Name: Hayley 
Role Title: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Officer 
Location: DNRE, Tatura

Description of work undertaken:  Map production, data capture, and some computer programming are Hayley's most common day-to-day tasks. She also does a lot of customisation of software. She likes her job because it has a lot of variety and she isn't doing the same thing everyday. Hayley also does Geographic Information Systems (GIS) support, which means she is working with a lot of people from different areas, such as horticulture, environmental and drainage officers.

Hayley works with a a wide range of people from different areas

Team and / or individual role / responsibilities:
Hayley's role is a hands-on working role, getting all the project tasks done. She works on a variety of projects where the end goal is to help monitor and visualise natural resources through GIS, for a variety of different purposes. Hayley maps fruit moth pests for the Crop Protection Group, and works with Shepparton Irrigation Region Land Water Management Program where the focus of her work is more salinity orientated. Through her mapping she is involved in whole farm planning, community surface drainage, and environmental assessments. 

Future? 
Hayley wants to stay with GIS as she feels it's a growing industry. She wants to continue working in the area of natural resources mapping, rather than infrastructure or areas such as asset mapping, or customer focus mapping.

BACKGROUND:
Grew up where? 
After growing up in Tatura, Hayley went to Uni at RMIT. She has always been interested in drawing and graphics, and was originally keen to be an architect, but moved into cartography (mapping). In her four year course, she majored in GIS, did her Honours project at DNRE Tatura, which led to further work with DNRE-Tatura after graduation.

Course(s) studied: 
Tertiary /post secondary:
Bachelor of Applied Science (Land Information) RMIT (Honours).

Secondary: 
Geography and physics were helpful.

Work experience: 
During Uni Hayley did work experience with DNRE Tatura, in Geography Information Systems. During secondary school she completed work experience at the Rural Water Commission (now Goulburn Valley Water), which exposed her to the importance of natural resource mapping. 

OPPORTUNITIES: 
Further study: 
Hayley would like to complete further studies one day, she completed Honours and would like to go on to do her Masters eventually.

Learning on job, new skills, etc. 
Hayley says University gives you a really good broad base, but once you get into the workforce, you really need to specialise in your relevant area, which she has done at Tatura. For example, Hayley has learnt to use Arcview software and programming language. She has completed short courses in Arcview which involve learning about the software and programming. She has also completed  First Aid certificates.

Travel, etc.
Hayley works one day a month in Kerang. She has attended a conference in Adelaide and travels to Melbourne often for courses and conferences.

ADVICE TO STUDENTS NOW: 
students up to Year 10
Hayley says to do some work experience in your area of interest to make sure that you really like it and that you are still interested in it. Try and get a broad general knowledge of natural resources and try to choose subjects which relate to the course you want to get into. Geography, Physics and Maths were good choices for Hayley.

Tertiary students
Get some hands on work experience in some different places, so you can get a good idea of what you will be doing in the job is Hayley's advice. Keep up your general knowledge by reading journals that are industry related such as 'GIS User'.

OTHER: 
Comments, thoughts, suggestions. 
Hayley says she is really happy to be out of Melbourne.  She enjoyed it while living there but is glad to be back in the country. Hayley really likes the community-orientated feel of the country and no peak hour. The rural setting in which she works is attractive.