Department of Transport and Main Roads

Compliance checks, comms, responding to enquiries, update policy, template, documents, current area is not stimulating enough

As a Graduate Civil Engineer, my role involves supporting the planning, assessment, design, and management of transport infrastructure projects. Through the graduate program, I have had the opportunity to complete rotations in different engineering teams, allowing me to gain exposure to a variety of technical disciplines and projects. My day to day tasks vary depending on the project and team but can include engineering assessments, data analysis, reviewing drawings and technical reports, site inspections, asset management activities, hydraulic and flood modelling, and preparing technical documentation. I also attend project meetings, collaborate with engineers and other stakeholders, and contribute to problem solving activities. The role provides a good balance of technical work, learning opportunities, and practical experience. No two days are exactly the same, which has helped me develop a broad range of engineering, communication, and project management skills early in my career.

The work I do is relevant to the degree I studied and my daily tasks can be quite varied. It can be difficult to manage the workload as we are a small team that supports many different teams across the district. The work I do can also be quite emotionally involved, which is great for giving me a sense of purpose and achievement when things go right, but it can also involve a lot of relationship management and conflict resolution.

Overall, satisfaction with the work has been fairly high, particularly given the opportunity to contribute to real projects early on. The role involves a mix of tasks, including data analysis, drafting reports, supporting service planning work, and assisting with operational assessments. Day‑to‑day work can vary but often includes working with Excel to analyse transport data, preparing summaries or recommendations, and collaborating with team members on ongoing projects. There is also exposure to stakeholder communication and involvement in site visits or operational reviews. The variety in tasks keeps the role interesting, and being able to contribute to real planning outcomes makes the work feel meaningful, especially as experience builds over time.

It is challenging and lots of documents and it keeps me busy everyday. I have not been exposed to a lot of touch-the-dirt work yet. But I am looking forward to it.