Cecilia Sammut
Choosing to join the ATO graduate
development program was an incredible decision that has opened a number of doors for me. And the best part is that the opportunities never end. For the size and scope of the ATO, life here is really what you make of it. In the graduate program we are lucky enough to have the support, encouragement and investment of the entire organisation behind us.
I have gained exposure in both
enabling and technical areas of the ATO, and although I have learned a
staggering amount already, I have only scratched the surface of what the
organisation has to offer. This program is designed to achieve maximum exposure
if you walk through the right doors. From day one the organisers put emphasis on
the things that create motion in the ATO like networking, initiative,
flexibility and resilience, catalysing our success.
I really mean what I say
about support. That by far has been the graduate programs greatest strength in
my eyes. This has been a year where learning from training, and trial and error,
is encouraged. This has been my year to test the waters of my career at this
organisation, and feel safe and valued at every step.
The best part is – the
support doesn’t end with the grad program. The prospect of the Tuition
Assistance Program and study leave is testament to the ATO’s dedication to the
learning and development of all staff. This is done in conjunction to the
investment already made in their own internal learning and development programs.
And finally – along with all
the personal and professional growth the ATO graduate development program
offers, there is the social aspect. I now have many colleagues I can
comfortably call friends. The graduate program has been very supportive (there’s
that word again) of the social bonds we as graduates have formed. Friends make
work fun.
I am a career oriented business
management graduate. The ATO graduate development program has challenged me in
many ways, and has identified my strengths and built on my weaknesses. It has
also allowed me to make a first step in the right direction – and have some fun
while doing so.
Christina Santarossa
Being offered a position in
the 2012 business management graduate program triggered a vast array of new
opportunities: A new city,
new lifestyle and new friends for a start! I relocated from Townsville in
January to commence the Graduate program in Brisbane. Potentially daunting as this
experience was, I felt well supported and keen to make the most of my year.
Starting a new job as an ATO
graduate is not like starting any old job. On arrival for day one, I found
myself in a room full of people who shared varying levels of my apprehension and
excitement. In the two weeks of induction that followed, it wasn’t very long
before my apprehension faded and I was in my element meeting new people and
learning from their experiences. This shared encounter and sense of support is
further reinforced by graduate managers who act as ‘go to’ people for any
questions or issues that arise throughout the year.
The graduate program also
offers a variety of character building experiences. Coming from a
psychology/business/dispute resolution background, the tax technical training
proved to be a bit of a culture shock. Thankfully, with the help of my
colleagues and the trainers, I managed to make it through the various
assessments.
The graduate program is
about breadth of knowledge. In addition to the structured training requirements
and formal reviews, there is an optional element which encourages graduates to
branch out: the graduate program is a stellar opportunity for networking.
Because of the sheer size of the ATO with its various business lines and teams,
it can be difficult to know exactly where you might like to end up. Networking
is the best way to discover what’s out there and meet the people who undertake
the type of work that may interest you.
But alas! It’s not all about
the daily grind… Right from week one we were a fairly social bunch, so Friday
afternoon drinks has been an integral part of our development this year. Some
of us formed a social touch football team and entered a corporate team to run
the 10km Bridge to Brisbane together
in September, perhaps in an effort to balance the nature of our extra
curricular interactions.
Outside meeting program
requirements, the year is very much what you make it. I have found it to be a
wonderful opportunity to establish myself using my pre-existing skills as well
as developing a number of new skills. The graduate program is an excellent
stepping stone for ongoing career development.
Jef Miles
My role with the ATO as a
business management graduate has presented me with an excellent opportunity to
link theory, and knowledge acquired from studying, with practice.
Interaction with senior
leaders has been one of the big selling points of the program. There is a
wealth of experience across the business lines that I have been placed in, with
the majority of staff happy to field questions and provide advice. Further I
have been given the chance to meet the Deputy Treasurer, present a report to
senior leaders within the ATO and understand how each business area interacts
by travelling to various sites. An example of this is a report that I presented,
where a suggestion that I introduced was acted upon and implemented. This
showcased the high regard with which graduates are held and opportunities
provided.
Having completed a degree in
Human Resources and Organisational Development, the tax technical training has
been a challenging yet important aspect of the program. The training is
delivered professionally and the learning and development training team is
willing to provide extra assistance to bridge any knowledge gaps. The
information gained from tax technical modules will prove invaluable for future
career development and provides an excellent base understanding of the system.
Being able to work with graduates from other sites in project management teams
for corporate training has proven an excellent feature of the program, being
particularly applicable for Business Management graduates. Another highlight
has been the ability to network with graduates from different sites and work areas;
this has proven a powerful learning and development tool.
My rotation experience has
allowed me to gain a high level overview of the importance of service provision
within the ATO that is delivered to the Australian public. Working on reports,
attending meetings and monitoring the quality of employees inbound phone calls
are three examples of how I have been able to build a wide and varied knowledge
base in the organisation.
In summary, working at the
ATO with the graduate program in business management has been challenging,
rewarding and an excellent learning experience for me. The ability to achieve a
work-life balance, while contributing effectively to a team environment has
been a significant positive. As a result of the program my communication
skills, initiative and understanding of an organisation have been enhanced
considerably.
Juan del Busto
As a business management
graduate, I have had exposure to a lot of the strategic initiatives that the Operations
area is performing. Soon after you start working you quickly begin to get a
grasp of the work being conducted and the benefits the community will derive. The
Operations area is the ATO’s direct link to the community. Work is constantly
being done with the community to better understand their service expectations
and encourage and support their participation in the tax system.
Having studied a Bachelor of
Commerce majoring in accounting, I had an established knowledge of taxation
topics. This helps with the technical training that business management
graduates attend with the law, finance and accounting graduates. Meeting and
working regularly with these other graduates also helps establish good
networking relationships into the other areas that exist in the ATO.
My first rotation saw me
working on various projects to improve electronic interactions, review the
content provided to community and have exposure and work with executives from
various sections within the ATO.
The client contact
experience provided a valuable understanding into not only how the ATO
interacts with the community but provided further awareness into the projects I
had been part of.
My final rotation provided
me with knowledge into the portfolio of projects that Operations is undertaking
and how they align with the strategic direction of the ATO. I also assisted
with the implementation of new benefits frameworks and review industry best
practice methods.
The Operations area is a fast-paced
working environment and is at the heart of the relationship that the ATO has
with the community. At times it can be challenging, balancing your rotation
work with the responsibilities of the graduate program. However there is
endless support from managers and colleagues to get you through.
It definitely has been a
rewarding experience to be a business management graduate within the ATO. You have
access to endless learning opportunities, professional development and an
opportunity to work throughout Australia
serving the community.
Steve Opie
The graduate program really
stood out for me when I was looking to move from university to a full time
career. The security, opportunities and benefits were all above average when compared
to other career options.
There was a bit of
apprehension upon successfully being chosen as a graduate. The idea of full
time work as well as study for the program was a little daunting, but within a
week of starting it became apparent how keen everyone was to assist us and provide
the support necessary for us to achieve high results. Our graduate manager was
always available to answer questions and allay concerns, and there is the
excellent buddy system for any concerns you may have on the side.
My time as a business management
graduate has been an interesting, challenging and rewarding experience. I have
been able to get a valuable insight into a number of background operations that
occur within the Australian Taxation Office; processes that most people are
only vaguely aware of. This has given me a great appreciation for the valuable
work all areas do and also provided me with a good insight into how the whole
ATO works together to achieve a common objective. I was also surprised at the
great variety of teams and placements that fall under the scope of business management.
I think there is great opportunity to try a number of different roles, each
with its own unique challenges and opportunities.
It is not until you begin
work at the ATO that you can really appreciate the fantastic culture and people
that work here. The graduate program provides you with valuable networks of
colleagues as you experience the different rotations and meet new people. The
professionalism, integrity and friendly nature of everyone you meet is probably
one of the highlights of the organisation. You quickly become friends with your
fellow graduates as you overcome challenges throughout the program. It is a
very rewarding opportunity where you will make new friends, learn a vast array
of skills and set the foundations for a long and interesting career.
Tarah Heinrich
The ATO graduate program has
provided me with a wide range of experiences and opportunities. In the graduate
program we are placed in rotations that enable us to have a greater
understanding of the range of services that the ATO provides to the Australian
public. The placement in different rotations also gives us a sense of the
different work opportunities that exist within the ATO.
Within the business
management stream there are two major rotations that we were placed in. Between
these rotations we completed a client contact experience rotation. During the
client contact experience we answered calls from individual taxpayers. This
experience was a fantastic opportunity to interact with the Australian public
and answer the questions that they have. This experience has provided a broader
understanding of how the ATO interacts with individual taxpayers and the
broader systems within the ATO.
In my first major rotation I
was placed in a team that resolves system issues within the ATO. In this team I
worked on developing procedures and manuals. I also helped with writing
reports. This rotation enabled me to contribute to the maintenance and
integrity of the ATO systems, thus ensuring the best possible service to the
Australian public was maintained.
In my second rotation I
worked in a role that provided specialist advice to other business lines within
the ATO. This involved working on a project that streamlined the way in which
advice will be given to business lines.
During the ATO graduate
program we participate in both technical and corporate training. The technical
training provides us with a broad range of training in taxation topics. The
corporate training provided us with conflict resolution skills, project
management skills, skills to identify and manage risks, public speaking skills
and general ATO expectations of employees.
I was given a lot of opportunities
to utilise skills that I had acquired prior to working at the ATO. This
included helping to deliver one of the corporate training packages to the other
graduates within my group and being involved in site leadership initiatives.
Being given the opportunity to be involved in these extra projects has provided
a great deal of job satisfaction and enabled me to look at the ATO from a
strategic position.
Graduates within the ATO
program are provided with a lot of support. The program manager coordinates the
graduates and provides extensive support, whilst overseeing the graduate’s
development over the graduate year. The technical and corporate trainers
provide support both inside and outside formal training sessions. Team leaders
within the rotations provide support for the graduates and aide them to learn
the necessary skills for completion of the rotation.
I have enjoyed the
opportunity to be in the ATO graduate program and I am sure that I will always
treasure the experience of building close bonds with the fellow graduates in my
group. I will also treasure the advice that has been given to us by senior
management within the ATO.