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Joseph Kaspar
2007, Population, Labour, Industry and Environment Graduate
Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Sociology), Graduate Diploma of Language (Russian).
Monash University, Melbourne, and Donetsk National University, Ukraine. |
I found starting work with the ABS in Canberra an easy experience. The ABS graduate program provides a good transition from university to the workplace. The first three months of work is basically focused on training and development, so I was soon familiar with the standards and procedures of the ABS as well as the APS as a whole. I was given plenty of opportunities to learn and ask questions and my supervisor and the team that I work with has also been more than helpful with on the job training and support.
At the moment I work for the Demography section, which is part of the broader Population, Labour, Industry and Environment (PLIES) Statistics Group. My section is basically interested in the three key areas that directly affect population change - fertility, mortality and migration. Keeping track of these demographic processes in the rapidly changing world we live in today, is to me challenging as well as exciting. Currently, the team I work with is responsible for quarterly estimates of Australia's Population. The demographic information we collect and analyse is used by the government for electoral distribution, tax revenue distribution and policy formulation in areas such as health, aged care, child care and rural and regional services. So we are directly involved in making Australia a better place to live, which is another reason why I decided to join the APS in the first place.
The working conditions in the ABS are outstanding with the 37 hour week, flextime as well as generous superannuation. Along with this, the ABS also has a friendly and supportive work environment. I find my work here in the ABS interesting as well as challenging, which is exactly what I was looking for in the career that I envisioned for myself.
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This page first published 30 April 2008, last updated 5 September 2008 | 
