Dakota Griffiths admits that working behind the scenes in the public sector might not be every 22-year-old’s dream job.

This recent graduate, however, is more than happy finding out how the proverbial policy sausage is made.

She understands that the seemingly dry decisions hammered out within government departments have very real consequences in the real world.

And she knows this because she’s experienced it firsthand.

"Both my parents have chronic conditions,” Dakota says.

"And growing up, I saw their experience with the public health system, went to a lot of their doctors’ appointments, and supported them where I could.

"Over time, as I got older and learnt about the term ‘Public Health’ thanks to COVID, I started to think about the protocols and rules in place when it comes to the health system – that type of thing."

So Dakota signed up to study a Bachelor of Health Science at Flinders University, specialising in Health Management.

Her studies allowed her to look into policy and project development, implementation, analysis and research in the health sector.

It’s a fairly niche field – so much so she was the only person to graduate from her course in that year – but it put her on the road to making a difference.

"I have an interest in all different areas of public health," Dakota says.

"Mental health is possibly one of the biggest ones, but I just want to help ensure that people and communities are listened to.

"And I want to be able to help people right from the start, to make sure that they’re supported from the beginning."

This desire to help led Dakota to successfully apply for a position as a graduate officer within the Department of Human Services (DHS).

The two-year program sees graduates (pictured) work with the Department to gain practical, hands-on experience across the many areas that fall under the DHS umbrella.

For Dakota, who has been in the program for 18 months, this has involved spending time working in the Office for Women and now with Remote and Regional Service Department.

And when the program wraps in six months’ time?

"Then they send you off into the world," Dakota laughs.

When that happens, however, she’ll be equipped with a level of training, and a network of contacts, that few people her age will possess.

"My main role at the moment is in project and policy support with Remote and Regional Services," Dakota says.

"Within that role we help to look after people in remote communities in the APY Lands, Far West Coast, Port Augusta.

"We’re helping to engage youth in different activities, helping people who might be sleeping rough, coordinating multi-agency deliveries to those areas.

"I’ve also helped to brief the Minister and our Chief Executive (Sandy Pitcher), and she’ll sometimes come down to chat with the graduate officers."

For Dakota, it’s been a fascinating and supportive introduction to her chosen field.

"I would 100 per cent recommend this path for graduates," she says.

"I don’t think there are many opportunities as good as this one."

So among all that policy and procedure, what does Dakota do in her spare time?

She runs an online social media account called Band Banta (pictured), where she interviews and helps to promote local artists and groups.

"I've always loved the music and being creative, and I noticed that there was a gap within the South Australian scene," Dakota says.

"There wasn't really anyone helping to promote South Australian music, so I thought, 'well I love creating content, I want something creative to do outside of work and I'm at concerts anyway, so I may as well just start chatting to bands'."

The channel now has around 9000 followers and in the past 12 months Band Banta has received more than four million unique visitors.

And while it may seem like a dichotomy, Dakota says her two interests do actually intersect.

"That’s why I’ve done some job shadowing with the comms and engagement team," she says.

"That’s given me a chance to use my more creative side to create social media posts and that type of thing. It bridges the two things together."

Find out more about the DHS Graduate Program (external site).