Brooke Muscat-Bentley is new to her role leading the CPSU in the ACT, but her schooling for the job goes back a long way.
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Her mother, employed by the ACT's public service for 30 years, was a union delegate she looked up to.
"I've had strong union women in my life," Ms Muscat-Bentley said.
"She taught me the importance of collectivism, to make sure workplaces were fair.
"I watched her contribute to the union in her workplace and it instilled a strong sense of social justice in me."
It took several years after university until she followed her footsteps, when during a six-year stint living in the UK she joined the GMB, Britain's general trade union.
Ms Muscat-Bentley, who grew up in Canberra and studied at Merici College and the University of Canberra, returned home three years ago to spend more time with her family after a decade in Melbourne.
"I just really wanted to come home and I wanted to contribute in a positive way to the Canberra community."
Upon arriving, she continued a family tradition set by her mum representing ACT-based workers.
She's spent 13 years with the CPSU, including 12 as a lead organiser. In Canberra she's represented union members in industrial issues arising from the establishment of the Australian Border Force.
Ms Muscat-Bentley said she focused on growing membership and involving members from Australian Border Force in bargaining.
Since becoming CPSU ACT Regional Secretary, she's turned her attention to impending bargaining over the territory's public service enterprise agreements.
The CPSU doesn't expect the drawn-out negotiations that have left many Commonwealth public servants without a general pay rise since 2013.
"The ACT government is not subject to the same harsh and unworkable bargaining policy that is imposed on federal public sector workers by the Turnbull government," Ms Muscat-Bentley said.
The union is talking to members before forming its position ahead of bargaining.
"Our members expect the ACT government and the CPSU to engage constructively to achieve a fair and timely bargaining outcome."
She describes herself as a "tough but fair" operator. When asked what she's learned from her predecessor, Vince McDevitt, Ms Muscat-Bentley said she wanted to maintain the connection he built between members and delegates.
"I also want to campaign more broadly in Canberra about ensuring there's enough funding for public service jobs," she said.