A&TSI Staff Profile

• Professional Staff
• Staff Trainee

Professional Staff

Employee Name: Roslyn Dunphy(Professional Staff) Job Title: Recruitment & Retention Officer Years of Employment: 8 years

What is your role at the University?

My role at Nulloo Yumbah as the Recruitment & Rention Officer is to help students and prospective students and the community to understand what the University is about. Helping people to understand the enrolment processes. Talking them through getting into Uni, keeping in Uni, and finding their way through Uni and into becoming engaged people back into the community and maybe further studies.

What led you to find work in the Uni?

It was really luck which played a part in me coming into the University. I had previously completed a Cert 4 in Management and Cert 3 in Business Administration through TAFE and was wanting to utilise those skills. I already at this time had 4 children and because we lived on the land, the drought forced me to look for work and bolster the family finances.

Describe your first experience working at CQUniversity?

I first started doing temp work on short term contracts with places like QLD housing, and the Meatworks. I spoke to David Hatfield who at that time was working at Yulla Muna (employment agency for people with disabilities) and he forwarded my name onto Kris Garrett here at the University. I thought no I can't work at the Uni, I'm not that smart. Still I came along and met Kris for a meeting and she told me a little about the place but I wasn't convinced, but I submitted my resume into the Indigenous Employment Strategy. About a week later, Kris rang and said she had a short term contract for me on reception in chancellery. It was a back fill position and it ran only for a fortnight. I was so scared going into it, especially chancellery; I knew nothing about the University, or the structure. It was ok and I finished the contract, and about a month later I was asked back again. This time the contract was for 6 weeks. This was ok, and I started learning about who was who in the university. I finished that contract and Kris had another contract for me this time for 3 months in Personnel (HR). I finished in HR at the Christmas closure and one week into the New Year Kris rang and said she had another 3 month contract here at Nulloo Yumbah, 8 years later I'm still here at Nulloo Yumbah.

What are the benefits of working at a University?

Benefits of working at the University, is the inclusion into a community. Time off to attend lectures, discussions and conversations over any sort of sitting around a table, over any sort of subject. Being respected as part of a team, having the privilege of watching students succeed, sometimes not in the way or the time frames that are set, but achieve nevertheless, with sometimes enormous struggles. Watching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders achieve and become mentors for their families, communities and feel as though your apart of that achievement, however small.

What is the most common false impression about working at the University?

A false impression is that you have to be smart to work here, that you need to have gone through to year 12 and have a degree.

Advice to people who haven't considered University as a place to work:

The Uni is the best place to work, you will have an amazing adventure here every single day your at work. The world really is your oyster, and you can research, talk about, and study anything you are interested in. A wonderful community of people and mentors who are also on the same adventure. A very positive and satisfying career awaits you and you won't ever want to leave (even if you're not so smart).

Staff Trainee

Employee Name: Sean Thomas (Staff Trainee) Job Title: Administration Trainee (Indigenous) Years of Employment: 6 months

What is your role at the University?

I started working for the University as a trainee with the Marketing Directorate. In just two months, my role has included beginning my Cert III in Business Administration and on the job training where I provide all sorts of administrative support to the area. I have been able to help with high school visits including the student science expo where I coordinated the science display and have had the opportunity to travel to other campuses as part of marketing team visits. 

What led you to find work in the Uni?

It started with my mum showing me a trainee job ad from the University, which had been emailed to her because she had signed to the CQUniversity Indigenous Employment Database. I decided to give it a go, put together my resume and selection criteria with support from the family. I was happy to get a call asking me to attend an interview and just like that I was told I had the job.

Describe your first experience working at CQUniversity?

I was excited to have been asked to work for the University, and the first day I expected to walk into work and be surrounded by all these brainiacs. The first day was not what I expected, I went in thinking one thing and then after being introduced to all the staff and shown around the office, I thought this is cool.

What are the benefits of working at a University?

I have only been here for 2 months but already the skills and knowledge that I have been trained in are amazing. Every day I can see that I am more confident when it comes to asking people about what I need to do with this and that, I don't know if I would have been able to do it before working here

What is the most common false impression about working at the University?

My false impression was that all the staff at the Uni are high class brainiacs that didn't know how to have fun. I can tell you that this is completely wrong. The staff are fun to work with, very cooperative, helpful and friendly not what I expected.

Advice to people who haven't considered University as a place to work:

Try to get a job here. It's the best thing I have ever done. You can learn everything just by working for the University.