Career Summary

Claire Comerford is a dedicated public policy professional who is passionate about family violence prevention. She completed her Bachelor of Arts majoring in Human Rights and Economics & Business Strategy at Monash in 2020, before going on to complete her Master of Public Policy in 2021.

Claire currently works as a Senior Policy Analyst for the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety, where she develops and implements policy proposals, programs and initiatives; prepares complex briefings for ministerial correspondence; builds and maintains relationships with key partners in the justice system; and much more.

During her studies, Claire volunteered her knowledge and skills to numerous non-profit organisations.

Career Pathway

Present – Senior Policy Analyst, Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety
2022 – Supported Accommodation for Vulnerable Victorians Initiative (SAVVI) Senior Advisor, Victorian Department of Families, Fairness & Housing
2021 – Arts Graduate Leadership and Mentoring Program, Monash University
2021 – Business Support Officer, Family Safety Victoria
2020 – Support Care Coordinator, Save the Children Australia
2020 – Master of Public Policy, Monash University
2016 – Bachelor of Arts (Human Rights; Economics and Business Strategy), Monash University

What inspired you to pursue the Master of Public Policy at Monash?

I really enjoyed my undergraduate experience at Monash. I felt like I was learning to be amongst the best in the world. That really inspired me to continue my journey with Monash and complete my Masters.

I also really love learning about interdisciplinary approaches, which is something the Master of Public Policy does well. As an example, I’ve always been really passionate about social justice, and I believe good policy is vital for social justice outcomes, but it was so interesting to learn about the role that macroeconomic principles play in social outcomes as well, especially after studying economics in my Bachelor degree.

What critical skills and experiences did you gain during your Master’s and how have they impacted on your career?

One of the most important things I learnt at Monash was how to synthesise a lot of information. For our assignments, we'd be given a broad topic with various academic articles, and we had to learn how to use all that research to write a brief for high level executives on the most important information. Now, that’s something I do in my daily role. So, learning this skill really taught me how to write with clarity and get my point across.

My Master’s degree also taught me things like policy formulation, the process of policy development, and so much more that I use in my day-to-day work as well.

Would you say the teaching methods at Monash give you real-life critical thinking skills in addition to theory? 

I would definitely say so, even in my undergraduate degree. The assessments that we had to do were quite in-depth, but now I can see how similar they were to the work projects that I do now.

The way I had to think and convey information in my university work seems very much aligned to the standards that we're assessed on in the workplace today.

How did you balance your work and studies at the same time? 

I held a few different working roles while I was studying my Master’s degree, but Monash was really good about it. Even though I studied full-time, they still offered some flexible options, such as scheduling classes outside working hours. Having this ability to study and work simultaneously allowed me to apply what I was learning in the real world, and I think that strengthened my knowledge even more.

To be honest, I was just so passionate about what I was studying that I managed to make it all work. What really made it easy was having the ability to choose the topic of my research paper, because I was able to focus on an area that I really cared about. I decided to specialise in family violence prevention, and I did a few different studies on homelessness as well. I loved researching these, so it really made it feel less like work.

What are some of the highlights from your Master’s or even your Bachelor’s degree at Monash?

Definitely the amazing teachers that I had. I still see some of my teachers on the TV or hear them on the radio now, because they are global leaders in their field, which I think is incredible. That's something that I believe really separates Monash from other universities is the calibre of their teachers.

Another highlight of mine was the freedom of choice that I had in my degrees to really explore what I was most passionate about, and the constant encouragement to do so. That’s something that was important to me too, and Monash did that really well.

Do you remember some of your favourite units that inspired you, or any particular professors who made a mark? 

During my undergraduate studies, one of my favourite professors was JaneMaree Maher. She focused a lot on intersectionality, feminism, and other similar principles. I completed quite a few of her units and I loved all of them. That's the kind of stuff that I use today in my work. Intersectionality can help with applying different lenses to policy situations and thinking more broadly as a global citizen, and I just felt very inspired by these ideas.

When it came to my Master's, it was my Unit Coordinator, Deirdre O’Neill, who made a real impression on me. She was extremely passionate about what she taught and always made sure that we were considering real-life situations in the classroom, which helped to bridge the gap between the theory we were taught and what I do now in the workplace.

Would you recommend the Monash Master of Public Policy to others?

Most definitely. This course has opened a lot of doors for me, and it helps to ensure you’re much more informed before going out into the world as well. It strengthens a variety of critical skills, including writing, presenting, and verbal communication, and just offers several improvements right across the board.

I especially recommend this course if you’re passionate about something in particular, as there's so many different specialisations that you can choose to focus on. For example, if you're passionate about the environment, you can take units and complete assessments specific to that area of interest. That's something I believe makes this Monash degree very unique.

Tell us about your current role as a Senior Policy Analyst.

My role is quite varied. No two days are the same. Some of my daily tasks include researching, analysing, preparing, and writing comprehensive materials and solutions, as well as giving presentations on policies, programs and issues that are within the Attorney General of Victoria's portfolio area. I also implement programs and initiatives and create policy ideas around the budget, data, and technology reform.

When it comes down to it, I feel my undergraduate and my Master’s degrees have really prepared me for everything I do now in the workplace.

Tell us about some of the roles that you had while you were studying at Monash.

One day while I was studying, I just started emailing a few non-profits that I was interested in and offering my skills on a volunteer basis. That’s when I came across Blessing Bags, and I got the chance to work there as a volunteer policy officer. While there, I helped them do things like write their annual reports and I got to learn all about the differences between a charity and a registered organisation. I also had the chance to write some blog posts for an online homelessness space as well.

I just kept emailing various places because I wanted to gain that experience in working with policy. My advice to students now would be to not get too hung up on the position that you'd like. Just start anywhere in an organisation. Offer your skills, apply and work your way up.

What advice do you have for those interested in doing a Master of Public Policy at Monash?

Honestly, just do it! Some people think of a Master’s degree, and they immediately think it's just going to be a lot of hard work, but if you're really passionate about what you’re doing then you’ll genuinely enjoy it.

This course isn’t just about informing you on policy either. It gives you the kind of skills that you can use in any role, including critical and strategic thinking skills. If I were to change my career pathway now, I know that many of the skills I gained during my Master’s will still come in handy wherever I go.

Any other thoughts you’d like to share? 

When I first left Monash after completing my undergraduate degree, I actually found it really difficult to find a graduate position. I applied for all the traditional grad positions and for the Victorian Government, but each time, I got knocked back.

About three months later, I landed a job senior to what I had originally applied for with the Victorian Government. I wish someone had told me at the time that it was ok to not land the right role immediately, because it definitely left me a little disheartened – but you’ve just got to keep trying, because you never know how things will end up.