses, and learn on the job. I’ve lead, built, and sold various businesses primarily in the events industry.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I am CEO of Mentor List which is a company I co-own. It is an events business, in which we run boardroom table discussions and mentoring for Australia’s top CEOs - giving them a place to share their challenges and support each other. My role is to grow the business through a considered strategy, reporting to the Board, whilst leading and guiding the team to achieve both the companies targets, as well as their own personal career goals.

(Class of 2003)

Business&Commerce Samantha (Brown) Green

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Sales, marketing and a good understanding of business strategy.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I love problem solving, constant change, new challenges, and the ability to create new products and services to grow businesses.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Recently being featured in the AFR newspaper was a proud moment for a fairly new business. On a daily basis, the highlight for me is being able to support the growth of great people - both our clients and my team. Biggest challenge is the juggle of running a business with 2 little boys under 2 years old - it’s very busy!

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Self-belief is everything. As long as you believe in yourself, others will too.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Charity work, sitting on Boards, my 2 boys, and Running/Pilates for ‘me time’.

Ally Montgomery(Class of 2013)

Industry: Business Management

Job title: Business owner and admin

Website: www.Monlouise.com.au

Instagram: @monlouiseau

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I was very interested in the Health Field, nursing in particular but also confused about exactly what I wanted.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I started study straight away intially but then took time off to work and travel.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

I ended up studying a couple of years in bio security science then changed into pathology collection and worked in that for a while, have now started my own business as well as working in another as admin staff. Have just restarted studying my nursing.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

Taking care of all aspects of my own small business and looking after administration in another business. As well as being a mum to two young children.

Business&Commerce

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Good organisation and time management skills, great attention to detail.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I love being able to create my own brand and slowly build it up and choose how I represent myself and keep learning new skills on the way.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Being a mum to my two young children keeps me very active. Any other spare time I get I love to go exploring and trying new things. Also any excuse to travel I’ll take it!

Louis Nottle (Parent )

Industry: Business and Commerce/Food & Drink Technology

Job title: General Manager

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/louisnottle

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Originally wanted to be a Chef. Was convinced to study Engineering. Ended up being Chemical Engineer within the Food Industry

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical). Post Grad Diploma of Applied Science (Dairy Technology)

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Chemical Engineering didn’t lead me directly. My Post Grad studies did. Research Technologist - Bonlac Foods, Mars Confectionery

Production/Manufacturing Management - Darrell Lea Chocolates, Nestle Confectionery, Lemnos Cheese, Pana Chocolate, San Remo Macaroni

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I oversee the efficient running of a Flexible Packaging company. I am responsible for setting the strategic direction and ensuring that it is profitable and sustainable. What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Attention to detail with the ability to be flexible - there are a lot of balls in the air at one time. Technical knowledge - when working in manufacturing you need to understand your product. Empathy and compassion with your team - people are a businesses most important assets. You look after them, they will look after you & the company

Business&Commerce

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Food is an essential item in our day to day life. Working in the industry that helps supply food is important and rewarding. You know your making something that 1000’s of people see and buy. Packaging is an integral part of delivering food into everyone’s daily life. Packaging improves the shelf life of products and ensures that it can be transported easier to your pantry/fridge/freezer.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Building a confectionery line in China. Developing a product (plant based yoghurt) that was number one in its category

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

The Australian food industry is broad and diversified. There are big and small companies, with a multitude of roles available, like manufacturing, logistics, sales, marketing and finance. There are different skill sets that are required for each one. They all can lead to General Management, which requires an overall understanding of each role. Even if you come into the role from one particular skill set, it will be important to appreciate all of the other facets of a successful business. Don’t be afraid to try different roles and companies. Build your skill set and knowledge up by trying something that challenges you.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Family, soccer, football and entertaining friends

Yvette (Gay) Pethebridge

Industry: Business Consulting

Job title: Principal Consultant / Director

Website: www.cfolink.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvettepethebridge/

Instagram: @yvettephotography

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Whilst at Tintern, I was considering a career in design but switched to Business after being a little unsure. I thought having business skills would help me no matter what job I ended up doing, and it certainly has.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

After VCE, I completed a Bachelor in Business, majoring in Management and Accounting. Straight after that, I gained my CPA qualification, as it is necessary to be considered for a career in all accounting disciplines. In 2013 I was fortunate to be awarded a scholarship to complete the Company Directors course, which formally added governance to my qualification skill set. In 2021 the CPA awarded me the designation of Fellow to recognise my contribution to the industry. Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

My study has been imperative to my current career. A Bachelor of Business and a CPA qualification are the foundations for many pathways in the business world. Before starting my consulting business, I had roles in company accounting, business analytics, management accounting, and general management, all of which have had aspects of turnarounds and change management; this gave me the confidence and skills to do my current role. Ultimately, I never felt satisfied at work until I joined the boardroom/ executive level. Now I get to see the complete picture of a business and its people, I can contribute my best to solve problems and help achieve outcomes. Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I am currently a consulting CFO who helps medium-sized enterprises and not-forprofits with their financial, risk, strategy and governance management. I do a mixture of ongoing engagements and project work; essentially using my skills to help business owners and leaders achieve their goals.

(Class of 1996)

Business&Commerce

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Becoming a CFO and/or a consultant is a career path, not a job. It takes dedication and years to learn the skills and have the experience to be successful in such a role. Taken for granted you have the technical/business discipline skills by this stage, being able to understand all aspects of how a business operates and manage and lead people through challenging circumstances is key, as is being able to see the big picture and focus on the outcomes of the job.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Being able to use your skills in a way that adds value to people, their businesses, and them achieving their goals is very rewarding.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

The highlights would definitely be the people I have met along the way who have taught me to be true to myself, have confidence in my abilities and continue to grow and learn; these same people have also been the biggest challenges!

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

If you want a career over a job, you need to be in the driver’s seat! There are very few people who get a career handed to them. Start in a generalised role, and then see what aspects of it you like, and develop (or pivot) from there. Try not to have too many preconceived ideas of what your career might look like, as if you are too rigid, you will miss out on opportunities.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I balance my demanding work with the creative outlet of photography (which has become a bit of a side hustle!) and also enjoy spending time reading and working out at the gym.

(Class of 2013)

Industry: Accounting and Finance

Job title: Investment Partner, Renewable Energy and Energy Distribution

Business&Commerce Michael Upjohn

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-upjohn-327a5a91

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

At one stage I wanted to do actuarial studies, but more broadly just something generally finance related like investment banking etc

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Straight after year 12. Did a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne, majors in accounting and finance. Was a 3 year degree but I did it in 4. Worked for PwC (an accounting firm) full time during years 2-3, and casually in my final year. After uni I did a graduate diploma of chartered accounting, which along with professional work experience meant I could call myself a chartered accountant and use the designation C.A.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yep. I don’t really do much accounting anymore in my current role, it’s more of a foundational skill I use. Probably use the finance side of my uni degree more. Prior roles: Finance Business Partner, Distributed Energy at AusNet, Finance Business Analyst at Coles, Finance Graduate at Auspost and Trainee Accountant at PwC

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I review, provide financial and commercial support, and approve business cases for investment opportunities (e.g. the big battery down at Phillip Island). I also do a lot of financial modelling and manage part of our 5 year financial plan.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Excel - spend a lot of my time in models. Soft skills - dealing with a lot of people of varying seniority. Analytical skills - finding key takeaways and drivers

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Being in the energy industry is great, we’re in a big period of change in transition to renewable energy and there are billions to be spent to get there. I like being able to play a part in making that happen

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Biggest highlight so far was probably getting my CA destination as it was the end of my studies. My biggest challenge early on was probably confidence in speaking up in meetings and presenting, something that comes with time and now that challenge for me is inverted… I need to be better at shutting up Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Have a look at accounting traineeships / cadetships offered by the big accounting firms. When looking at universities, prioritise ones that are strong in industry based learning. Talk to people in the fields you’re interested in.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

My 4 month old daughter consumes my non work hours and some of my work hours

Stephanie McDonald

Industry: Computing, Games and IT

Job title: Data Engineer

(Class of 2015)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-mcdonald-109910157

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Not really, I knew I liked maths and this logical minded, problem solving space but I never really imagined I could be a Data Engineer - I guess I didn’t even really know what a data engineer did back then!

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Bachelor of Computer Science ( majors: Cybersecurity & Data Science)

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

It did lead pretty smoothly onto my current career, although there are lots of different pathways I could have taken. I’ve been a data engineer for all 4 years since graduating from Swinburne.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I enable companies to be data driven organisations by making sure we capture data and store it in a secure and accessible manner. My role involves a lot of different things, most days are a mix of coding, problem solving, planning, and communicating. Collaborating across multiple departments to identify requirements and implement solutions is a key part of my day to day.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Problem solving, growth mindset, communication.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Enabling companies to unlock the power of their data. I love that the impact

&InformationTechnology

I have enables both individuals and companies to have the biggest impact possible by helping them identify where to spend their time and energy and where to course correct. I love solving large scale problems that require you to work across departments and get insight into a wide variety of business functions. I also really love that we not only get to drive impacts on the company but the field as a whole by working with such cutting edge technology.

What have been some of your biggest career highlight, and your biggest career challenge?

Biggest highlight is a recent one, I was interviewed recently about my company’s data journey on stage at the Melbourne Data Engineering Summit. Biggest challenge has been getting comfortable feeling uncomfortable, the world of tech is constantly evolving and pivoting, most of the time you don’t really know the answer to start with. After time you begin to trust that you’ll figure it out because you figured it out last time!

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

It’s easy to start a career or study in this space and feel intimidated by the people who have been coding since they were young - don’t limit yourself because of this, working in technology is so much more than coding, it’s about solving problems. Although, be prepared to be perpetually learning and trying out new things, you’ll very rarely know the solutions straight away and that’s what makes it fun!

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I am currently completely obsessed with stand-up paddleboarding and most recently did a 3-day expedition in New Zealand

Annabelle McKenzie

(Class of 2018)

Industry: Retail (Coles)

Job title: Technical Analyst

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabelle-mckenzie

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

When I was at Tintern, I knew I wanted to have a career in technology because it supports every other industry! I had a broad range of interests and the idea of working on the tools that enhance our lives really appealed to me.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I completed a Bachelors of Business Information Technology (Professional) at Swinburne University of Technology

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

My university course was designed to give me the skills for a career in consulting, which I did for a year. It taught me so much about my style of work, what I valued and how I got satisfaction out of work.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

As a Technical Analyst, I am the translator between the developers and what the business needs the tech to do. My most similar role is a Business Analyst, which focuses more on gathering and documenting the requirements, while I have just enough technical knowledge to be able to translate those requirements into instructions for the developers.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Communication and creating shared clarity are essential.

&InformationTechnology

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

As I’m still relatively new to the workforce, my biggest career highlight has to be being accepted into a Graduate Program. Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

If your dream job doesn’t exist out there, that means you’re the one who needs to create it.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I love building communities, both at work and in the broader Melbourne community. Investing in my life outside of work has been one of the most beneficial things I’ve done for my career.

Libby (Quigley) Kirchner

Industry: Sports Science

Job title: Company director

Website: coachapproach.com.au

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

No just a job in the sports industry

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Yes, I completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Sport coaching and Administration)

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes it did. I set up my own business straight out of University.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

My business Coach Approach, takes elite athletes into schools across Australia to encourage students to be active. So I conduct the marketing of the business to schools and also control the financial department.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

The sports industry is very competitive but it is also growing! So I think having a good attitude, being organised, being on the front foot and networking is all a bonus!

(Class of 1992)

&Education Training

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I love seeing school students of all ages being inspired by our countries athletes. If Coach Approach can encourage a student to become active then that is our goal. And I love meeting all these great athletes too and helping them become more financial.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Biggest highlights were expanding Coach Approach to NSW in 2000 where we still conduct sessions. Biggest career challenge was getting through 2 years of Covid lockdowns across Australia and losing so many contacts in schools and so many athletes.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Being open to any work and getting experience.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I have a family - husband, a 20yr old son and a 17yo son. So I love watching them all play sport. I do bootcamps myself to keep fit and walk our dog 5-10km a day too.

Alexandra Wakeley

Industry: Education – Tertiary

Job title: Lecturer in Indigenous Health

(Class of 2012)

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-wakeley

Twitter: @aewakeley

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

At school I thought I wanted to be a Doctor (funnily enough I now train future health professionals so maybe I was onto something). Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

1. Bachelor Arts/Bachelor Science, Monash University 2013-2016

2. Master of Bioethics, Monash University 2017-2018

3. Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Learning and Teaching, Deakin University 2022-2023

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

In an unexpected way, yes. After my Masters I expected to enter academia as a PhD student in bioethics but while those plans were pending I started as a casual in the Ethics team in Deakin’s School of Medicine. My casual role turned into a full time Associate Lecturer position between the Ethics and Indigenous Health teams in 2020, which led to my current role in the Indigenous Health team in 2021 and my recent promotion to Lecturer. So 4 years on I’ve stayed in academia but a PhD still hasn’t happened.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I coordinate the co-development and embedding of Indigenous Health and cultural safety teaching and learning activities within the Medicine, Optometry and Medical Imaging courses at Deakin University. I’m also responsible for implementing the Indigenous Entry Stream pathway and student support related to Indigenous health and cultural safety within the School of Medicine.

&Education Training

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

In no particular order: organisation and time management, attention to detail, humility, empathy, respect, effective communication (written and verbal), teamwork, facilitation skills, critical thinking, critical reflection, being able to task switch constantly.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Supporting students. This is both from a wellbeing perspective as well as facilitating teaching activities where we get to see the ‘lightbulb moments’ happen. In my disciplines most of our classes involve indepth and challenging discussions where staff, students and guest presenters all share and learn from each other in a safe and respectful environment. This is by far the most rewarding part of my job. Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Be open to the opportunities around you and don’t be afraid to side-step a little. Not being set on an end goal can provide you the space to explore different options and take you down a path you never knew existed which is both daunting and exciting! Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I love spending time with friends and family. At the moment I’ve been going to a lot of shows and concerts and I love going to the beach or for a long walk to unwind. Being social and getting away from a computer screen outside of work keeps me going.

Grace Power

(Class of 2017)

Industry: Education – Secondary

Job title: Health and Physical Education teacher

&Education Training

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Whilst at Tintern I did not want to be a teacher, I originally was enrolled in a Sports Science degree but changed my mind during my GAP year.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I spent a year in London working in an all girls boarding school before heading to Deakin to study Secondary Health and Physical Education. Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Sure did. My GAP year taught me not only so much about myself but also that I wanted to teach.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences? Teaching Health and Physical Education to Year 9 and 10 students at a selective school.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Confidence, caring, love of learning and fostering growth, organisation and leadership.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I enjoy seeing growth in young people and teaching them life long skills. Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

AFL

(Class of 2016)

Industry: Information Technology

Job title: Machine Learning Engineer

Engineering Anna Harvey

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

At Tintern, I really enjoyed the maths/sciences and knew I wanted to work on solving real world problems. Engineering seemed like a good fit and has a lot of different career opportunities.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I studied Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering at Monash University from 2017-2021

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I work as a machine learning engineer specialising in natural language processing (NLP). The software I work on allows machines to understand language including sentiment analysis and topic classification.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I work with a fantastic team who are all really passionate about the work we do. Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I love sewing and bird watching/bird photography.

Claire Lambert

(Class of 2014)

Industry: Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)

Job title: Unit Manager- Beverage

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lambert-16913715b

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I was always interested in chemistry and maths, but had no idea what Chemical Engineering was, and where I could possibly go with it

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Yes, I studied a Bachelor of Science majoring in Chemical Systems, and then a Masters of Chemical Engineering. I have since studied a Diploma in Brewing at the Institute of Brewing and Distilling

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes, I was involved in student organisations who had ties to Carlton and United Breweries, and began my career working in beer, but now work across the spectrum of non-alcohol, ready to drink and beer products that Asahi Beverages produce.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

Operationally, I am responsible for keeping the site I work at running 24/7. This involves working with maintenance, new product development and continuous improvement to make the site as efficient as it can be.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

I need to be able to constantly deal with new situations and challenges that I may not have seen before, but have the overall technical knowledge to deal with. I also spend a significant portion of my time in people management, so I need to be good at talking to people and relating to many people of different backgrounds.

Engineering

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I enjoy the continuous improvement aspect of my role the most. I spend a lot of the time fighting fires and fixing problems as they arise, but I get the most satisfaction out of fixing systemic issues that people have dealt with for 20 years because “that’s just the way it is”. Being able to change perceptions and change the way people do things is what I love to do.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Moving to a new site, from where I did my graduate program, has been both my biggest career highlight and challenge. I had done an internship, my grad program and my first role at one site, which I was very comfortable at. Moving out of my comfort zone, to a new site where I knew no one, has been both the biggest chance for me to show what I really know, but also to have the challenge of needing to stand on my own two feet and not rely on other people to hold me up.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Know that you are worthy of being there no matter what anyone says, and you should have a seat at the table, no matter how young you are, or your gender or race, if you have done the hard yards and been hired into the position, you deserve to be there, so own the space.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I love to go for runs and read books, although I struggle to get the time for both these days. Audiobooks while running are my friend!

Carrie

Stevenson

(Class of 1997)

Industry: Public transport

Job title: Technical Manager, Low Floor Fleet

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I had no idea what I wanted to do, I only knew that I loved maths and art. My father and older sister studied actuarial which seemed a little dry to me so I was looking for something a little more interesting

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

My brother studied engineering and told me he really liked mechatronics and suggested I look into that, so I finally decided to apply for robotics and mechatronics (engineering) at Swinburne.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Swinburne had a year of industry based learning built into the course when I was there and a good relationship with Holden so I was able to secure a year placement at Holden during my degree. This got me started in the design field of automotive engineering. After I graduated I started working for a major automotive supplier called futuris, mainly specialising in seating design, which then led to a job in the engineering Dept at Tesla in California. Even though I loved working for Tesla as it was always exciting and innovative, I ultimately wanted to settle down in Australia not the USA so I returned to Melbourne and started working for bombardier as a mechanical engineer and then engineering manager for the E class trams, built in Dandenong.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I am the technical representative for The low floor trams (C,D and E class trams) operated by Yarra trams. I lead a team of engineers and we ensure the safety, reliability, maintainability and availablity (for service) of the low floor trams. These are the newer “accessible” trams, (they don’t have stairs to get into them) and there are 200 of them built by 3 different manufacturers (Alstom, Siemens and Bombardier).

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Technical acumen - understanding mechanical and electrical engineering, people

Engineering

management skills, time management skills, project management skills. What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I love problem solving which is what engineers do every day. I love a fast paced work environment and I love working on products that are visible to the public. The Melbourne tram network is iconic, and used by so many people in Melbourne, it’s really rewarding to be able to ride the trams and see and touch some of the design improvements we’ve made to them What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge? Working for Tesla motors was both my biggest highlight and challenge, as the work was great, sometimes stressful, but the culture in the organisation allowed for innovation and fast progress. Being able to see the seats that I was the design engineer for in the showroom and during the model X launch event was just so exciting. The challenge was I moved to the USA on my own for this job and didn’t know a single person there and working long hours meant it was difficult to find time to socialise. Having to choose between a job that I loved and the home that I wanted to have for myself at the end of 2.5 years there was the hardest decision I’ve made in my career

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

I would love for more females to choose a career in engineering. Every time I recruit for engineers I get almost exclusively male applicants and I really hope these kind of technical paths get more exposure at schools as when I was at Tintern I didn’t even know what engineering was. I think we are starting to understand the strength in workplace diversity now but it needs to start with awareness. You can’t be what you can’t see. My advice would be to look into all the places an engineering degree could take you and I’m sure you’d find something that you find stimulating and exciting

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I love just catching up with friends, going to the movies and travelling with friends or family

Industry: Education

Job title: Swimming Teacher

of 2011)

Fitness Amelia Milroy (Class

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-milroy-a60b94118

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

No.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Cert 1 in work education cert 1 in information technology dual cert 3 in aged care and home and community care.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

No and I worked in a factory for people with disabilities for seven years I also worked as a receptionist at the factory for 3 of those seven years as well as doing admin work at the other sites of the company.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences? Teaching children to learn to swim.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

You need patience being able to still be able to swim yourself upper body strength you have to like kids.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

What I enjoy the most is being able to help kids learn how to swim but also keep themselves safe in the water and its working with kids that gets me out of bed each morning.

What have been some of your biggest career highlight, and your biggest career challenge?

Highlights would be seeing kids excited that their moving up to a higher level watching the kids realise that they can do the strokes and watching the kids confidence grow the biggest challenge is trying to keep younger kids from jumping off platforms into deep water.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Just keep persisting with it there may be days where the kids drive you crazy but at the end of the day it’s worth it.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Outside of work I like to spend time at home with smy cats and playing video games baking.

Melissah Burnett

(Class of 1989)

Industry: Nursing

Job title: Senior Project Officer Safer Care Victoria and Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse Mercy Hospital for Women

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissah-burnett-7071124b/

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Yes I always knew I wanted to be a nurse

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Quality and Safety) University of Tasmania, Enrolled 2023 Executive Ready Women and Leadership Australia, July 2022

Improvement Coach Professional Development Program Institute for Healthcare Improvement, March 2022 Certificate IV Training and Assessment ANMF (VIC Branch) Education Centre, 2021 Master of Nursing (Neonatal) University of Western Sydney, 2001 Graduate Diploma of Advanced Nursing (Neonatal Intensive Care) La Trobe University, 1996 Bachelor of Applied Science (Nursing) La Trobe University, 1993

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

I have stayed in my nursing speciality of neonatal. I have held a variety of roles including clinical, management, academia, education, sales and marketing, government, projects.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

As a Senior Project Officer I lead and contribute to the key projects and functions of Safer Care Victoria within the Maternity and Newborn health sector. I work closely with clinicians and consumers and health services to promote quality and safety for pregnant women and their babies.

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What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Compassion, empathy, resilience, sense of adventure, positive attitude, willingness to embrace change, continue to learn.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Promoting evidence based care, best practice, improving outcomes. Making sure babies go home to grow big and strong.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Watching premature babies I have looked after turn 27 !!! that’s how long I have been a neonatal nurse opportunity to travel - I have travelled overseas and all around Australia and New Zealand as an educator. I have volunteered in PNG four times teaching village birth attendants how to resuscitate babies. I have made life long friends I have witnessed incredible joy and the deepest sadness. I have used my nursing skills to care for family and friends.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you? Go for it - nursing is a great profession, so many opportunities and flexibility to work around a family. Follow your heart and find your passion - no one else can give you that. You can gain knowledge and practice a skill but your attitude is yours to own.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

My family (three adult boys), my friends, volunteering, yoga.

Anna Church

(Class of 2014)

Industry: Medicine

Job title: Doctor - General Practice Registrar

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

During school I investigated lots of different career options. At a variety of different stages I wanted to be a vet, an astronaut and a horse rider. It was probably in about year 10 that I decided I would put my mind to pursuing medicine.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I studied Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at Monash University from 2015-2019.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes my study has directly led me to work as a doctor today. During university I had my own small tutoring business but I haven’t had another different career. Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

Working General Practice is familiar to most people. I see patients in my clinic, do procedural work like excising skin cancers, and I also attend RACFs to care for the older population. It is great to be able to support people with their health in vulnerable times. Behind the scenes there is also admin work like checking and chasing up results.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Communication is a vital skill for any type of doctor and one you learn a lot about in the journey of studying and working. Having a caring nature is also important, and the ability to be empathetic towards your patients. Many doctors have their own unique strengths, which can tailor the types of work you do the most of.

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What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Since starting in General Practice (where I previously worked in the hospital 20202022), I have thoroughly enjoyed the rewarding experience of seeing people get better. Whether that be improving lifestyle factors to enhance overall health, start on medication that is beneficial for their particular acute illness or optimise the management of chronic diseases.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Career highlights stretch back to university when I got a place to study medicine. Since then, achieving a high final mark which allowed me to get the job of my choice when graduating was a great success. More recently being able to obtain a place on the General Practice training program. The biggest challenge of my working life so far has been the COVID pandemic. I started work as a doctor in hospitals in 2020 which was just about the very beginning of the unknown of what lay ahead of us.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you? Pick the pre-requisite subjects that are important in years 11 & 12. Educate yourself on the entry requirements including the UCAT and multi-mini interview. Look forward to talking to you about these things on the night!

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I very much enjoy keeping active with cycling, running and horse riding. Along with that I love holidays, going to the beach, and spending time with my partner and family :)

Courtney Collins

Industry: Allied Health

Job title: Physiotherapist

(Class of 2014)

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Not exactly! I always wanted to be a teacher but didn’t know in what area. Through VCE I really enjoyed Health and Human Development and Physical Education and had been to a physio numerous times for sports injuries, so it seemed logical to go into an area that I had enjoyed studying and knew about what the job entailed. The careers team at Tintern were great in providing various suggestions for career pathways. I went to the university open days with my dad and this gave a really good insight into the course, study expectations and the general vibe of the campus. As a physio I provide a lot of education to patients and their families and I also supervise university students on placements.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Upon graduating from Tintern in 2014, I immediately commenced a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) at Monash University which was a 4 year degree. Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Absolutely. Whilst studying I was able to make connections during placements as a physiotherapy student, which provided the opportunity to work as an allied health assistant to gain further experience prior to commencing as a new graduate physio. Once in a hospital setting, physio’s rotate through various areas until they find their preferred stream.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I currently work in a neurological rehabilitation team in a hospital which mainly works with patients with an acquired brain injury. My role is to support patients to achieve their physical goals- whether that be walking, running, preventing falls or using their arm to be able to carry a cup of tea, for example. We work closely with fellow allied health professionals such as occupational therapists, exercise physiologists, speech

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pathologists, clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists, social workers, dieticians and doctors.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Excellent communication, problem solving skills and empathy!

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

It’s such a rewarding career working with amazing clients, who despite the cards they have been dealt, are keen to work hard and achieve their goals. To be able to see people improve throughout their rehabilitation journey from needing full assistance to complete a task, to them leaving rehab completing this independently, is so satisfying. To know you have made such a positive impact in someone’s life is fantastic.

What have been some of your biggest career highlight, and your biggest career challenge?

Receiving a Scholarship to provide the funds for me to create a professional development course from scratch. This included inviting speakers who are experts within this field. It was amazing for it all to come together and be developed into an annual course. In terms of challenges, managing compassion fatigue is an ongoing area of self-development.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Work hard in your VCE studies to get the entry score, but there are other entry pathways if initially unsuccessful. Many people in my course had done a degree or a year of another course prior to transferring into physio. Keep in mind, physio is not purely about being “book smart.” Successful physio’s also require excellent empathy, interpersonal and communication attributes.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Going to the country and getting some fresh air (fantastic for someone who is still wearing an N95 mask all day). Lots of hiking, cycling and paddle boarding!

Alexander Dillon

(Class of 2016)

Industry: Medicine

Job title: Medical Student/Junior Doctor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-dillon-23556215a/

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I have always wanted to be a doctor, so my journey at Tintern fostered my pursuit of medicine

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences - Monash University Doctor of Medicine (MD) -

The University of Melbourne

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Doctor of Medicine is a requirement. Whilst studying towards my MD, I have been working for Ramsay Health Care in the operating theatres as an orderly and CSSD instrument technician, whilst also working in non-clinical roles within preadmissions.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

Final year medical student at the Austin Clinical School, my role now mimics the role of junior doctors completing ward jobs, urgent clinical reviews, prescribing medications with supervision and approval from registered practitioners, and everything in between such as scrubbing into theatre cases, assessing and treating patients in ED and on the wards.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Organisational skills, motivation, persistence, self-reflection, interpersonal skills, team work, resourcefulness and adaptability

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What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

The most rewarding thing about working in medicine is the impact you have on a patient’s journey. Whether it is an elective procedure and having the time to clarify their questions eases some of their anxieties, or someone who is critically ill being stabilised and improving, or just someone to talk to for an elderly patient who feels socially isolated. The impact we have day to day gets me excited to see patients. What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

My biggest career highlight has been developing strong interpersonal relationships with my colleagues and developing a strong sense of self and purpose in my impact on society. My biggest career challenge has been trying to strike a balance between my career and personal life, given the time and dedication it takes to complete training.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

The journey is a long difficult one, but it is also incredibly rewarding. I would urge anyone wanting to pursue medicine to ensure they have something else outside of medicine that brings them joy because if medicine is your entire life, when something doesn’t go right (and its bound to), it is very easy for it to becoming all you think about and there’s nothing to balance out your life.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I play state league Waterpolo with Melbourne’s LGBTQIA+ team, Melbourne Surge. I’m also becoming a bit more of a chef nowadays (but not to much avail!).

Claire Jones (Class of 1989)

Industry: Allied Health

Job title: Social Worker

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Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Yes - I wanted to be a social worker.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Social Work/ Advanced Certificate of Community & Residential Services/ Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Sciences/ Advanced Diplomas of Project Management/ Master of Advanced Social Work.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers

did you have prior to your current one?

Yes! I have only ever worked in the human services/ health system

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

It is a role of dedication and passion. Fighting against the increasing divisions and disadvantages in our community. Working towards a more equal and gentle society.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Compassion, dedication, fighting spirit, understanding, respect, strengths based views of the world. Hope.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Diversity, unpredictability, robust discussion and action.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Learning to lead, learning to advise, responsibilities!

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Dedication and drive, consultation.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Travelling, family, friends, collecting antique fabric and quilts, my pets.

Emma-Kate Jones

(Class of 2014)

Industry: Allied Health

Job title: Occupational Therapist

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Yes, a paediatric Occupational Therapist

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Australian Catholic University - 4 year course.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes the Bachelor’s of OT leads directly to OT. You can also become an therapy assistant while studying.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

As a paediatric OT I help children (usually with disabilities) to achieve their goals, including self-care, social skills, motor skills, emotional regulation and more. I work with children from ages 2-18. I see them at their homes, schools and kindergartens to help them and those around them achieve their goals. Occupational Therapists can work with people of all ages.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Empathy, patience, people skills, organisational skills, common sense.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

No two days are the same and working with children is very entertaining.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you? Be prepared for no one knowing what your job is.

Katrina (Lawson) McKie

Industry: Mental Health

Job title: Paediatric Provisional Psychologist

(Class of 2002)

MedicalHealth&

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

In the later years of studying at Tintern I knew I wanted to work within either health or education.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

After year 12 I commenced the Bachelor of Applied Science in Psychology at Deakin University. After this three year undergraduate course I completed Honours in Psychology and then a PhD.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

My pathway to becoming a psychologist has been unusual. My PhD studies led me to working as an academic in psychology higher education for around 10 years (i.e. running tutorials, online classes, research supervision and course coordination). I thought I would stay within academia but decided to embark on clinical practice so I am now completing an internship as a provisional psychologist in a children’s clinic.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

Children from pre-school age and up come to the clinic for support. They might be having difficulties at kinder, at home, at school or across a range of environments.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Passion and dedication for psychology - it takes at least 4-6 years of university studies. A genuine care about people, collaborative, being a life long learner (there is always more to learn!),

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Being able to positively impact a young person’s development and wellbeing.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Witnessing the success of my fourth year psychology supervisees navigating their resesrch theses, being offered postgraduate courses and ultimately becoming registered as psychologists is pretty thrilling, to know I’ve played a small part in their success. Transitioning away from academia to working in a private practice, it has been a steep learning curve!

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you? Psychology is very competitive. The number of places in postgraduate courses is drastically reduced the further you progress. Consider applying for four year undergraduate courses rather than three year courses but also have a back up plan.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

My teenager and primary school aged twins keep me non stop!

Olivia Smith

(Class of 2010)

Industry: Psychology

Job title: Educational and Developmental Psychologist

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

No I had no idea what I wanted to do after finishing school!

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Yes- following a gap year I started a double degree in Social Work and Psychology in 2012 at RMIT. I soon transferred to a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), and then completed my Honours in Psychology and Masters in Educational and Developmental Psychology at ACU. I finished my studies in 2017.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers

did you have prior to your current one?

Yes it did. I have worked in a variety of settings, including schools, private practice and the not for profit sector.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I provide counselling support to children and adolescents with a variety of presenting issues. I also complete diagnostic developmental assessments and work with parents and teachers.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Organisation, patience, flexibility, empathy, communication skills and a sense of humour!

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Building relationships with those I work with and seeing them make progress toward their goals. Being there to hear, validate and hold others in sometimes challenging periods in their lives.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

I have loved beginning to mentor placement students in my career and to see their passion in the area grow. Challenges include advocating for those you work with, especially when you encounter systemic barriers.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Psychology is very diverse, and many enter it later in life, so don’t be afraid to go out there and get life experience, it is really valued in the field.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Learning to sew, walking my dog, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Victoria Smith (Class

Industry: Medicine

Job title: General Practitioner

of 2007)

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

During my high school years I knew that I wanted to work in the health care field. I was interested in medicine, but also medical science and genetics. Did you go on to study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Yes. I completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University, and then went on to complete a graduate entry Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, also at Monash University.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes! Medicine can be a bit of a conveyer belt in that your course of study and training is long and hierarchical. As a student I always worked part time in a range of jobs, retail, as a teacher assistant at a school for students with autism and providing health checks to volunteer members of the CFA.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I am a specialist in primary care, and care for patients from the cradle to the grave! What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

A dedication to lifelong learning, selflessness, being a good listener, a caring person and willing to work hard.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I love that I develop relationships with my patients over time, and have the

opportunity to walk with them through many stages and challenges of life. There is nothing more rewarding than meeting the new baby of a couple who have struggled with fertility, or supporting someone through a life changing diagnosis.

What have been some of your biggest career highlight, and your biggest career challenge?

The COVID-19 pandemic was immensely challenging for the entire health sector.

As a GP, I found it very hard trying to support my patients through prolonged and numerous lockdowns, mostly through Telehealth. So much of what we do as GPs relies on building rapport and trust, and that was very hard via Telehealth. Highlights have been travelling to and working in rural and remote parts of Australia.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Prioritise your own health and well-being. Medicine is taxing emotionally, mentally, physically and many of us burn out. You can’t help anyone if you’re not well yourself.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Spending time with my husband, my 13 month old son, and my fur baby Rupert the border collie.

Kate Tenberge (Class

Industry: Nursing

of 2003)

Job title: Registered Nurse & Clinical Nurse Educator

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Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Yes, Nurse.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

2004 -2007 Bachelor of Nursing (Monash University) 2013 Transition to Specialty Practice - Emergency (Monash Hospital) 2015 Graduate Certificate in Nursing

- Emergency (University of Melbourne) 2017 Bridging Course in Intensive Care Nursing (Royal Melbourne Hospital) 2019 Cert IV in Training & Assessment (Swinburne University)

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes. My Bachelor of Nursing was essential to gaining a nursing career. Wanting to evolve my career into different areas led me to pursue the other educational opportunities and study I have completed.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I work as a Clinical Nurse Educator at John Fawkner Hospital Emergency Department, educating students nurses, new nurses and actively implementing education programs at a local level to improve the clinical knowledge and patient care provided by the emergency department. I also work part time at the Royal Melbourne Hospital as an Emergency and Trauma nurse. RMH is 1 of 2 Trauma centre in Victoria and provide high level care to critically ill patients.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Communication, Patience, Empathy, Conflict resolution, Problem Solving and Team work

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

The sense of accomplishment I gain from seeing critically unwell people improve. I enjoy the team I work with they are very supportive. I love the fast paced environment of the ED and the unpredictability of my day. I also love education and seeing the accomplishment of both students and staff when learning new things.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Highlights - accepted into the Post Graduate program @ the Royal Melbourne Challenge - Burn out

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Nursing isn’t what appears to be on paper, there are so many different avenues of nursing you can explore and different career pathways that a nursing degree can lead you to.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Travelling - which I can now start enjoying again after Covid. My 1 year old Dachshund, Violet. Spending time with friends & family.

Daniella Cox (Class

of 2009)

Industry: Legal

Job title: Legal Counsel

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

By the time I reached year 12, I knew that I wanted to work in law.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

After school I completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne. I then took a gap year to do some travel and then completed a Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

My study was directly relevant to my current career. Whilst I was studying I had a number of part-time jobs including retail and callcentre work as well as working as a business analyst for a global technology company and in dispute resolution in the insurance industry. All of these jobs taught me important skills which I utilise every day! Prior to my current role I worked at a commercial law firm, which was nothing like the show Suits. Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I am Legal Counsel at a not-for-profit healthcare organisation. I provide strategic legal advice to the business and negotiate contracts with suppliers and customers. What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

There are a lot of technical skills which you learn at university and in the workplace but by far the most useful skills are communication, attention to details and an ability to build relationships with your colleagues and clients.

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What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I love working for an organisation which makes a difference to people’s lives, even if my role only does this indirectly. I am lucky to work with an amazing team and to have interesting and challenging work

What have been some of your biggest career highlight, and your biggest career challenge?

I have been able to work on some very complicated and interesting matters during my career but by far the highlight has been the people I have met – not only my colleagues but also other lawyers and clients. Some challenges have included learning to manage priorities and stress but by far the biggest challenge has been navigating the Covid-19 pandemic and all of the changes that came along with that.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Do it! Law is a really interesting and rewarding career and there are many options to utilise your skills in different industries and jobs.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Outside of work I love to spend time with my friends and family, do pilates, cook, read and travel. I am also on the board of a youth homelessness charity and involved in the Tintern Old Girls Association – both of which bring me a lot of joy and fulfilment.

Andrea Davidson

(Class of 1998)

Industry: Forensic Science, Psychology, Criminology, Government

Job title: Commissioner, Youth Justice

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-davidson-920594171

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I wanted to be a physiotherapist, however a GAP year experience working with at risk youth changed that career goal to Psychologist. Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Bachelor of Science (Psychology Major) ; Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology ; Supervised Practice Program (two-year internship and certification program for Psychologists).

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

My studies supported my career, however my experience and relationships formed along the way have truly shaped the journey. I have held roles in Youth Justice (Case Manager, Court Coordinator, Team Leader), Forensic and Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services (as a Psychologist and Mental Health Professional) and worked diversely across the remote Indigenous Health and Wellbeing sector, including coordinating research, managing multidisciplinary teams, as well as providing individual, family and group based interventions.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

Responsible for over-sighting the reform and day-to-day operation of Victoria’s Youth Justice system, including two secure detention facilities and the full spectrum of community case management services, ranging from Court services and diversion programs, to statutory case management and criminogenic interventions. What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Social and emotional intelligence, patience and fortitude, along with a deep public service ethos (in my case a commitment in particular to bettering the lives of children and young people with complex backgrounds and challenging behaviours, and thereby

Justice& Legal

also creating a safer community). Skills in people leadership, strategic leadership and project management are paramount, along with analytic skills and subject matter expertise (a ‘scientist practitioner’ mindset and love of reading and solving problems).

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Striving to build a system of support to make a difference in the lives of many of the states most complex young people and their families. The often harrowing individual stories of young people and the incredible teams that strive to support them keep me motivated everyday.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

A key highlight of my career (and life!) was taking a role, initially as a psychologist, embedded in remote Indigenous communities, where I worked for four years. The biggest challenge I have faced in my career is this role, and the task it presents in leading reform in a sector that is not well understood by the general public, but actively scrutinised nonetheless, and often through a sensationalist lens by media outlets. Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

It’s so important to focus your career on an area of passion, and to remain open to where that passion could take you - look for and take opportunities wherever you can. Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Surfing keeps me grounded and humble, gets me moving and reconnects me with natures rhythms and healing energy, making it the perfect holistic hobby! I also travel and immerse myself in other places, people and cultures when I take leave- completely decompressing and disconnecting from my job when from time to time is an essential strategy for survival.

Belinda (Way) Findlay (Class

Industry: Legal

Job title: General Counsel

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it? Not really. At one stage I wanted to be an archaeologist, but decided that I wasn’t too keen on creepy crawly things! At the end of HSC I was thinking of either Foreign Affairs (so studying Law/Arts) or teaching (History/English)

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I commenced an Arts degree at Melbourne University, living in at Janet Clarke Hall. After my first year of Arts I transferred across to a Law/Arts degree.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes it did – I practise as a lawyer and have for my whole career since graduating in 1990. Prior to being General Legal Counsel at Henley (commenced in 2014), I was at the law firm Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst) for 21 years, as a partner for 13 of those years.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I am responsible for all the legal issues that face Henley Homes, which is a national home building company. I solve the problems of our teams, whether that be marketing issues (what we can or cannot say), contractual terms with developers or suppliers, contractors or customers, protection of copyright in our plans and of our trade mark through litigation, or training staff on legal issues. It can involve going to Court as well as writing contracts and correspondence, advising in meetings or over the phone or giving presentations. It is very varied!

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

You need to be good at presenting an argument in writing, clearly and succinctly and know how to change the tone of correspondence depending on the audience. You need to be good at research or knowing where to get the necessary information and have an eye for detail. You need to be personable but also firm in combative situations.

of 1985)

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What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I really enjoy solving other people’s problems. I enjoy finding the answer to their issue and also encouraging someone around to accepting my position on something.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Ooh – I have a few which relate to my time at Blakes. Being made a partner of Blakes after only 8 years there was a highlight, but also being lead partner for Samsung on the biggest IP litigation in Australia against Apple was a major career highlight and earnt me a spot in the Top Hot 40 Lawyers in Australasia (if it is indeed possible for a lawyer to be “hot”!) Also representing Sony in the High Court (when I was 8 months pregnant) was pretty amazing too. In terms of challenge, it would have to be the juggling of family during the Samsung litigation, which involved a 6 month hearing in Sydney with the family based in Melbourne. It was the reason why I left the law firm to move to a role as inhouse counsel.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Lots! Getting a summer/winter clerkship is key to getting into the law firms. Definitely getting into a larger law firm as an articled clerk gives you the ability to choose your path more easily from then on. It is a lot easier to move to the Bar (as a barrister), inhouse, into non legal roles if you have that on your CV, and the training that goes with it. Think before you decide you want to be a criminal lawyer, just because you like the crim shows and Crim Law is the most interesting subject. Check out the commercial firms as well. You may be surprised at how much you like it.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

My children keep me busy – I have a 14 year old boy and 18 year old girl who see me as their personal Uber driver. But what I love doing is playing netball (I play in a team with my daughter), reading books (I am in a Book Club with some women with all different backgrounds), going out for dinner with friends, bush walking, travelling – especially Europe.

Briana Goding (Class

Industry: Legal

Job title: Barrister

of 2003)

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I knew I wanted to study law or medicine at university, but I didn’t have a clear vision of what my career would be after that.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Law Honours degree in Arts Masters of Law

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Following university I started working at the Office of Public Prosecutions, where I worked as a solicitor for five years. From there, I was called to the Bar, becoming a barrister in 2017.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

A barrister is an independent lawyer with specialist skills in dispute resolution, litigation strategy and advice and in advocacy before the court. I am in court most days in trials or other hearings, or in chambers preparing my clients’ matters. What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Appearing in the High Court of Australia has been a highlight. The biggest challenge is the intensity of the work and maintaining work/life balance. Working mostly in crime I deal with very difficult subject matter and people (both victims and alleged offenders) who have experienced horrible things and come to the criminal justice system with a lot of trauma. In addition to this, it means that I spend a lot of time in jury trials, which can be all-consuming.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

It is a lot of work, but it is worth it! Make sure you have something outside of the work to maintain balance and look after yourself- exercise, eat well, have a network of supports, have fun. Remember that there is more to life than working (and studying)!

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Pilates, ballet, F45, knitting and cooking.

Ellena Kouris (Class

of 2014)

Industry: Legal

Job title: Solicitor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenakouris

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

By senior college I knew I either wanted to go down the journalism route or the law/diplomacy route. I was umming and ahhing right up until University preference day and then it was said to me “you can likely do journalism with a law degree, but you can’t do law with a journalism degree” and so that was that!

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Yes - I studied a double degree of Law and International Relations

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers

did you have prior to your current one?

It did. I currently work as a solicitor for the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing specialising in Public Law and Privacy. Before working as a solicitor for the Victorian Public Service I worked in a private practice commercial law firm for a couple of years, and before that I dabbled in a bit of event management and worked in a jewellery store - both of which I loved.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I primarily ensure that projects or initiatives that the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing run - from large election commitments, to smaller surveys of a particular subset of the public, are consistent with relevant laws, particularly the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic).

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

A willingness to learn, put in the work and remain curious.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

With so many projects and initiatives on the go, my work is different every day. The variety is what motivates me to get out of bed each morning, together with a really fantastic work environment and incredible colleagues.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Biggest career highlight - when in private practice I had the opportunity to work on some pro bono immigration matters. This was some really fulfilling work. Biggest career challenge - definitely starting my grad role at a commercial law firm just as we were entering our first COVID-19 lockdown, in March of 2020...and doing the majority of the rest of the year from a tiny desk in the corner of bedroom, in my first share house!

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you? Be involved at uni beyond just your classes, join the clubs, make friends (other than being an incredible support through the highs and lows of law school, these friends will also end up being a fantastic network once you hit the profession), and get involved in the profession as early as you can through volunteering at Community Legal Centres or paralegal roles.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I love keeping fit and exploring the outdoors, socialising with my friends (many of whom are Tintern alumni!) and hosting social engagements (whether it be a friend’s Hens...I can barely believe that I am already there), a cocktail night or a nice dinner party.

Shalini Mendis (Class

of 2006)

Industry: Legal

Job title: Principal Lawyer

Website: www.fairbanklawyers.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalini-mendis/

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I didn’t have any idea of what my future career would be, but I did have an interest in History, English literature, Mathematics and Music. I had some excellent teachers during my time at Tintern so I was lucky not to be too pigeon-holed with my interests.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I completed a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (majoring in politics and psychology) at Monash University in Clayton.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes. I was lucky enough to secure a job in my desired field (Family Law) upon graduating from law school, and from there, honed my skills in various lawyer roles, becoming more senior in the industry over the years. I became an Accredited Family Law Specialist in 2021.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I am the Principal Solicitor and Director at Fairbank Lawyers. I founded the firm at the start of this year (2023). The firm specialises in Family Law for clients in Melbourne, greater Victoria, interstate and internationally (with ties to Australia).

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

• Good listening.

• Patience.

• Critical and creative thinking.

• Resilience.

• Self-reflection.

• Growth-mindset.

• Building relationships.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I enjoy that each day is different – from meeting new and existing clients, advocating in Court, catching up with mentors/teachers, continuing professional development, business development, managing finances and future planning.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Keeping healthy – I have recently taken up running and also love a good pilates session!

Travel - so important to try and see more of your own local area, state, venture around Australia or abroad if you’re able!

Music – I play the cello in a chamber group. Music is something I’ve kept up since leaving Tintern and brings so much joy.

Josh Smith

(Class of 2009)

Industry: Legal

Job title: Principal Lawyer

LinkedIn: https://defencelawyersvic.com.au/

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Yes - a lawyer

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Yes - I studied a Bachelor of Arts immediately after year 12 initially and then transferred to a Bachelor of Laws ; I ultimately graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts double degree

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes - in my final year of university I started volunteering at a criminal law firm which then led to me becoming a paralegal and ultimately a lawyer after I was admitted to practice. Since November 2020, I have run my own law firm.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I run my own law firm; it is a criminal defence law firm and we work throughout Victoria in all types of criminal law and intervention order law.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

You need to be willing to work hard and flexibly as events can arise very suddenly which can require a quick response. You also need to be compassionate, patient, resilient, firm and to think laterally as each case and client is different.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

It’s a highly challenging and pressurised job but is also very rewarding and exhilarating, especially when you achieve a good result and make a tangible difference to someone’s life. It’s also a very intellectually stimulating job where

every challenge is unique. I am motivated by the next challenge - even when a case sounds simple, it’s significant to someone (the client and their family usually) and there’s always a thrill when you reach the goal you have been engaged to achieve.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

The biggest highlight and challenge are the same - opening my own law firm and making it a success. It was very daunting but also very rewarding and has been very successful so far.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Don’t be too concerned about achieving the highest marks in your class - law is a degree and career that can be accessed in multiple ways so if you don’t get the marks to go straight into the course (as I didn’t), there’s many other avenues. In my view it’s often better to not get straight into a law degree because it can broaden your knowledge and harden your resolve to have to do another course to get in. When you become a lawyer, be prepared to work hard and, at least at the beginning of your career, for modest money. Open your mind to new experiences within the law, be receptive to feedback and create connections within the industry. Know your limitations and work to improve them, but also know your worth and strive every day to achieve your goals.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I’m a big football fan (Melbourne Demons) so I follow them closely. Walking and tending to my dog, dining out with my wife, seeing friends, going to the beach, swimming, listening to podcasts, reading, TV series etc.

Alex (Head) Fulton (Class

of 2004)

Industry: Phd in psychology (Autism) / Market Research Consulting

Job title: Senior Consultant - Strategic Insights

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-fulton-67414736

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. I very quickly realised (first week of first term of first year!) that the law was not at all for me. Thank goodness I didn’t get into law!

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Right after year 12, I studied a Bachelor of Arts at Monash University majoring in Psychology and Criminology. I then did a Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology (honours) at Deakin, followed by a PhD at Deakin in psychology with the topic: The Female Profile of Autism

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

It did – in my first year I was able to study psychology as I enjoyed it in high school and it was just something I was interested in. I thought I would just do subjects I was good at and that I enjoyed so I could get high enough marks to transfer to law, but found my passion very quickly! When studying psychology, I thought (as many do) that I wanted to do clinical work in

developmental psychology, but then realised I actually loved research and my innately curious mind and dogged approach to finding the answers to questions lent themselves to a career in research. After nearly 10 years in research working in universities and other research organisations, I realised I didn’t enjoy the university environment or culture. I knew I had a good head for business, so I started a new career in market research (Strategic Insights Consulting) which I’ve been doing ever since.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

Essentially, my role is to make sure the voices of people who buy products (like clothes or food) and use services (like banks, superannuation or insurance companies) are heard by the brands and companies who sell them! Market research is about of gathering and analysing information about consumers, competitors, and market trends to help businesses make informed decisions. We use lots of tools for this including surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Strategic insights consulting is the next step in the process. We take those insights and turn them into

Marketing

actionable and tactical recommendations – always keeping the consumer at the centre of our world. What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

The amazing thing about market research or insights consulting is that there is no specific degree required. Some degrees may give you more of a leg-up though! The key characteristics that would lead to success in a role like this are:

• Curiosity: if you were that child who was never satisfied with the first answer to your ‘why’ question, then this an industry for you! Having a naturally inquisitive nature is a great start.

• Critical thinking: being able to take a step back and look at information from different perspectives and really consider how the data you’ve got can best address the questions you’re trying to answer. (Don’t worry, we teach you how to do this!)

• Strong communication skills: while everyone in MR has different types of communication areas they excel at (written vs verbal), and not all of us love presenting to clients (I do!!), being able to succinctly communicate your ideas is really important.

Creativity: So much of what we do is about coming up with new, interesting, and straightforward ways to communicate our ideas and answers to our clients’ questions. We almost never produce worddocuments – really pretty and creative PowerPoint (Canva??) presentations are our main focus. You’ll notice I said nothing about being good at maths, statistics, or numbers. Market research has an element of that, but it’s not all Rain Man and 1s & 0s. We’ve got marketing scientists for that! And while there is often a need to spend time with raw data, this is a skill developed over time with support. Degrees in marketing or psychology are a great starting point.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I love being presented with a question or a problem and working with my client and my team to find the answer. We’ve got so many tools that we use to do that so there is lots of variety in what we do. My favourite thing about my job though is when I am really confident in the story I’ve found in the data, pulling together a really strong and compelling report, and then (and here is my favourite bit) presenting it to our clients and seeing that we have nailed it for them. I also love it when I can challenge our clients thinking or bust myths that might be holding them (the brand or business) back. Being able to change people’s minds is really something! One other very cool part of my job is going to the supermarket, or watching TV and seeing a product, or an ad and knowing that it was my work that contributed to that. Seeing the new packaging that you recommended on a shelf, or seeing a TV ad with

the changes that you recommended is very exciting! It’s even better when consumers like it too!

In terms of being motivated to get out of bed? That’s generally one of my kids expressing their displeasure that I am still asleep…

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

A career highlight for me was presenting the findings of some highly strategic research to the board of a major superannuation fund. This project formed the basis for how the company would move ahead after a challenging couple of years, knowing that they needed to do better and be better for their members. Shortly after the presentation, we saw that all of our recommendations were adopted, and implemented with great success. Similarly, I recently presented the findings of a very big project we did for University of Tasmania. The Pro Vice Chancellor was in the presentation, and commented that it was some of the best and most impactful research that UTas had commissioned to inform their strategic planning. Another (slightly odd!) one – less of a highlight, more of a personal vindication! – I once recommended to a brand not to proceed with the launch of a new product as we felt the research was telling us it would not be a successful product, and in turn, a poor financial decision for the brand. They launched anyway, and it flopped. Obviously not great for the company, but encouraged me to always back myself! My biggest career challenge so far has been juggling my many roles in life. Transitioning to workingparent and trying to balance the pull of that with the constant pull of my 2 and 4 year old, and maintaining all the other parts of my life is constant. I don’t

always succeed, but I’m always getting a little bit better!

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Get some experience! Agencies like mine (Nature Strategic Insights) often look for young people who are interested in the Insights industry to get involved at the ground floor, learn by doing, and build up their skills in the process.

Consider a degree that will give you a solid foundation for an industry like this (think marketing and / or psychology – a powerhouse combo!), and don’t wait until you graduate to make industry connections. You could be earning while you’re studying, and setting yourself up for a career. Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Mostly my kids! My daughter is 4 ½ and my son is 2 ½ so we rarely have quiet days. My husband and I are heavily involved in their Kindergarten, and we spend a lot of time at playgrounds, at swimming lessons, and watching Bluey. Being at the same stage as most of my friends is really special, and makes for very different catch ups these days!

I’ve recently taken up sewing and absolutely love it! I love wine, books, and re-watching The West Wing.

Claire (Stonier) Stonier-Kipen

(Class of 1975)

Industry: Arts & Culture; Government (Local; State); Education - Specific Learning Disorders; Not for Profit

Job title: CEO (to Feb 23); now Consultant

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairestonierkipen/

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it? Not really. I enjoyed studying and simultaneously pursued a dance career. Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Yes!

• 1975-1976 The Australian Ballet School (ABS) Diploma.

• 1975-1977 completed my HSC thanks to Tintern staff members, Taylors College and Victorian State Education Department. I was the first ABS student to do my HSC.

• 1993 completed a Bachelor of Arts, Deakin University part-time over 6+ years and by distance education, whilst having a professional dance career in Australia & Taiwan; in Local Government at the City of Dandenong. BA majors in Philosophy & Performing Arts; sub-major

– Mandarin.

• 2000 - 2005 – MBA – Masters of Business Administration, via Mt Eliza Business School/ University Queensland, and University of Melbourne whilst working in Local and then State Government arts & culture roles (City of Boroondara; Arts Victoria; Creative Victoria, Department of Premier & Cabinet).

• 2014 GAICD - Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors course. Numerous other short courses along the way.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Everything I have studied has opened up and led to new opportunities; but so have life experiences. Over my career I have worked in the following areas: retail; performing arts; media; film; visual arts; cultural services; education (primary, secondary, tertiary); Local and State Government; and in the following roles: dancer; choreographer; rehearsal director; dance teacher; assistant director; reviewer; examiner; community arts officer; cultural planner; cultural services coordinator; senior arts officer; general manager artists & organizations; general manager artists & creative industries; senior manager strategic projects, board member, chair of various committees/advisory panels/boards.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

Until recently, Chief Executive Officer, SPELD Victoria, a Not-for-Profit peak body supporting Victorian students and adults with Specific Learning Disorders like Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia. CEO role responsible for strategic & business planning and oversight of implementation across all operational areas in line with its mission including - advocacy;

Non-Profit

financial management & funding applications; governance; marketing & communications; recruitment & staff development; service delivery; stakeholder and supplier management.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Capacity to juggle; imagination; energy and resilience on top of foundational knowledge; empathy and life experience!

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Doing things that help others. Factis non Verbis has been a great guiding motto for me throughout my career.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

• Performing in some amazing venues around the world. Choreographic commissions. Remounting an opera in Russian for Opera Australia with fabulous singers.

• Negotiating a pathway for talented homeless graffiti youth to enter a TAFE graphic arts program with mentorship from senior artists/teachers.

• Convincing councils to introduce ongoing budget for cultural heritage, oral history & conservation of civic collections.

• Restoring Orchestra Victoria’s operational surplus in a challenging Ring Cycle year (2013).

• Creating and facilitating the process for developing the Department of Premier & Cabinet’s Statement of Strategic Intent.

* Building and adapting SPELD Victoria’s diagnostic & educational services and partnerships pre and during the pandemic. Negotiating better educational opportunities for neglected students with SLD so they can fulfill their potential.

Biggest challenge over the last 45 years? Dealing with gender politics and finding ways to win!

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Study is a great insurance policy for someone pursuing an arts career. Somehow it keeps leading you on to the next opportunity. Finding the right mentors. Making decisions based on your principles.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Currently, I am taking a sabbatical break from work - so I am enjoying walking my dog; facilitating family reunions; and relishing introducing my newborn granddaughter to the world of dance.

Tara Stewart (Class of 1988)

Industry: Real Estate

Job title: Senior Property Manager

Website: https://buxton.com.au/brighton/tara-stewart/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-s-b0492a115/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarastewart_realestate/

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I wanted to be a Journalist.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne, Real Estate at the REIV

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

No Previously I worked in Advertising and TV

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I manage rental properties throughout Melbourne, hold inspections, produce contracts, appraise properties and attend VCAT hearings.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Organised, Hard working, Professional, Personable

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

My role is very diverse and challenging. It’s certainly never boring and each day is very different. I have a lot of responsibilities or so a lot of support in my role. I get to meet a lot of people and I also get to work from home half the week.

EstateReal

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Highlights - Dynamic role, Meeting lots of people, Commissions, Interesting job

Challenges and High stress

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

This a great career for a sociable and organised person that enjoys variety and meeting people.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Running and travelling. I also keep busy with my 4 kids and Cavoodle dog Bronte.

Carol (Hogan) Robertson

Industry: Real Estate

Job title: Real Estate Advoate

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolrobertsonmsproperty/

(Class of 1980)

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I had no real idea of what I wanted my future to look like. There were lots of thoughts but no firm strategy.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I was meant to do Social Sciences, deferred and then went into a TAFE Accounting Course as no real plan in place still. I wanted to do Marketing however, they didn’t have the numbers to run the course so Accounting it was.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Not at all, unless it showed me what I didn’t want to do. I worked in Credit Control for a few years, became a National Payroll Manager for a large chemical organisation, stepped out of the work force to have children, part time back in Credit Control, party plan…gosh, so many things but still no plan. I went back to study when my children were young – Bachelor of Business (Marketing) and as soon as that was finished, did my Agents Representative Certificate (Real Estate). Real Estate for 20 years, agency owner a couple of times (franchise) before heading out as an independent and now to Ms. Property as a real estate coach/advocate/ advisor for women when buying and/or selling their own home. Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I help women buy and/or sell their own home, coaching, encouraging, advising them and guiding them through the real estate jungle.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Tenacity, resilience, a commitment to improving the lives of women, a sense of humour, compassion, it’s a business but I genuinely care about my clients outcome.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Real estate is different every day. I love working for a more equal world, where women are confident in their choices and empowered in their financial security. Meeting like-minded people and being surrounded by motivated women on the same path.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

Real estate has been my biggest career challenge and my highlight. Leaving mainstream real estate has expanded my world.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Discovering what you want in life is an ongoing process, each path gives you more knowledge, more people and more direction. A path is never wrong, just don’t be afraid to jump off onto another one.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

TOGA, various groups with similar goals (improving the lives of women, mostly voluntary), cooking, passionate about local history and the National Trust, following Collingwood Football Club.

(Class of 2012)

Industry: Research and Development

Science Brittany Kerr

Job title: PhD Candidate

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I graduated from Tintern in 2012 and I remember when it came time to decide on my university preferences, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do - I enjoyed psychology but I didn’t want to do social sciences. This eventually led to me putting down, and being accepted into, a bachelor of science with a major in psychology.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

It was not until I received my first semester timetable for my first year at university that I realised what this truly meant - I would have to confront my arch nemesis: Chemistry. I had left chemistry behind when I entered year 12, convinced that I needed to drop it to gain a good ATAR as it was my weakest subject. Reluctantly, I attended my chemistry classes and if love at first lecture exists - then this was it. From that first week I was hooked, at one point I found myself procrastinating completing a psychology assignment by doing my chemistry homework!

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

After nearly 2 years of doing my Bachelor of Science, I decided to make the shift - I was changing my major to chemistry. I had the full support of the chemistry academics at my university, and I knew in my heart and mind that this was the right direction for me, and I’ve never looked back.

What have been some of your biggest career highlight, and your biggest career challenge?

Since then, chemistry has taken me to places I’ve never thought I’d go and helped me achieve things I never thought I would. I’ve worked in the pharmaceutical industry, I’ve gained a first-class honours (the highest award available) in chemistry, and now I am in my final year of my PhD in materials characterisation

- where I get to spend ½ my time at the Australian Synchrotron at their X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy beamline studying the structure of materials for renewable hydrogen generation.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I have a passion for inspiring the next generation of young scientists and I am of the firm belief that science is for everyone. I would love the opportunity to discuss any part of my journey, my research, or my career.

Eliza Mignot

Industry: Medicine

(Class of 2017)

Job title: Haematology Research Assistant

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliza-mignot-46398817a/

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I wasn’t entirely sure what job I wanted when I was at school but my main considerations were always between doing performance and something in healthcare. I loved science and psychology so by the end of year 12 I thought I might enjoy neuropsychology but I never had a definitive career goal while at school.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I studied a double degree in Arts and Science at Monash University straight out of high school, majoring in psychology and biochemistry and minoring in genetics and theatre.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

My science degree led me to look for entry level science positions in healthcare but I did not intend to end up in clinical trials research. I started in my team at Monash Health as an administration assistant in Haematology Research and then progressed into the Research Assistant role later.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I am currently a haematology research assistant. This role largely comprises of data management and data entry from the patients on our clinical trials, entering blood tests and other results into databases as well as organising diagnostic imaging for our patients.

Science

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Attention to detail and the ability to keep comprehensive records is key but being able to keep on top of a few different things at once is also very important as I often have multiple tasks on the go.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I love working with both my team and our patients, supporting them through the clinical trials process so they can get the best possible care, all the while contributing to science which may allow many more patients with blood cancers and haematological disorders access to these transformative treatments. Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I love performing and I am currently a company member of Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company which feeds my creative side, keeps me active and has allowed me to continue performing while working full time.

Andrea North (Class of 2000)

Industry: Biomedical Research

Job title: Research Scientist

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

Yes, I knew what I wanted to be. I started off wanting to be a teacher or a nurse, then I wanted to be an archaeologist (I did not become any of these!)

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

After completing high school, I pursued further education at Melbourne Uni. There, I completed a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree, with majors in Philosophy and Pharmacology. Following this, I continued my studies and completed an honours degree in Chemistry, then pursued a PhD in Biomedicinal Chemistry as part of my postgraduate studies. Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

My school studies did not lead me towards my current career (I didn’t take any chemistry at school!) but I had some incredibly inspiring university lecturers who encouraged me to pursue science at university, which ultimately led me to where I am today. Prior to my current role, I had several other jobs including working as a waitress (which I did for most of my time at university), a laboratory demonstrator, and a tutor in chemistry, maths, philosophy, and history. I also worked as a research assistant in a lab.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I currently work at the CSIRO, which is Australia’s national science agency. I am in the Biomedical Manufacturing department. My role involves synthesis of bioactive smallmolecules, which are called ‘active pharmaceutical ingredients’. We then attach these molecules onto larger macromolecules like proteins, polymers and nanoparticles, enabling them to target specific areas of the body affected by disease for efficient drug delivery and personalized medicine. My team also makes and tests materials such as heart valves, hip joints, and artificial skin to examine biocompatibility and toxicity.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours? To be successful in a role like mine, it’s important to have a strong passion for science and research, and to have an ongoing desire to learn. You also have to be courageous and take risks, it’s not always easy, so you need tenacity and resilience because science doesn’t always behave the way you want or expect! Effective communication skills are also essential, since we often need to communicate our findings to a wide range of audiences, both within and outside of our

field. An analytical and problem-solving mindset is also necessary to help us tackle complex scientific challenges and find innovative solutions.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

What I enjoy most about my work is the ability to take a project from its inception and propose a scientific solution to clients who come to us with a problem and then delivering on a project.

I also appreciate the variety of projects that I get to work on, from developing medical implants to making new and better drugs to treat disease. I find it rewarding to solve problems that ultimately benefit our nation and have positive health outcomes. The work is very meaningful, and I appreciate the values and ethical nature of what we do.

What have been some of your biggest career highlight, and your biggest career challenge?

One of my biggest career highlights was establishing an entire workable radiochemistry lab from scratch which I then utilised for my PhD research project. It was a challenging task that required a lot of negotiating, specialised skills and scientific knowledge, it was very rewarding to see it all come together.

My biggest career challenge has been finding a balance between work and life. I often feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day!

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

My advice would be to stay curious and always try new things. Follow your passion and be comfortable with failure, because it can be a valuable learning experience and an opportunity to grow. A career in science can be challenging, but it’s rewarding to know that you’re making a positive impact. It’s important to recognize your strengths and have confidence in them. Seek out mentors and peers who can provide guidance and support as you navigate your career. Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also love paddle boarding, running, reading, and cooking. These hobbies keep me active, provide relaxation and entertainment, and help me maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Carolyn

Warburton

(Class of 2005)

Industry: Veterinary Science

Job title: Veterinary Surgeon

Science

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I knew I wanted to be a vet or a doctor.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

Bachelor of Science Law for one year then changed to Bachelor of Veterinary Science.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Yes.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I currently work as a Vet in a busy animal shelter. My work includes doing consults with clients who bring their own pets to the vet clinic as well as treating animals in the shelter. I do a large amount of surgeries as well.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Being adaptable to new situations, love learning new things, good communication skills.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

Performing surgeries. Helping animals get adopted into new homes.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you?

Have a good support network as it can be a very emotionally taxing career.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I love spending time with my 4 year old twin daughters.

Angus Hutchinson

Industry: Plumbing Maintenance

Job title: Plumber

(Class of 2012)

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

No, I wasn’t sure until I had experienced a few different jobs.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

No I didn’t, not until I started my tafe course a few years after school. Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

I have had a few retails jobs peior to being a plumber which I believe helped with customer interactions in my current work.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I am a domestic maintenance plumber. I work for a company that handles a lot of rental contracts as well as many private works. The work varies nearly every day. What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Good organisation. Thinking outside the box. Teamwork. Good work ethic. What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I enjoy the people I work with. The work itself is also very enjoyable.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

My biggest highlight and challenge was passing the journeymans exam which is a 3 day practical exam to be come a qualified plumber. Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you? Make sure you talk to employees or previous employees of the company you are going to work for. A good boss and team make for a much better work environment.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I like catching up with my mates. Spending time with my wife and gaming.

Sophie Moore

Industry: Building Trade

Job title: Carpenter

Instagram: sister.carpentry

(Class of 2011)

Whilst you were at Tintern, did you know what future job you wanted? If so, what was it?

I had many many ideas and explored lots of options after I finished year 12. It wasn’t until I was 25 that I found building, realised I loved the work and have pursued that since.

Did you go onto study after Tintern? If so, when and what course/s?

I studied environmental and social science. I have actually gone back to study and currently completing my undergrad of Architecture. This ties directly into my construction work and has enable me to expand my role in the business to both building and designing.

Did your study lead you towards your current career? And what roles/careers did you have prior to your current one?

Not directly as I studied environmental and social science. However my studies helped develop my passions and gave me invaluable skills that I use a lot in my job. It’s amazing to look back and see how everything I studied and all my jobs gave me experience and knowledge that aid my work now.

Could you explain your current role in only a few sentences?

I am a carpenter and work for a group in Healesville doing new builds, renovations, joinery, furniture, landscaping. I build on site, I manage jobs, communicate with clients. On top of the building side of things, I am the in-house designer and model the designs we will build and liaise with clients to ensure we are delivering the desired outcome.

What skills/strengths are needed for someone to be successful in a role like yours?

Determination. Good level of fitness. Willingness to learn. Good communication and love for hands on work.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What gets you motivated and out of bed each morning?

I love the hands on experience of building. I love the challenges of the high level of craftsmanship and I love working as a team. I love being outside and constantly being in a new environment.

What have been some of your biggest career highlights, and your biggest career challenge?

My biggest career highlight so far is getting a sponsorship with Festool who is a very high quality tool company. I work with them to help increase their female representation within their platforms. Other highlights have been the completion of particular challenging custom details. My biggest challenge is working as a female in a very male dominated field. It can be quite tough sometimes but I also feel very privileged to have the opportunity to pave out the way for future females in construction. It’s a huge passion of mine inspiring women to get skilled up in carpentry and realise their potential.

Any advice for someone looking to go down a similar career path to you? Get experience. It can be a daunting industry to enter and if you can spend time becoming familiar and building your confidence in the area, it will be really beneficial!

Outside of work, what keeps you busy / do you love doing?

I love hiking, exploring and doing sports.

Suggested Questions

Alumni Questions

School transition:

1. How was/is university/TAFE different to school?

2. Was it difficult to change courses/career paths?

3. What did you like about university/TAFE?

4. How did you balance further studies and work?

5. Why did you choose to take a year off straight after finishing school?

6. What is the biggest challenge you have faced since finishing school?

Career pathways:

7. How did you get to where you are now?

8. What was your light bulb moment? I.e. when you knew it was time to change courses/jobs/quit your job and travel the world, etc.?

9. Are you a member of any industry groups/associations you have found helpful on your journey?

10. How/When did you know you were on the right career path?

11. What has been your career highlight since finishing school?

12. What is the biggest challenge you have faced since finishing school?

Working:

13. What is your typical day like?

14. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

15. What is a challenge you face in your job?

16. Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?

Tertiary Questions

What degrees/courses do you offer that relate to my interests, VCE subjects and career ambitions?

What assumed knowledge and recommended studies apply to the courses?

Are there any alternative entry paths for the course?

Are there any ‘Early Entry’ options?

What are the job prospects like?

Are there compulsory job placements in the courses?

Are there other ways to gain work experience?

What is the workload for the course i.e. hours per week, types of assessment, full-time/part-time study options?

Are there national or international exchange opportunities at this University or TAFE?

What scholarships are available?

Tertiary Institutions

Deakin University BE READY

Study at a multi-award winning, internationally recognised university. Take advantage of Deakin’s innovative, hands-on approach to learning. Be equipped with all the tools, practical skills and confidence you’ll ever need, to take the next step towards securing your dream job.

Monash University is a modern, global, research-intensive university, delivering education and research excellence in Australia and across the Indo-Pacific. Our vibrant and diverse community of 86,000 students, 17,000 staff, and more than 440,000 alumni are working together to create real change. We have more than 150 active fields of research, 10 faculties, and over 4700 Higher Degree by Research students solving the challenges of our age. Furthermore, our dedication to teaching and research excellence, coupled with our record for innovation, means we’re consistently ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.

Source: Home - Discover Monash

Source: https://info.boxhill.edu.au/ talk-and-tours-2023/

Source: RMIT Open Day 2023 - RMIT University

Source: Open Day at the University of Melbourne (unimelb.edu.au)

Swinburne University of Technology is a world-class university creating social and economic impacts through science, technology, and innovation. Founded in 1908 by the Honourable George and Ethel Swinburne as the

‘Eastern Suburbs Technical College’, Swinburne has continued to evolve, gaining university status in 1992.

Swinburne has three campuses located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne — at Hawthorn, Croydon, and Wantirna. We also have a fourth campus in Sarawak, Malaysia. As a dual-sector university, Swinburne offers higher education and Pathways and Vocational Education (PAVE). We offer courses in a broad range of disciplines and our close ties with industry provide students with opportunities for valuable workplace experiences during their studies.

Swinburne Open Day

Sunday 30 July 2023

10am – 4pm

Hawthorn Campus

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