Prior to joining ASIS, I had worked in several desk jobs, but I always had an interest in travel and languages (having studied a language throughout high school and Uni), and I was looking for something that gave me the opportunity to get out and meet people; to really be challenged.
Becoming an Intelligence Officer with ASIS appealed to me because of the opportunities for travel, the variety of the job, and the potential to move across a range of different areas and issues. It sounds corny, but I was also attracted by the opportunity to look after Australia’s interests.
After my training as an Intelligence Officer, I was lucky enough to undertake short-term work overseas on counter-terrorism issues. This was later followed by a longer-term posting focused on a range of intelligence collection priorities. The responsibility and challenge of this first posting was initially daunting, but I really valued the opportunity to work in such a totally different environment, and the autonomy that I was given to plan and manage operations.
Since then I’ve worked in several different areas of ASIS Headquarters and have been provided the training and support to undertake these varied roles. In the coming months, I am heading overseas again on another posting, for which my wife and I are currently preparing.
I joined ASIS nearly a year ago, having previously travelled extensively and studied Biology, Political Science and Law. I didn’t have a career as such before ASIS; my past jobs had always been a means of earning money so that I could head off overseas and travel again.
I began my employment with ASIS as a trainee Intelligence Officer, which I really enjoyed. I learnt a lot about myself, both my strengths and weaknesses. I did my training with a great group of people who have remained close friends. The training has given me a lot more self-confidence, particularly in dealing with people from a range of backgrounds, cultures and different ages.
Since my training, I have been working in headquarters on counter-terrorism issues and have already travelled internationally with my work. Unsurprisingly, my area is always busy, but I really enjoy what I do and can see that what I do really makes a difference.
