Katherine Jess
Communications and Marketing Officer - Barwon Health
Graduated in:
2003
Course completed:
Bachelor of Arts majoring in journalism and public relations
Currently working for:
Barwon Health
How long have you been working for this organisation?
Since mid-2010. Prior to this I worked as:
- Communications Officer at Alcoa for 2.5 years
- Media Officer for Victoria Police for 2.5 years.
Position title and short job description:
Communications and Marketing Officer. My role includes:
- media liaison,
- maintaining the Barwon Health website,
- looking after the organisation’s social media accounts,
- internal communications such as reports, brochures and newsletters,
- and helping out at events such as launches or ministerial visits.
Working highlight so far:
Working at Police Media was a very exciting and interesting role and will definitely be highlight in my career.
Highlights in my current role include working on the redevelopment of a new website and getting to meet a range of people.
What are the things you enjoy most about your job?
The variety of the work. One day I might be supervising a ‘ward walk’ with Melbourne Victory players, interviewing a patient for a magazine story, attending a photo shoot for one of our publications, or co-ordinating media for a story. I particularly enjoy the social media aspect of the role too.
An area in which you have needed assistance:
Once I finished my uni course, I found it very difficult to get a foot in the door and begin my journalism career. Eventually a cadet journalist role came up at a country newspaper near where I grew up, so I applied for that and landed the role. Journalism opens the door to so many other career options.
What do you intend to do in the future?
Focus on media/communications roles.
#1 tip for current students studying your course:
Everyone says it but undertake as much industry-based work experience as you can. You'll learn loads more "on the job" than in the classroom, while also putting into practice what you've been studying.
