“I got involved in the not-for-profit sector because ACSO gave me (a recent university graduate) a chance when no one else would.”
“My father also always worked in the NFP or NGO sector. He worked in the agriculture sector in different countries (Mozambique and East Timor) in organisations such as World Vision and Jesuit Services to provide support and educate the different communities on how to be self-sustainable. Also providing food aid via grants and funding. I always heard about the work he did in community development and felt that there was a great way to support the community, to be part of something bigger.”
“ACSO was the first organisation that gave me an opportunity to start my professional career. I started my career journey in 2010 after I graduate from a 4-year psych degree as the Disability & Adolescent Program (DAP) Administration Officer. I was as green as the walls in our Richmond Office. I didn’t know anything about being a professional or how to be an administration officer. Brett Anderson and Stan Pappos can attest to how green I was! But I learnt and absorbed all that I could from the DAP team about working with people with a disability and forensic background, learnt about client risk, how to write reports and how to be part of a team. I also learnt to be passionate about the forensic sector and the work that we do at ACSO.”
“From operations, I moved to business services in 2012 where I stayed. I got promoted to Quality Improvement Officer where I learnt about how a business runs such as accreditation, RiskMan and incident reporting, evaluations and tender submissions. I had a short stint in supporting HR and Finance teams as well and got a glimpse of what happened at a governance level by being the minute taker for the Quality Safety and Service Delivery Board Committee. I got to see how strategic decisions and conversations happened. It was exciting and nerve racking.”
“In 2018, I became a leader responsible for quality and risk areas and in 2021 for WHS as well. Wow what a journey but I believe the different roles I had at ACSO make me understand the business as a whole.”
“Working in my team is exciting and challenging because it involves a mix of strategic problem-solving and practical, on-the-ground action to protect ACSO as a business, our people and our clients. We proactively support ACSO to continue operating (and thriving) in the challenging environment it operates in. We are part of the ACSO shield of protection.”
“I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of my role. Sometimes my role is like being a detective, investigating incidents or near misses to find the root cause. It’s not about what went wrong; it’s about understanding the factors that led to it. Working collaboratively with different areas to find the best solution to the problem.”
“I resonate with “Integrity in all we do” because it is means doing the right thing even when no one is watching or when it is hard—even when it’s difficult or may create tension. It also means making a commitment and sticking to it, demonstrating reliability and accountability. Integrity is a personal power that leads to personal growth.”
“It was amazing to be recognised with this award because it affirmed the hard work and dedication I put into my team and the areas I’m responsible for. It also boosted my confidence as a leader (I consider myself as a baby leader) and in my belief in leading with empathy and integrity. I used the award prize to complete the Melbourne Business School Leadership Program which further increased my knowledge as a leader.”