Jessica Sutherland

Experience

• 

  Q Co-Lab

  Jul 2021 - Jan 2023

  Founder & Design Leader

  I founded a national charity, Q Co-Lab, which creates next-generation digital support resources for LGBTQIA+ young Australians. My responsibilities include event planning, grant funding, admin, UX design, co-design facilitation, partnerships, reporting to government and promotion.

• 

  Australian Electoral Commission

  May 2022 - May 2022

  Polling Official

  As an election night polling assistant, my responsibilities included assisting in counting, scrutinising and securing over 2000 ballot papers, decommissioning the polling place, maintaining inventory, and reporting results to election supervisors.

• 

  Gluttony

  Jul 2022 - Oct 2023

  Front of House

  Front of house staff member for Borealis on Lake Daylesford, an immersive contemporary arts festival. My responsibilities included ticket sales, ticket checking, customer service, public safety, communicating feedback, resetting the site, and diagnosing technical issues.

• 

  JB Hi-Fi

  Sept 2022 - Feb 2024

  Retail Salesworker

  During my university course, I work as a casual salesperson at JB Hi-Fi, connecting people with their technology solutions.

• 

  Deakin Disability and Neurodivergency Association (DDNA)

  Oct 2023 - Oct 2024

  President

  I am responsible for organising events and initiatives that create safe spaces for Deakin University's disabled and neurodiverse community; facilitating social connections, activism, and peer support.

• 

  University of Melbourne

  Dec 2023 - now

  Peer Support Worker, Research Assistant - Royal Children's Hospital

  Working on a qualitative study of adolescent transgender healthcare, I am responsible for conducting emotional resiliency checks on research participants before their interviews as a peer support worker, rescheduling interviews, providing distress support, and empowering them to contribute their lived experiences.

• 

  Department of Education

  Feb 2024 - now

  Working in the Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Taskforce on research, policy design, data analysis, service design, project management and coordination supporting students with disability in response to the NDIS Review and Disability Royal Commission. Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Taskforce

  • Policy Officer

    Apr 2024 - now

  • Summer Intern

    Feb 2024 - Apr 2024