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Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

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  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Tiana Stuart

I take huge pride in knowing that my work is contributing to important decisions made by governments, businesses and across the community. I love that I am doing something that is valuable for the Australian public and contributing to meaningful projects.

Where did you grow up? 

I grew up in Brisbane and went to university after finishing year 12. At university, I studied economics, majoring in international trade and finance. Throughout my studies, I was fortunate to have a strong support network at the UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander unit. This enabled me to meet other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and connect with a community. I also interned at Westpac Bank during my university studies with the CareerTrackers program and worked in a commercial banking team in Brisbane. After I graduated university, I joined the ABS Graduate Program in 2020.

How did you get to your current job position? 

I applied for the APS Indigenous Graduate Pathway program in my final year of study. I was fortunate to receive an offer as a statistical analyst at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) as part of the ABS graduate program and began working in my role at the start of 2020.

Did you face obstacles as an indigenous student/graduate? 

Thankfully I didn’t face major obstacles. I have always been proud of my Aboriginal heritage and have a strong connection with my family and culture. I was also fortunate to have the support of the UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander unit.

How did you choose your specialisation?

I have always had a strong interest to work in an analytical role that helped solve problems and pursue my passion for economics. I originally thought I would be working in the private sector, but glad I decided to work for a government agency instead.

What was your interview process like? 

For the APS Indigenous Graduate Pathway program, I went through a group interview process. The majority of the questions asked were behavioural interview questions and this required providing examples of a situation you experienced at work or university and how you approached it. The interview process was quite relaxed and not as stressful as I imagined.

What does your employer do?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) collect, analyses and publishes information that government, businesses and communities use to inform their decisions on economic, social, demographic and environmental matters.

What are your areas of responsibility?

Currently, I work as a statistical analyst in a team within the Industry Statistics Division. The work I do contributes to statistical publications produced by the ABS.

Can you describe a typical work day? 

A typical day for me includes either working from home or in the office. In my job, generally, I am working on tasks that require analysing and interpreting data, reporting and presenting findings, and identifying trends or patterns within a data set. Most recently, I worked with my team on a transport statistics publication. 

What are the career prospects with your job? 

As a data analyst, there are a wide range of work programs and statistical publications that you can work on at the ABS. Not all roles are based in Canberra as there are 10 ABS office locations across Australia, so there are options to move and explore other career opportunities.

What would your career be if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?

I am very passionate about my Aboriginal culture, as well as the language and history. I would most likely be working in a role that helps and supports my community.

What do you love the most about your job? 

I take huge pride in knowing that my work is contributing to important decisions made by governments, businesses, and across the community. I love that I am doing something that is valuable for the Australian public and contributing to meaningful projects.

What’s the biggest limitation of your job? 

There aren’t many limitations working at the ABS. You do have a lot of flexibility with how you work. In saying this, there are times when there are strict deadlines to meet so it’s important to have a well-organised work schedule.

Which three pieces of advice would you give to Indigenous students nearing graduation? 

  • Seek out support from your Indigenous support unit at your university. They might be able to help with researching internship opportunities, job applications or graduate programs.
  • Get an early start on your career opportunities, whether it be researching a company or organisation you would like to work for or searching for further study options. Networking is great to help with this process. If you are looking for corporate work experience, I would recommend contacting the CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship program for work experience opportunities. 
  • Pursue your passion over success. At the end of the day, your job is something you want to be passionate about and be proud of. Don’t be afraid to try new things and be willing to never give up on your goals!