
Gemma Crosby is an Economist in the Early Intervention and Reform team at the Department of Treasury and Finance. She is passionate about addressing social issues like homelessness through preventive approaches. Gemma emphasizes the importance of work-life balance and building connections. She advocates for more support for women in male-dominated fields like economics, drawing on her experience in roles such as Campaign Manager for Raise Our Voice in Parliament.
Q1.
Could you tell me about your job and your day-to-day responsibilities?
I am currently working as an Economist in the Early Intervention and Reform team at the Department of Treasury and Finance. This team works on the Victorian Government’s Early Intervention Investment Framework (EIIF) to help guide early interventions to improve the lives of Victorians and deliver better outcomes across the service system.
Recently I have been involved in working on the next round of Partnerships Addressing Disadvantage, social impact investments that tackle complex social issues through outcomes-based partnerships. My day-to-day role includes conducting research and data analysis to understand the impact of early intervention programs and working with government departments and service providers to support early intervention initiatives.
Q2.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?
My favourite part of this role has been the opportunity to contribute to better social outcomes for people. By championing an early intervention approach, we are shifting the government's focus to prevention. The reason I began studying economics was that I was passionate about learning how to address systemic issues surrounding socioeconomic inequality. Early Intervention projects address the root causes of an array of issues, including homelessness, domestic violence, and mental health to support better outcomes for people in the long term. It is really a privilege to be a part of this process!
Q3.
What advice would you give young women in university at the start of their careers?
Firstly, prioritise your health and well-being – this is essential if you want to help others through your work. It took me until the end of my degree to establish a sustainable work life balance and it is something that I am continually working on. This balance will look different for different people, so investing time into figuring out what works for you is invaluable!
Secondly, I encourage you to be open to opportunities and building new connections – you never know where they might lead. I highly encourage branching out and finding different avenues of meeting people, including those outside your course area
Q4.
What is one change that you would like to see for women in your field?
The field of Economics is a traditionally male-dominated field, which brings with it many obstacles for women and gender-diverse people. Addressing this is complex, and requires an intersectional approach, therefore I acknowledge that I am only scraping the surface in my response to changes that I would like to see for women in this field!
I would love to see more programs that provide pathways and support for women and gender diverse people to enter this (male-dominated) sector. My first experience in the field was through the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Mentoring Women Program. This program was established to support women and gender-diverse people interested in economics and public policy. Undertaking this program helped me to build my confidence and provided valuable insight into economics-related career options in government. I have since enjoyed the *full circle* moment of now being a mentor myself. It is so important that the diversity of a workplace reflects the people that it serves to deliver the best outcomes possible – which is why programs like this are so important.
Q5.
Your extensive involvement in extracurricular and volunteering activities demonstrate a diverse set of experiences. How have these activities influenced the direction of your career?
Over the past 5 years, through being involved in a range of advocacy and fundraising campaigns, I have met many incredible people and built an array of skills quite different from those in my economics degree. Most recently, I undertook a role as the Campaign Manager of Raise Our Voice in Parliament, a campaign that elevates the voices of young people in Federal Parliament. Before this, I was involved in the Victorian Youth Parliament where I supported young people in creating bills on issues of their choice to be presented to the Victorian Minister for Youth.
Completing these roles provided me with insight into the many ways that change can be made, and these experiences inspired me to pursue a career where I could combine my economics skills and passion for improving social outcomes. After being in positions that involved advocating to the government to create change, I was interested in gaining experience working within government. Overall, these roles have led to many growth and mentorship opportunities that have helped me get to where I am today!
15.10.2024
If you have any questions for Gemma Crosby, please:
1. Leave a comment under our Woman of the Week FB post, or
2. Email us at wcp.unimelb@gmail.com