When does a career become a calling? And how do you find the right path that will lead to purpose in your profession?
Well, some of the nation's highest achievers — and new members of the Order of Australia — have already worked it out and they want to share their secrets.
The Queen's Birthday Honours list has recognised 1,190 Australians this year, including a renowned geophysicist, a domestic violence activist and a wildlife conservationist.
'I've never applied for a job': Emeritus Professor Kurt Lambeck AC
ABC News: Andrew Kennedy
)About to turn 80, geophysicist Kurt Lambeck may have formally retired "in the sense of not being paid anymore", but that hasn't stood in the way of the scientist's work.
He started his career as a surveyor, mapping the natural world before the first GPS, and asking early questions about global warming.
Now a Companion of the Order of Australia recipient, he has continued in that vein, focussing on changes in the Earth's sea levels — aware of the need to combat misinformation.
"You can't quibble with the basic facts." Emeritus Professor Lambeck argued.
"Scientists do not claim to know everything. We simply say, 'Look, to the best of our knowledge and with the history of science, this is the most likely conclusion."
He said the "network of knowledge" was a smaller community decades ago and he never had to apply for a job, sympathising with today's young people who struggle for limited positions and funding.
But he has offered this advice: "Don't specialise too early, read widely, think laterally, and look beyond your field," recalling that his best lines of scientific questioning came from flashes of creativity studying philosophy.
'Life can be good after trauma': Dr Ann O'Neill AO
ABC News: Samia O'Keefe
)Most people have experienced setbacks in life, but the tremendous obstacles Dr Ann O'Neill has survived are unimaginably horrific.
Her two children were murdered by her estranged husband in 1994, before he killed himself.
But now the founder of not-for-profit organisation Angelhands she has used her grief to help others who have suffered trauma.
"I got purpose from the fact that my children weren't going to grow up to change the world, so hopefully their passing could do something to contribute to a positive change in the world," she said.
Supplied Ann O'Neil
)Dr O'Neill had the strength to go back to high school and earn a PhD, and she has now added Officer of the Order of Australia to her achievements.
"I've often made reference to the fact that I've got a socially acceptable face for people to hear uncomfortable truths, but there's a lot of people out there that are doing fabulous work — who are just as worthy of recognition — but unfortunately, they don't get it," she explained.
"So I feel guilty sometimes."
Dr O'Neill's advice for anyone who has experienced hurdles through to significant loss:
"A problem is always an opportunity in drag. You just have to stand back and wait for the opportunity to reveal itself.
'It was our side-gig': Cameron Kerr AO
ABC News
)Wildlife conservationist Cameron Kerr has often thought of himself as "one of the luckiest humans on Earth" because he has followed the call of the wild into his dream job.
"I have been able to work with my passion, but not everyone will be able to do that. And I didn't for a big part of my career either," he said.
The chief executive of the Taronga Conservation Society said he was proud of animal welfare improvements at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, and that his career highlight had been assisting Indigenous communities to release bilbies back into the wild to "heal the land".
"I realised that I could influence change in this organisation," Mr Kerr said.
His career started with volunteer work, and he urged anyone who had not found purpose in their work to consider side-gigs.
"Whether it's humanitarian issues, rights for First Nations People, or women's equality in our society — these are all really important."
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2021-06-13 12:01:30Z
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