Alumni Program
Koonung Secondary College
ALUMNUS SPOTLIGHT
Nicholas (Nick) Green
Class of 2012
Senior Policy Officer, Australian Public Service, Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Where has life taken you since graduating from Koonung Secondary College?
After graduating from Koonung in 2012, I studied a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting, at RMIT University. While at university, I joined the Australian Army Reserve and also had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the United States and Europe.
After completing my degree, I applied to commission as an Army Officer and graduated from the Royal Military College into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in 2017. I was posted twice to the School of Infantry in Singleton, New South Wales, and completed my infantry regimental service at the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane.
During my time in the Army, I deployed on a number of domestic operations and was promoted to Captain in 2022. In April 2024, I was medically discharged from the Australian Defence Force following a series of injuries that meant ongoing service was no longer in my interests, or the interests of the ADF.
In my final year of service, I commenced a Juris Doctor through the University of Canberra, which I expect to complete in September 2026. Since discharging, Brisbane has become home. I live here with my other half, who is also a Koonung alumnus, and our three young children. I continue to volunteer with community and veteran organisations and remain actively engaged in public policy, law and politics.
What further education or training did you pursue after graduating from Koonung Secondary College?
Since graduating from Koonung, I have completed or undertaken the following:
- Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting
- Certificate IV in Project Management
- Diploma of Leadership and Management
- Juris Doctor, expected completion September 2026
Did you have any idea what sort of career you wanted to pursue when you were at Koonung?
Honestly, no. I initially looked at following a family pathway into business and accounting, but I found that direction deeply unfulfilling. That experience was a major influence in my decision to join the Army.
Looking back, undiagnosed ADHD also played a part. I knew what I was interested in, but not necessarily how to pursue those interests in a meaningful or structured way. The ADF became the place where I felt most comfortable, challenged and impactful.
What does a typical day look like in your current role?
A typical day involves policy analysis, writing briefs and reports, preparing advice for senior leaders, engaging with stakeholders, and helping progress work that supports veterans and their families. The work often requires balancing detail with strategic thinking, because policy advice needs to be accurate, practical and useful for decision-makers.
What do you enjoy most about your job and what are the most rewarding aspects of your job?
The most rewarding part is working on issues that have a real impact on veterans and their families. Having served in the ADF, I understand how important good policy, effective programs and clear decision-making can be. I enjoy being able to contribute to that from the public service side.
What specific skills are important in your line of work?
Strong writing, critical thinking, judgement and communication are essential. You also need to be able to understand complex issues quickly, work with evidence, manage competing priorities, and build productive relationships with stakeholders. Leadership, resilience and the ability to stay calm under pressure are also important.
What advice would you give to current Koonung students who are interested in pursuing a similar career?
Keep an open mind. I have had many “sliding doors” moments, and a lot of my pathway came from taking opportunities as they appeared.
Work hard, but also be honest with yourself about why you want a particular career. Whether you are applying for the military, university, government or something else, people can usually tell when you are saying what you think they want to hear. Know what you want, why you want it, what you can offer, and what you hope to get out of the path.
The military can be a fantastic career. The government invests heavily in your development, but they need to know that you are serious, committed and ready to serve.
What memorable experiences or achievements have shaped your life since graduating from Koonung?
Graduating from the Royal Military College was a major achievement. My medical discharge from the ADF was also a significant life event, because it changed the future I had planned and forced me to reassess my direction. Most importantly, becoming a dad has shaped my life more than anything else.
If you could go back and give advice to your school-aged teenage self, what would it be?
Who you are today is not who you will be tomorrow. It is okay to have a plan, work towards it, and later change your mind entirely.
You cannot be expected to have all the answers when you are at school. What matters is keeping an open, critical and curious mind. The world does not owe you a pathway, so think seriously about what you want, what you value, and what you are prepared to do to succeed.
ALUMNI: WE WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE YOU IN AN ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT.
Koonung Secondary College alumni spotlights showcase the various pathways our alumni have taken since graduating from Koonung and the professions they are currently pursuing.
We feature these on our school website (image below), in our school newsletter, and on our social media pages (with your prior approval, of course).
If you’d like to get involved, please email our Alumni Program Coordinator at alumni@koonung.vic.edu.au OR complete the online ‘Alumni Spotlight’ form HERE.
ARE YOU AN ALUMNI OF KOONUNG?
If you are a Koonung alumni (went to or graduated from Koonung Secondary College), we would love you to join our alumni program. It's FREE to join.
FOLLOW THE ALUMNI PROGRAM ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
ARE YOU AN ALUMNI ON LinkedIn?
If so, we’d love you to please update the education section of your LinkedIn profile to include the correct Koonung Secondary College LinkedIn page. Our college LinkedIn page now includes an ‘alumni’ tab, and once you've added Koonung Secondary College to the education section of your personal profile, you will be added to the alumni stats on our official LinkedIn page. We'd be so grateful for this! See image below for reference.
KOONUNG PARTNERS WITH OURSCHOOL TO DELIVER ALUMNI PROGRAM
The alumni program at Koonung Secondary College is part of a broader, not-for-profit program called Ourschool (https://ourschool.net.au/).
Ourschool helps government secondary schools build thriving alumni networks to benefit current students and school communities. Koonung began it's partnership with Ourschool in 2022.
Click on the link below to view a video of the Ourschool CEO talking about the program.
CONTACT US.
Koonung Secondary College
Alumni Program - Nancy Manders