SIMONE BALL
Address: 238 Gilles Street, Adelaide, SA, 5000 | H: (08) 8232 0648 M: 0432 265 526
Email: simone.l.ball@gmail.com | Website: simoneballpr.wordpress.com
OBJECTIVE
A recent graduate of a Bachelor of Public Relations, I am looking to secure a career in the fast-paced and
exciting communications industry. My dream role would allow me to, ideally, utilise the skills I obtained
throughout my 3 year Bachelor degree, while still allowing me the opportunity to further develop key
communication skills.
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 2011 TO 2013
BACHELOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
In the process of completing my Bachelor of Public Relations degree, with a sub-major in Tourism and
Event Management, I have successfully studied and completed several different courses on a variety of
topics including public relations theory, public relations writing, strategic and creative public relations,
marketing principles, issues and crisis management, event management, buyer and consumer behaviour,
corporate and international public relations, and communication management.
GLENUNGA INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, 2006 TO 2010
SACE HIGH SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
I graduated from high school in November 2010 with my SACE high school certificate and successful
results in each of my five subjects: English Communications, Legal Studies, Business Studies, Media
Studies and Psychology.
PAID EMPLOYMENT
CLIENT SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE
FEBRUARY 2011 - PRESENT
As a casual customer service representative at the ATO, I have had many different roles within the
organisation. Tasks have included the processing of tax returns, general accounting work and
superannuation work. Many of these work types require a high level of skill with information technology
and the ability to learn new procedures and computer systems quickly and effectively. While working at
the ATO I have also had experience with phone-based customer service, helping clients and tax agents
with their queries.
SERVICE CASHIER WOOLWORTHS LIMITED
FEBRUARY 2008 – FEBRUARY 2010
I worked at Woolworths Mitcham for two years as a service cashier. Some of my duties included serving
customers and ensuring customer satisfaction, handling cash and credit transactions, general cleaning
and also duties regarding closing the store at the end of a shift. I left this position in order to focus on the
successful completion of my Year 12 studies.
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE
VOLUNTEER UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
FEBRUARY 2011 – JUNE 2013
As a student, I love to get involved in university events, especially those that directly influence my degree
and the experience I have at university. These events and opportunities often have a positive effect on
my ability and skill-set as a public relations and communications practitioner. As such, I’ve volunteered for
a few of the different opportunities presented to me in my time at UniSA.
UniSA PRIA Bachelor of Public Relations Internship Evening 2012
The Internship Evening is an event held by the Bachelor of Public Relations to both celebrate and assess
the work of third year students who have completed their industry placements throughout the year. In
2012, our Program Director elected to involve a small group of willing students in the design and planning
of the event to allow for a practical learning experience. From May of 2012, I led the event planning team,
and in conjunction with our Program Director we planned the October event for 250 students, friends,
family members and industry professionals. In my role as event team leader, my primary responsibility
was to liaise with our Program Director and the third year students for whom the event was being
organised to ensure their satisfaction with our plans, as well as co-ordinating meetings and task
separation amongst the other four members of the event planning team. In addition, I also managed the
collection of required information from third year students and co-hosted the evening.
UniSA Bachelor of Public Relations Orientation Day 2013
For the 2013 Bachelor of Public Relations Orientation Day, it was suggested that existing students play a
greater role in welcoming first year students. In collaboration with four other students, I assisted in the
planning and execution of a presentation containing tips on how to successfully study public relations at
university. We also organised an exercise to encourage the new students to get involved with the various
social media platforms that the degree utilises.
UniSA Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences ‘e-Pal’ Program
The e-Pal program is an university scheme in which established students lend their assistance to
commencing students in a more casual and friendly way. The EASS e-Pals send out emails to a selected
group of students, offering a less-formal introduction to tertiary study at UniSA. As one of these e-Pals, I
kept contact with a group of 28 students in their first six weeks of study, passing on important information
about the necessities of university in a more relaxed manner. In the process of this program, I composed
my own e-mails in which to pass on the required information, and attempted to build something of a
relationship with each of my students.
PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERN OZ COMIC-CON
MARCH 2013
I completed a three-day internship at the Oz Comic-Con event in Adelaide, assisting Sydney-based PR
consultancy Blue Planet PR in the media activities required throughout the event. My roles focused
mainly on media and talent management, including interview scheduling and welcoming of various media
parties and official guests prior to the official commencement of the event. During the open days of Oz
Comic-Con on Saturday and Sunday, my role was to manage the official media attendees of the event,
escorting them around the venue and ensuring they followed the detailed media protocol for the event.
PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERN ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT
JULY 2013 – AUGUST 2013
As a PR intern at South Australia’s Attorney-General’s Department, I had the opportunity to gain valuable
insight into the day to day practices of a Strategic Communications unit. In this four week opportunity, I
was able to try my hand at several different communications techniques including writing media releases,
brochures and writing Internet content – all of which had to suit the purposes of a government agency.
During this opportunity I was also able to write two positive feature stories for the department website –
this process required planning, research, conducting interviews and constructing a story.
COMMUNICATIONS INTERN SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CRICKET ASSOCIATION
AUGUST 2013 – OCTOBER 2013
As an intern in the South Australian Cricket Association’s media and communications team, I worked on
various media projects in the lead-up to a summer of cricket in South Australia. This included social
media work promoting the Ashes Test being held in Adelaide in December, as well as activities related to
the new season for the West End Redbacks, the South Australian Scorpions and the Adelaide Strikers. In
my role, I have had extensive experience with the creation of social media content, including video editing
and photo editing. I’ve also had the opportunity to get involved with media relations and event
management, thanks to my role at SACA’s 2013 Season Launch event in September.
REFERENCES
If you would like to speak to my professional references, please contact me for further details.
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