Finance profile - Sandra
Name: Sandra
Age: 51
Home Town: Canberra
Previous work experience: Immediately after completing my Higher School Certificate (HSC) I performed casual work for a few months awaiting placement at Goulburn Teachers College as a result of a mid year intake scholarship. I deferred my position and joined the then ACT Police at 18 years of age.
Qualifications: I had attained a level of matriculation after completing my HSC but had no formal tertiary qualifications at the time of joining. With the assistance of the Professional Development Program within the AFP I was able to successfully complete my Advanced Diploma in Business Accounting.
What attracted you to the AFP?
Like most young people the thought of becoming a police officer, and being in a position to be able help others, was very appealing. After making enquiries with the recruitment section I discovered that I did in fact meet the pre-requisites and immediately applied to join. After completing 7 years as a sworn member, in many and varied positions, I resigned from the AFP to look after my young family. My intention was always to return to the AFP as an unsworn support staff member - which I did some 12 years later.
What are your impressions so far?
After over 30 years of association with the AFP I have always enjoyed the diverse nature of work and the associated experiences that have been afforded me from my initial policing role, being a sworn Special Constable whilst living on Christmas Island to my staff member duties.
Since returning to the AFP I have been involved in finance related roles. After securing a position I applied to undertake my Advanced Diploma training at the Canberra Institute of Technology. During this period I was working as a team member in a support team learning all the regulations, practices and procedures required for this work.
After completing my Diploma I won a position as a team leader of one such team. From there I moved to the corporate finance area where I was exposed to another level of the finance world within the AFP. I am still within the finance arena performing the duties of the team leader of the Accounts & Client Services Team.
Recently I even had the opportunity to travel to East Timor for a period of nearly 6 months to carry out the finance support functions for a contingent of officers from across Australia. This too was a very different and rewarding experience.