Millie Fleet

Incarcerated Students Project Officer - Deakin University

Course completed:

Bachelor of Police Studies majoring in sociology

What was your first degree-relevant job and how long after you graduated did you secure this job? How easy/difficult was it to find work?

Working as an Incarcerated Students Project Officer for the Deakin University Students’ Association (DUSA) in 2002. It was difficult getting into the field because of the ambiguous title of my degree. It was only through networking via an administrative position within DUSA that I was able to secure the job which utilised my analytical skills within the criminal justice field.

What skills from your course were most valuable in getting and undertaking your job? What were employers looking for?

Analytical skills and social justice understanding gained from my degree enabled me to comprehend the nature of the criminal justice world and thus the prison system and prisoners' mind sets.

What advice would you offer current students in relation to graduate employment?

Try to gain some form of work experience within the field, whether it is voluntary or paid, prior to graduating to help build up networks.