WELCOME TO OUR APRIL CAREER SPOTLIGHT
We are honoured to feature Liam in this month’s spotlight and learn more about his impactful role in our community. Liam has progressed his career first in the health industry as a paramedic, to an award winning advocate for Indigenous autonomy in both business and health. Liam is passionate about improving outcomes for Indigenous people through health and in business. He now works for The University of Sydney driving Indigenous external relationship development.
Learn more about Liam’s career below:
1. Can you tell me a bit about what you do for work and what you enjoy most about your job?
I am currently the Acting Director of Indigenous External Relationship Development for the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Indigenous Strategy and Services at the University of Sydney. The title says it all really and I enjoy getting out and about to spend time with people and communities while watching the professional benefits flow both ways as a result of my work.
2. What is a typical day like?
I have a hectic schedule. I am up early to get to the gym before the kids wake up and I’m fortunate enough to walk to work after dropping them off at school. Relationships are constant – the more you invest in them, the more you get out of them. I try to get out to communities as often as I can which includes the Torres Strait Islands to Arnhem land to my local Redfern community. Follow up and administration as I work with my teams to deliver what we say we will, whilst maintaining a hectic household with the kids when I get home.
3. How did you end up in this profession?
I was an Intensive Care Paramedic for 10 years based in the Sydney CBD and after 10 years of night shifts, I knew that it wasn’t sustainable with the kids. My wife was returning to work so I decided to have a ‘normal’ job and be home for them while my wife began her shift work career (as a new Paramedic of all things !). A role at University of Sydney came up in Health & Medical Partnerships and I haven’t looked back since.
4. What is the best career advice someone has given you?
That it’s OK to be busy and have many things on the go. I was worried that I should focus on only 1 or 2 things and really give it my all. I have come to realise that I like having many plates spinning at once.
5. Do you need any qualifications to do what you do? If so, what are they?
No but they don’t hurt. I am fortunate that my role concentrates on the interpersonal skills and reading what is not being said. I think my tim
e as a Paramedic has prepared me well for this.
6. What advice would you give to someone looking to get into this profession?
Relationship development is exactly that -they are developed over time, over shared experience and are about you getting out there to meet with people and really understand what it is they want from any transaction.
A huge thank you to Liam for participating in our Career Spotlight series, we appreciate your time and have enjoyed learning more about you and your inspiring career.
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Liam for the great work he does in our community in regards to closing the gap between our Indigenous community and non-Indigenous community in Australia.
If you would like to learn about other professionals we have featured in our monthly Career Spotlight series – head over to our blog.
