Whatever your role at the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF), you’ll know you’re contributing to something big. As a central lead agency, our work offers a unique window into the life of our state. Our roles are highly diverse, but we are all here for the same reason: to build a world-class Treasury that enables a better future for South Australia. Hear from six of our people about the moments that connect them to our purpose.

Driving state-wide change

If you think a role at the Department of Treasury and Finance is just about numbers, think again. The work our people do touches every corner of South Australian life - and chances are our projects have impacted yours.

Operational Team Leader Farwa sees the scale of her impact every day while managing the systems that support the state’s medical workforce.

“I’m leading the systems that support over 100,000 of South Australia’s healthcare heroes.

With a background in education and social policy, Executive Director Bec never knew there would be a place for her at DTF. But, since joining our team, she’s seen her impact spread far and wide across social and financial policy areas.

“The projects we work on are very, very different. They range from Closing the Gap work and improving Aboriginal outcomes through to developing a sustainable bond framework for government financing. We’ve done work in child protection and domestic violence. It’s about mixing social policy skills with financial frameworks to achieve improved outcomes for South Australians. That’s exactly why I work here.”

Providing a lifeline

High-level policy is one thing, but for many at DTF, their greatest impact is in the moments of human connection that support people through their darkest days. Nathalie, Head of Member Services at Super SA, has seen how superannuation can become a vital lifeline, recalling a specific moment when her team flagged a member’s call that didn't feel right.

“Because our calls are recorded, I was able to assess the situation and put through a request for a welfare check. That police officer knocking on the door saved their life. They later sent a thank-you card and said that if it wasn’t for that call to Super SA, they wouldn't be here today. People rely on us when they’re at the lowest of the low.”

Similarly, Payment Strategy Officer Chris sees his role in recovering debt as less about taking things away and more about providing a path forward for those experiencing hardship.

“You need to be a people person in this role. Often, when people receive a bill, it’s the last straw for them. They might be angry or upset, but you have to understand they aren’t frustrated at you, but at their circumstances. My goal is to talk them down, explain the why, and help them find a solution that makes their life a little easier.”

Designing a digital future

As technology continues to move at a breakneck speed, we’re constantly looking for new ways to serve our people. That means modernising our services to make life easier and more accessible for everyone. Kavish, Senior Project Officer, takes pride in translating complex policy into community resources.

“My role revolves around ensuring that vital government information isn't just data on a screen, but an accessible, engaging and trusted resource for every South Australian. It was a really good feeling to develop the Office for AI website and know people would read it and feel more confident about how the government is adapting to and using the technology for their security.”

Meanwhile, Application Development Specialist Giridhar’s (Giri) motivation comes from the strides he has made in developing “DTF AI” - the department’s localised AI model designed to help navigate complex internal data.

“Instead of someone spending hours manually checking data, we can now use AI to do it in seconds,” Giri says. “When you see the relief on a colleague's face because a tedious task has been automated, that’s when you realise the real-world impact of your code. It’s about more than just technology; it’s about making life easier for the people who serve our state.”