Life beyond Radford
Sophie Dunstone
- Masters, The Australian National University, Law, 2014-2017
- Graduate Diploma, Monash University, Health Economics and Policy, 2007-2011
- Bachelor Degree, The Australian National University, Medical Science, 2001-2005
- Committee Secretary, Department of the Senate, 2008
What does life look for you now?
I'm a Committee Secretary to several parliamentary committees in the Australian Senate. I give procedural advice and provide secretariat support to my committees, and lead a team of bright, engaged, hardworking and wickedly funny people. I have the very great pleasure of facilitating a process that allows Australians from across the political spectrum and all walks of life to engage with their parliament, share their experiences and potentially influence government decision-making. My job also takes me all around Australia for hearings and site visits, and occasionally overseas, including to remarkable places such as the Tiwi Islands, Jordan and Lebanon.
Tell us what you are passionate about?
Australian parliamentary democracy and people's engagement with it.
Did your further study or career go exactly as you'd planned?
Nope, but in a good way! I'm grateful I had some amazing role models early on and was encouraged to take opportunities (even if at the time they scared the pants off me).
What do you know now, that you wish you'd known when you were at Radford?
Be kind to yourself.
What advice do you have for current students?
Good grades give you more choices about life after school, but they don't define you and if you don't end up where you expected or hoped, that's ok. You don't have to have your whole life mapped out at the age of 17 or 18!