Management at Department of Health and Aged Care

Immediate managers are very supportive and collaborative. Willing to provide additional time to invest in your personal development. Branch Manager has been a standout mentor - really approachable and empowers you to takes initiative to kickstart career conversations.

They are very happy to meet one on one but can be hard to get a hold of.

Team dependent.

My managers have been okay

It depends on the level of management. My team directors have always been great leaders and mentors. Branch heads have been variable, but overall encouraged a positive work culture and improvements to business processes. Our Secretary is fantastic and down to earth, but some of the other SES haven't been very good communicators or have damaged workplace culture through their behaviours.

My immediate supervisor and higher management are good to work with and are very approachable. You have to review absolutely everything past everyone but that's just government, and often this process protects you. The graduate program is very good for mentorship - you get offered a mentor at AS level or above, and most AS's, FAS's and deputy secretaries want to meet with grads and offer advice. Most supervisors are good at giving feedback, but it does depend on the person's individual management style and how busy the team is. COVID taskforce has less time to give good feedback. You will have very little real decision making or influence about what happens with policy unless you get to a senior executive level. Most policy decisions are really at the discretion of ministers.

Very good. Provides praise well and challenging feedback is always provided appropriately. People are happy to mentor where there is a shared perspective on further development.

I have found that all managers are very approachable and willing to mentor. Twice a year we have the opportunity to complete a PDS to set goals and manage any concerns that we may have.