CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths joined the Navy in 1975 as a junior sailor communications specialist. After completing her contract she left the Navy and commenced a career in engineering, specialising in refrigeration and air conditioning. CMDR Hawkins- Griffiths was the first female refrigeration and air conditioning engineering mechanic in Australia and has worked in the mining industry, Queensland University and Private Enterprise. During this time, she gained her advanced endorsement and design qualifications.
In 1988, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths was offered a job teaching refrigeration and air conditioning engineering and after gaining an Education degree, embarked on a 22- year teaching career. Concurrently, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths re-joined the Navy as a Reserve Maritime Trade Operations officer and has been posted various locations in Australia, Singapore and the UK.
In 1998, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths was posted to HMAS Watson as Senior Instructor, Maritime Trade School. Given her extensive experience in adult education, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths was also asked to assist with training redevelopment in the Maritime Warfare space, specifically the Junior Warfare Application Course. She resigned from her civilian teaching job to fulfill a full time military career providing educational advice and expertise to a number of courses at Training Authority Maritime Warfare.
CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths led the development and implementation of fully integrated blended learning of technical and soft skills into a homogenous learning model for several warfare training courses. This model is now the preferred delivery method for holistically blended learning for simulated warfare training in Defence and includes a number of non-traditional learning strategies.
In June 2015, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths posted to the Australian Defence Force Academy as Senior Instructor for Junior Officer Staff Skills, specifically to review and redevelop the program. Using her educational expertise in engineering and development work in the maritime warfare space, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths introduced a collaborative and interactive program specifically tailored to the learning style of the 17-22 year old.
In January 2018, CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths was posted into the Executive Officer job at ADFA and January 2020 was posted to the Officer Commanding Omega Squadron for Advanced Students at ADFA.Â
In September 2023 CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths was selected to represent Australia at the UN Military Observers course in Vietnam. In Jan 2024, she was posted to the Navy Culture Directorate as the Deputy Director of Navy Diversity and Inclusion.
CMDR Hawkins-Griffiths is married to an Army officer and has three adult children.