Navy - Civilian Engineer Development Program
For me, the highlights of this Development Pathway were the exposure provided throughout the program, the courses, and the network of friends I gained. As I had moved to Canberra for this role, being part of a Development Pathway meant I joined a group of people who were supportive and welcoming, including colleagues and senior managers.
Pragya said it was the ability to 'contribute to system design within ships and submarines' that saw her apply for this Pathway. In addition, the Pathway provided the flexibility of undertaking rotations across different branches and organisations within Defence; and the entitlement to a six-month industry rotation outside Defence, to develop my understanding of the workforce. These things also attracted me to the Pathway.
Pragya said this Pathway 'invests in participants by providing numerous opportunities'.
This Pathway gave me an opportunity to build the foundation of my career as I was initially tasked under the broad supervision of an Engineering Manager who taught me the required on-the-job skills. I was also assigned a mentor who helped me build my career. The networks of friends I gained through the Pathway are now my technical support network, and are invaluable in providing me support/advice to fulfil my current role.
Currently Pragya is working as a communications engineer, where she is on her way to becoming a Subject Matter Expert.
As Defence is a big organisation, there is a plethora of opportunities available in various fields and in different departments for different engineering disciplines.
Pragya completed this Development Pathway in 2011.