Katy joined the public service in 2006 at what is now the Department of Social Services. An interest in the well-being of Indigenous people, particularly in remote areas, led her to take on work for the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in Sydney, and also with the Indigenous Coordination Centre in Darwin. Since 2012, Katy’s work has been on the evaluation and policy development of income management.

Katy’s research will explore the historical, political, social and economic context of the non-attendance of Indigenous primary school-age children in remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. It will take a multi-method approach, investigating attendance trends through use of school attendance data, and will use qualitative data to explore, on individual and community levels, the reasons why some policies may, or may not, support or improve school attendance.

View Jennifer's scholarship summary poster.

Jennifer is a Senior Adviser in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s National Security and International Policy Group. Jennifer has experience advising government on a range of cross-cutting policy issues, including foreign interference, critical infrastructure, international defence engagement, and counter-terrorism.

Jennifer’s research will examine US-China competition for leadership over advanced and emerging technologies, and the implications for US allies including Australia. The findings of Jennifer’s research will inform the development of a policy framework which integrates security, economic and social considerations, and supports government decision-making in the long-term national interest.

Jennifer holds a Master of National Security Policy from the ANU’s National Security College. She was awarded First Class Honours and the University Medal for her research on urbanisation in India, as part of her Bachelor of Liberal Studies at Sydney University.

Adina joined the Public Service as a graduate in 1999, working in a range of offices across the Human Services and Social Services portfolios. She has worked in the Department of Social Services on family policy and in the department’s program performance reporting area. Adina has also worked across strategic, corporate and program areas in high level projects.

Adina undertook a masters by coursework with a focus on public policy. In her study, Adina considered the influence public policy has on complex policy systems, the trends shaping leaders and levers for guiding decision making and leadership. Returning to the APS in 2022, Adina is using her postgraduate knowledge to influence her contribution to policy and contemporary policy frameworks.

Kelsie is a proud Wiradjuri woman, raised on Gumbaynggirr country in Coffs Harbour NSW.

Commencing in the Australian Public Service with Services Australia in 2010, Kelsie has worked in a variety of business areas including service delivery, welfare modernisation, project management and technology and digital programs. Having observed the challenges experienced by customers in navigating government social and health-related payments and services, Kelsie was drawn to Canberra to further her career in major projects and programs to help improve the delivery of convenient and accessible services. Recently, Kelsie participated as a secondee in the Jawun Program, inspiring her commitment to enhancing the relationship between the APS and Indigenous communities and organisations in each role she holds.

Kelsie commenced the Pat Turner Scholarship Program in Semester 2, 2024 and is studying a Master of Anthropology and Planetary Futures. She aspires to apply her learnings to strengthen human centred design techniques in the development of government services. This will ensure culturally safe and respectful processes and empower community involvement in the identification of pain points and co-design of solutions that will improve social and economic opportunities.