Raagavi Jeyaseelan

6.15 AM

I wake up, shower, and get ready. I usually enjoy having a quick bite in the morning before dashing out the door. If my housemates are up early, I enjoy chatting with them over breakfast. 

7.15 AM

I usually leave around 7.15 am and make my way to work, which only takes about 20 minutes. I’m normally at my desk by around 7.45 am or 7.50 am, after getting my mandatory coffee.

8.00 AM

I like to start my day by catching up on all the activity that has been happening since I was away from my computer. I find that there is always a huge flurry of activity and movement in the projects that my team works on. Taking the time to inform each other of the latest updates that affect our projects is always a great way to catch up with the team and get the ball rolling for the day ahead.

9.00 AM

The work that I do as a graduate is very variable in nature. I find that there is always a bit of mystery as to what kind of new tasks will come my way each day. This is why I like to take the time to plan my day out, after I have read through all the relevant updates, and discussed the team priorities with my supervisor and colleagues. 

10.00 AM

I track the status of the policy advice that we are working on and ensure that any stakeholder submissions made are accounted for and tracked. Stakeholder consultation is integral in informing the new ideas and proposals for change that my team provides advice on. Hence, it is important to keep on top of the opinions and insights from the community that will be impacted by the policies that we seek to implement.

11.00 AM

I work with the team to draft and edit various types of documents including scoping papers, consultation papers and parliamentary submissions. My team works with multiple internal stakeholders to prepare these documents including the legal teams, and policy advisers specializing in different areas. We also work with other departments to collaborate in preparing advice on complex and intricate legal issues. I work with my team to action the legal and policy advice provided by our colleagues across DEWR and prepare the documents for the Minister’s Office and Cabinet.

12.00 PM

I like to take lunch in the break room on my floor. Our building has great break rooms on every floor with great views, vending machines and fully stocked kitchens! It’s a great place to take in the wonderful views of Canberra. I love to chat online with the other graduates who are in different buildings, and it always makes for a great getaway from the often hectic days that we have. I often find myself running frequently run into other graduates and colleagues from across my Branch who are in my building, and I find that lunch is a great opportunity to catch up.

1.00 PM

After lunch, I often generally start drafting responses to Ministerial Correspondences, which present concerns and queries from the Australian public. Often, these Ministerial Correspondences present individual issues which can be addressed by referring the writer to relevant provisions in the legislation and explaining the legal avenues available to them.

3.30 PM

I provide an update to my supervisor and the team as to the status of my work and where I got up to in each task. This allows my team to remain in the loop, particularly on Tuesdays when I am at the University of Canberra with the other graduates for our Graduate Certificate in Public Administration.

4.00 PM

I have the flexibility to start and finish at whatever time suits me best. I choose to start early and finish at 4:00pm so I have some more time to spend outside of work in the afternoon.

4.20 PM

I get home and get started with some cleaning and personal admin. I love to use this time to put my headphones on, and watch a good Netflix documentary while I do my chores.

5.30 PM

I aim to do some form of physical activity, as I sometimes feel sluggish after sitting at a desk all day. I love to go to the gym, but when the weather is nice, I often mix it up with some long walks around my neighbourhood. The streets and parks in Canberra are so beautiful, and lined with so many pretty trees and foliage. I find that a walk outside in the fresh air can be incredibly therapeutic after a long hard day. However, there are a few cheeky magpies around, which are worth dodging! Luckily, there are plenty of signs around which indicate where these magpies like to swoop. 

6.30 PM

I get home and cook some dinner. My housemates usually get home at this time, so we like to eat dinner together and chat about our day. They are also APS graduates in different departments, so it is always interesting to hear about their graduate experiences across different areas of the APS. 

7.30 PM

I have found that you can watch a great sunset in Canberra! Sometimes I schedule my grocery shopping around this time and I drive up to my cousin’s house so we can shop together. Her street is quite uphill, which is a great height to view a clear sunset.

8.00 PM

I love to chat with my family and friends back home. Even though I am surrounded by an amazing graduate cohort and the most supportive team, I still miss my family. I usually jump on a video call to catch up and talk about my day. 

9.30 PM

After talking to my family, I like to wind down and relax before going to sleep. I am an avid baker, so I love to scroll through pictures of new cake designs and trends. Often, I find myself planning the flavours and designs of the birthday cakes that I look forward to making for the special birthdays and celebrations that my friends and family intend to celebrate back home. I also love to watch movies and documentaries, and I like to join my housemates for any spontaneous movie nights that we have during the week.

10.30 PM

After a long day, I like to pack my lunch for the next day and get ready to call it a night. Right before I go to sleep, I like to reflect and think about what happened in my day, and how the work that I did contributed meaningfully to relevant members of the public. I reflect on what I’m grateful for, and this helps me to remain positive and motivated, irrespective of what challenges I may face throughout the week. I go to sleep and get plenty of rest in preparation for the next day.

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