Department of Agriculture – This is Our Land – These are Our People
Mark Tucker
My name is Mark Tucker, I’m a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Agriculture.
I am the department’s Indigenous Champion, I work with our Indigenous Employees in the department to make sure they understand what the department can offer.
The Department of Agriculture has a very wide range of activities, we have a large presence here in Canberra, but we also have offices in major centres around Australia and in different parts of the country.
We connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees firstly through a number of our programs. Indigenous people have large ownership of the land and we work with a number of those communities to look at ways we can use our support to help them better manage their land resources.
We also work with Indigenous people directly as employees, particularly in our Northern Australian quarantine activities. We have a large number of Indigenous people who monitor and make sure we know what is coming across the borders from Papua New Guinea or through Torres Strait or even through other parts of the north.
At the Department of Agriculture, you can be a public servant in Canberra where you can actually be giving advice to the Government on how to do things, you can be implementing programs.
One of our responsibilities is monitoring the border to make sure pests and diseases aren’t coming into Australia that we don’t already have here. We do that at ports, for example, we also do that in mail centres, but we also look at the activity that’s coming across our natural boundaries, or natural movements, for example coming across Torres Strait.
A selection of our employees are now going to share their career journey with you through the Department of Agriculture.
Hedley
My name is Hedley. Why did I choose the Department of Agriculture? Cause I was watching the tv shows about what the department does at the airport and roads and sparked my interest about the different roles you can do.
I work in cargo operations and what I enjoy about the role is that everyday is different and all the different inspections, so you don’t know what your going to inspect when you turn up at inspections, it’s always interesting.
I think it’s a really good opportunity to make a difference to protect the country and community.
Keisha
My name is Keisha. In my current role I work with sea ports and import clearance.
In our team we get to travel from Wyndham, Kununurra, Groote Eylandt, Broome, just all over the top of Australia.
I have been to Japan 3 times and I have been to the US. Each of those trips involved inspecting US military cargo before it arrives in Australia.
I also like the fact that we get to meet a wide range of people, from all different backgrounds and cultures.
Jessica
Hi my name is Jessica. Currently I work in a client contact group answering enquiries and in cargo inspections, undertaking inspections of imported goods.
The concept of protecting the land and its environment sounded like a good reason to go to work.
When networking with other government agencies, I have noticed the Department of Agriculture is by far leading in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workplace awareness, staff appreciation, supporting cultural attendance and participating in celebrations of significance.
I am proud to be working for our department.
James
Hello my name is James Bond, I’m a biosecurity officer here in northern peninsula area. I’m down here at the wharf to meet the ferry that comes over from Thursday Island, basically our job is to clear all the passengers the come off the ferry and ensure that they don’t bring any prohibited items from the quarantine zone over to the mainland.
Australia has a unique and beautiful landscape, we need everyone’s help to keep it that way and to protect our way of life
Sid
My name is Sid, I am from the great southern region, Western Australia, small country town call Cranbrook.
My current role includes working in Indigenous policy area, I enjoy the opportunities to work across our department’s portfolio and having the opportunities to link that up with Aboriginal communities and Torres Strait Islander communities across the regions of Australia.
TheIndigenous Land Tenure Mapping project which is on the screen here is one of the most exciting piece of work that I have been involved in. The MCAS tool has been developed as a decision making tool that provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land holders with a tool that they can make future decisions on.
Steve
My name is Steve, I am an Aboriginal Kooma man lived most of my life in Bundaberg in South East Queensland where I studied horticulture and agriculture.
I first started with the Department of Agriculture as an Indigenous cadet, my current role is a science research officer in the Australian Bureau of Resource Economics and Science.
I like this position because it gives me the opportunity to research information, analyse information and work with primary producer experts.
A couple of benefits for me for working for the Department of Agriculture was the flexibility, flexibility with having kids, flexibility with playing sport and flexibility with personal appointments.
Martina
My name is Martina, I was born in Thursday Island and grew up in Brisbane. I started with the Department of Agriculture in 2007 through the Indigenous traineeship program. I chose the Department of Agriculture because I saw the work they did on the Border Security tv show and thought the work was interesting and I thought that would be very rewarding.
Currently I am the Executive Assistant for the Regional Manager in Melbourne, what I enjoy most about the job is the variety of work that I get and the challenges that come with it.
The Department of Agriculture values diversity in the workplace, they see the benefits of having people from different backgrounds, experience and perspectives in their workforce. By self identifying our diversity status we are showing our support for a safe and open environment and we are standing up proud for who we are.
Rob
My name is Rob, my main role is GIS officer doing mapping like this. I studied it at university and I very much enjoy the technical work and the opportunities to get out in the field every now and then.
In my role I have been able to travel to remote Indigenous community groups to do consultation. I have also been able to travel to places such as Cairns and Brisbane to work on biosecurity responses such as the Equine Influenza and the Asian Honey Bee incursion.
Natarsha
My name is Natarsha.
I am from Wingham on the mid north coast of NSW
I chose the Department of Agriculture because it was relative to my studies.
I studied a Bachelor of Marine Science and Management and Masters in Environmental Science at the University of New England in Armidale.
The graduate program is a great opportunity to learn, to do more training, work based experience and develop networks throughout the government.
Dennis
If you are looking for more information about what we do and how we do it, have a look at our informative website or check out the Border Security program, you never know you might see one of us on there.
Mark Tucker
People can find out ways to join the public service and join the Department of Agriculture in particular through the department’s website, through the Australian Public Service Commission’s website and one of the important things you can do is also through word of mouth. There are people who already work for us who are Indigenous employees and if you know some of them get in contact with them or if you want to find out who they are I’m sure we can put you in touch.
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