Culture at Policy Futures Graduate Program (Queensland Government)

People are friendly, supportive and collaborative. There are lots of social activities like the Social Club, weekly meditation, and workout sessions to support employees' health and wellbeing.

All of the people who work in our department are high performing and very dedicated to their work. In my team within the department everyone is very friendly and professional. There is a "on paper" hierarchy within our team, but it doesn't shape my interactions with my colleagues. It's equally okay for me to ask my Executive Director for advice as it is for me to ask a Policy Officer or my supervisor. My team don't really interact outside of work hours - we all have our own things on. But I do catch up for lunch or end of week drinks with my fellow grads across the department.

Very positive. There is no culture of happy overwork and underpayment. I am supported by my colleagues at all levels and feel like I have a good work/life balance.

The grad program culture is really supportive with lots of organised training and social events. The culture between the graduates is really friendly and everyone really looks out for each other. In my rotation team I also feel really supported to learn and get involved with different areas.

Really supportive culture. Bureaucratic hierarchy so there are lots of processes and feedback for work/projects

I would rate the company culture as one of the best parts of the program. This will vary from team-to-team but most of my experience so far is that it doesn't matter who comes with an idea as it will get teased out regardless of it came from a graduate or a director. My team is very willing to help out with any little issues I am having, especially if it's something I've never done before, people are just genuinely happy to give their knowledge and experience. After hours there is a strong commitment to your time is your time and my supervisor is very understanding of how I manage my time, this goes doubly so for working from home arrangements and other flexible working arrangements. For socialising, the other graduates in my cohort all regularly do social events together like weekly trivia events and catching up on Friday afternoons. This has been one of best aspects of the program, especially for someone who travelled interstate for the program.

The company culture is great during work hours. A little muted after hours as could be expected in the public service.

The office hours are flexible, there is hierarchy but it is a small team and I am able to approach my supervisor. As it is a small team there is not much opportunity for working with other people in the office at the moment but I am only at the beginning stage of this rotation and I feel that it may improve with time.

The grad program is incredibly supportive and are always there if you are having any issues on your placement. Work hours are generally really flexible and you can accrue flex time off easily. There is a lot of focus on personal and professional development so we receive a lot of training and help which is great. While the grad's do not work together in the same rotation, all training activities are completed together and there is a good chance to socialise and support each other as well. You will be given a supervisor in your rotation who will task you - depending on the team this could be a manger or a director. We also have a grad contact person in the department we go to, as well as continuous support from the policy futures team.

I feel no intimidation from the people I work with, everyone is kind, helpful and open.

Executive level and managers value work life balance and check in regularly with staff. There is little to no contact after hours. I believe socialisation amongst colleagues has changed due to covid; there are opportunities within office hours but not so much outside of the office. Plenty of cooperation amongst the team and surrounding teams.

There are many opportunities to socialise with other graduates. I have found the approval processes and hierarchy structure to be frustrating.