Agriculture

Overview

In 2019 the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics Agriculture Commodities report was released, providing a snapshot of the sector across 2017–18. This confirmed what was already a well known fact: Australia’s agricultural industry is enormous�

In the 2017–18 year, there were 85,000 agricultural businesses in Australia and 378 million hectares of agricultural land� There were around 24 million cows and 71 million sheep, as well as $5�7 billion worth of wheat and $6 billion of fruits, nuts and grapes� All told, the gross value of Australia’s agricultural production that year totalled $59 billion�

What’s involved?

The National Farmers Federation reports that the agricultural industry employs some 307,000 people in a variety of roles� Common careers in this sector include agricultural technician, crop farmer, agronomist and forester� Their responsibilities might include: sowing crops, vaccinating livestock, working to minimise the impact of farming operations on natural habitats, maintaining equipment (for example, the machines used to process milk on dairy farms), breeding animals and much more�

Where do agriculture industry employees work?

The agricultural sector is spread across Australia, with most workers found in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland� This loosely corresponds to the distribution of Australia’s farms, which cover 61 per cent of the country’s landmass� (Interestingly, the world’s largest station, Anna Creek, is actually in South Australia, where it covers six million acres – an area bigger than Israel�)

Of course, the agriculture industry can’t exist in rural isolation – especially given a recent report (Food, Fibre & Forestry Facts) found 60 per cent of the produce it generates is destined for export� As such, it is supported by a well developed supply chain and a variety of secondary industries that turn agricultural goods into a range of products (such as fibres, foodstuffs and ethanol)� If you include workers in these secondary industries, the agricultural sector can be said to employ 1�6 million people in capital cities, rural or regional areas and even overseas�

Entering the agriculture sector

The first category of jobs in the agriculture sector are those which require a specific STEM qualification. For example, to work as a veterinarian, engineer, agronomist or other graduate professional, you will need a specific degree.

The second category of relevant occupations in the agricultural sector are those for which you need a skill set rather than a specific undergraduate qualification (although these are often required as proof of educational attainment)� For example, it may be beneficial to have a background in agronomy if you intend to pursue a managerial role in the agricultural industry� However, this is not a requirement and you could still submit a competitive application if you have strong marks in an unrelated discipline as well as relevant experience�

Career prospects

According to the annual Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Outlook, Australia’s agriculture production is currently worth $59 billion and is predicted to rise to approximately $61 billion by 2023–24� This slow but steady rise will be welcome news for aspiring workers in the agriculture industry, after drought and global factors produced an approximate 6 per cent drop in recent times�

Agricultural organisations vary in size, but the largest can have many hundreds or even thousands of employees� As a result, there is room for advancement within some of the more technically demanding careers, allowing graduates to set their sights on supervisory and administrative roles�

How can I take advantage of my STEM background?

One factor affecting careers within the agricultural industry is the imminent threat of climate change, which as reported by the CSIRO, will cause ‘decreased precipitation over much of Australia���exacerbating existing challenges to water availability and quality for agriculture’� Other imminent challenges facing the agricultural industry include increasing populations (and food demand), the growing role of genetically

modified crops, new challenges with pests and diseases, the globalisation of the agricultural sector and the adoption of automation and other technologies�

Fortunately, these are all challenges that STEM graduates are well equipped to approach from different angles� As such, they will likely play a critical role in helping the agricultural sector to adapt, innovate and remain globally competitive�

Average salary

Salaries vary from role to role in the agricultural industry� Graduate veterinarians can expect to earn an average of $55,000 per year, while graduate agronomists can earn between $45,000–66,000 per year� Other professionals such as engineers and administrators can expect to earn salaries comparable to those found outside of the agricultural industry�

Choose this if you:

■ Are comfortable with roles that will likely require you to visit, or be based in, rural and regional areas of Australia� ■ Are confident around livestock and machinery (if this is a likely part of your occupation)� ■ Feel passionately about issues related to agriculture, such as food security and public health�

Agriculture

Biochemistry

Biology

Environmental science

Mathematics

Statistics

Computer systems and networks

Data science

Software engineering

Earth science

Chemistry page 72

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These are all challenges that STEM graduates are well equipped to approach from different angles. As such, they will likely play a critical role in helping the agricultural sector to adapt, innovate and remain globally competitive.

Banking and financial services

Overview

The Australian banking and financial services sector has three main categories: retail banks, investment banks and other assorted financial services providers�

The retail banking category is dominated by four institutions: the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ), the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), the National Australia Bank (NAB) and the Westpac Banking Corporation� Separately investment banks specialise in large, complex transactions such as mergers and acquisitions� They also help their clients, who may be businesses or private individuals, raise capital� The largest Australian investment bank is Macquarie Bank, which has around $480 billion worth of assets. Finally, the financial services category includes credit unions, stock brokerages, investment funds and insurance companies�

What’s involved?

What most careers in the banking and financial services sector have in common is this: they are concerned with transactions of various types, with a particular focus on managing financial assets for clients�

The federal government recognises several career categories in this sector including actuaries, mathematicians, statisticians, bank workers (for example, tellers and other retail bank employees), credit and loans officers, finance managers, finance brokers, finance dealers, insurance agents and insurance investigators�

From insurance broker to commodities trader, the diverse range of roles in the banking sector is equalled by the number of responsibilities those roles entail�

Banking sector workers may find themselves trading commodities, overseeing insurance packages, evaluating investments and arranging loans on behalf of clients� Retail bank workers also assist customers by receiving deposits, facilitating withdrawals and advising on retail banking products, such as personal loans and credit cards�

Where do banking and financial services employees work?

This may seem at first like a silly question in the context of the banking sector – and, yes, banking sector employees do work in banks� However, you may be surprised to learn they’re also found in various other sectors too, including law, the public service, consulting and education� Their understanding of financial processes and experience dealing with complex financial institutions make them highly valued employees�

While retail bank workers and insurance agents tend to be employed in a fixed location, it’s not unusual for other employees in this sector, especially investment bankers and finance brokers, to travel widely as they meet clients and evaluate investment opportunities�

Entering the banking sector

There are many paths that lead to employment within the banking and financial services sector. The one you take will depend on the career you decide to pursue� While some careers – such as retail banking and investment banking – can be entered into more easily with a bachelor’s degree, roles that are tightly regulated may require postgraduate qualifications or industry accreditation�

Once you have acquired the necessary qualifications, you will find banking and financial services jobs are usually obtained directly (for example, by responding to a job advertisement) or via entry into a graduate program�

Career prospects

The banking and financial services sector is, by necessity, well established in practically every functioning economy – so we can begin by noting that your career prospects in this sector are truly international�

As a graduate, you can expect to spend the beginning of your career acquiring the skills you’ll need in order to adopt more demanding leadership roles later on� Those roles range from branch manager at a retail bank to hedge fund manager at a lucrative firm. The speed of your career progression will also vary from industry to industry�

TAL graduates work alongside industry thought leaders with support from dedicated sponsors, buddies and career managers.

STEM graduates are also well trained in the type of structured thinking often required for the solution to complex financial problem

While it may take two to five years to attain a senior role in a small insurance firm, the pursuit of partnership in a large investment bank might be a ten to fifteen year career goal.

How can I take advantage of my STEM background?

As a STEM graduate, you will find your analytical skills and advanced numeracy are in high demand in the banking and financial services sector –and you would do well to emphasise them in any job applications� STEM graduates are also well trained in the type of structured thinking often required for the solution to complex financial problems (such as which assets to buy and when in order to maximise a return). You may find it particularly helpful to reflect on any maths or statistics subjects you’ve completed (or intend to complete) and identify any skills that will likely be appealing to future employers�

Average salary

Salaries in the banking sector range widely from around the national average to well above it� For example, the head of Macquarie Bank, Australia’s largest investment bank, currently earns around $18 million per year�

According to the Department of Employment, average salaries for common banking sector jobs are as follows: bank workers, $57,200; insurance agents, $55,796; finance managers, $118,000; actuaries, mathematicians and s tatisticians, $99,188�

Popular degrees sought by this industry

Computer systems and networks

Data science

Software engineering

Design and user experience

Artificial intelligence

Computer graphics and animation

Cybersecurity

Actuarial science

Mathematics

Statistics

Electrical engineering

Physics

Psychology

Learn more

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On the job

Ciara Crimmins

How did you get to your current position?

I joined AMP through the graduate program in technology� This involved six-month rotations, with my third being in the cyber team� At the end of the six months, I was offered a position as a cyber analyst! This role was a bit of everything – assisting with vulnerability management, reporting, data analytics and more� Then, in late 2019, I was promoted to threat intel specialist� This is a new role within the team, looking after threat intelligence� It’s really challenging but such a growth opportunity�

What was your interview process like?

For the AMP graduate program, there were several stages� First there was online testing after application� Then, a video interview, and finally an onsite assessment centre, involving group activities, an individual presentation and interviews�

The questions were generally less specialisation focused – particularly in the beginning – and more focused around ways of working, values, behaviours and responding to different scenarios� In the one-on-one interview, there were technical questions covering what coding experience I had and asking for technical solutions to problems�

What does your employer do?

AMP is a financial services company� We provide banking, superannuation, financial advice and insurance services to Australia and New Zealand, and are an international investment manager through our AMP Capital business�

What are your areas of responsibility?

I work within the part of cyber security responsible for detection and response. My first area of responsibility is to perform continuous monitoring and hunting for threats within the environment, based on threat intelligence gathered from many sources� I use this intelligence to output actions to be completed by the team� Secondly, this threat intelligence is used to provide actionable and readable reports for senior management and beyond, providing input into how the evolving threat landscape influences AMP’s risk profile. This can be part of regular reports or in response to an incident in the industry�

What do you love about your job?

What I’ve always loved is the changing nature of the job and getting to work on a variety of different things as the landscape shifts� The job is always interesting, as there can always be new technology or a new situation we need to respond to� I enjoy being able to think outside the box and come up with new ways to identify and mitigate threats�

Are the stress levels high?

The stress levels can be high, particularly in my new role as I try to set up new processes� As time goes on I expect this to drop� However, there will always be an element of stress in this area, due to the responsive and changing nature of the job� This keeps it challenging and interesting� At times there can be the need to respond out of normal office hours. With jobs that are based around responding to real-time events, this is a norm and something you work within�

Ciara Crimmins studied a Bachelor of Advanced Mathematics (Mathematics, Computer Science) and is a threat intel specialist at AMP.

Study

Bachelor of Advanced Mathematics, (Mathematics, Computer Science), University of Sydney, 2016

ROLE

Threat intel specialist, AMP

This threat intelligence is used to provide actionable and readable reports for senior management and beyond, providing input into how the evolving threat landscape influences AMP’s risk profile.

On the job

How did you choose your specialisation?

I wanted a job that was fast paced, dynamic and intellectually stimulating� Having previous work experience helped crystallise my thoughts and preferences� Trading fulfilled all the above criteria and I cherish the opportunity to be able to work with intelligent individuals whom I can learn from whilst challenging me to improve�

What does your employer do?

Exponential Trading is a trading company� We trade a diverse range of products including options, futures, stocks and ETFs in AsiaPacific markets.

What was your interview process like?

My interview process consisted of a maths test and an options test, followed by verbal interviews with the company founder and other company staff� The questions were mostly technical in nature and were meant to test my aptitude for the role�

What are your areas of responsibility?

I am an options trader on the Kospi desk�

Can you describe a typical work day? What was the last thing you worked on?

I usually check overnight market moves in the morning when I wake up� Depending on overnight moves, I’ll get into work an hour or so before the market opens, to get set up for trading� Most of my day is spent trading� I might get the opportunity to work on some side projects in Python if conditions are quiet� Once trading finishes, I’ll take an additional hour to complete my administrative work and reflect on the day’s trading� I am currently working on transitioning some reporting procedures from Excel into Python�

What are the career prospects with your job?

The company structure is very flat; I get to interact and work with everyone in the company regardless of position or seniority� There are possibilities of trading new markets and financial products, becoming the head of a trading desk or the head of options� The skills acquired during trading also allow me to branch into other areas of finance.

What would your career be if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?

I would be in portfolio management� While not as fast paced as trading, it has similar dynamics�

What do you love the most about your job?

I love making decisions on the spot and facing new challenges daily� I also enjoy working alongside smart people and problem solving� I get to mix my day up with trading and Python projects on the side�

What’s the biggest limitation of your job? Are the stress levels high?

Every financial market is unique so traders can get pigeon-holed into a specific market very easily. The stress levels are high compared to other jobs, as there is constant profit and loss feedback and pressure� However, I don’t have to work overtime or on weekends as markets are closed then�

What advice would you give to a student?

Don’t be afraid of trying a couple of different roles� Stay hungry, stay humble�

Celeste Chai

Celeste Chai studied a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Finance & Actuarial Studies and is an options trader at Exponential Trading.

Study

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Finance & Actuarial Studies, Macquarie University, 2013

ROLE

Options trader, Exponential Trading

I wanted a job that was fast paced, dynamic and intellectually stimulating.

On the job

What’s your job about?

If I said, ‘My employer is anticipating the changes in our ever-evolving future and working to find ways to protect the community’, would you have guessed I work in an insurance company? In the last six months I have been doing just that, with the work and culture you’d expect from a young tech start-up – not a typical insurance company�

I’m part of the analytics team; I’ve been using data to try to understand the behaviour of people� One of the projects I’ve been a part of is exploring the data picked up by an app IAG was developing, which discouraged mobile phone use while driving cars�

My job involves interacting with raw data, writing code to analyse the data and visualising and translating back to the business in a universal language� My workday looks like a bunch of coding (python) sandwiched between meetings� I’ll go to a workshop or dial in to a talk by the Data and Analytics Guild, the innovation team or our chief customer officer.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes� Understanding basic statistical concepts and basic coding skills is absolutely necessary� Students from STEM courses and most economics/finance courses should find the technical aspect of the job manageable� If you haven’t done any coding, there are so many free online resources�

How important are soft skills?

In terms of soft skills, communication is so important! Be transparent with your preferred ways of working� Communicate when you need support, can’t meet a deadline or when someone has misunderstood you� Learn to tailor your communication to your audience� Being able to learn quickly and ‘hit the ground running’ is incredibly important, but if you can’t, communicating this is more important�

What’s the coolest thing about your job?

I did some text analysis in one of my projects and found cases involving a specific social issue. We shared this with people from different parts of the business and to our surprise, they started clapping! I didn’t realise, but they had been looking for data around this data for a long time, with no results� The team was genuinely happy we were able to start doing something to support people going through a really rough time� To be a part of work that will make a difference in someone’s life – that is a cool feeling�

What are the challenges?

The analytics team have adopted agile ways of working; we all have laptops that we use to hot desk and we work from home all the time� My next rotation is in the actuarial team, who have a more traditional way of working� I anticipate this will take some getting used to�

What advice would you give to a student?

Sit down and be humble� Everyone knows more than you about something� Have humility and be respectful in every interaction� There are no exceptions�

Rosa Wang

Rosa Wang studied a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies/Bachelor of Science (Statistics) and is an analytics graduate at IAG.

Study

Bachelor of Actuarial Studies/Bachelor of Science (Statistics), University of New South Wales, 2017

ROLE

Analytics graduate, IAG

My job involves interacting with raw data, writing code to analyse the data and visualising and translating back to the business in a universal language.

On the job

Anima Sinha

Where did your passion for this field come from?

I became interested in technology and computer science because of my dad who worked in a public sector bank� He would always talk about how, unlike his bank, other private sector banks were making things easier and faster for customers as well as for employees with the help of technology� So, I decided to pursue a career in technology� I applied for the NAB Graduate Program and fortunately was successful in securing a graduate role in the technology team�

What are your areas of responsibility?

I completed my first rotation in the digital mobile team� I started with solution design activities where I was required to understand a business requirement and develop a high level design for the build team, who would then do the required development� I then got an opportunity to work as a devops engineer where my primary role was to write scripts to automate the deployment of software code and build objects in test and production environments�

Can you describe a typical day?

My day in the mobile devops team starts with a stand-up meeting where we provide status updates� Usually in the morning I will be busy writing code and managing software releases� Afternoons are either occupied with sprint planning meetings or troubleshooting issues related to releases�

Suppose a student was considering your career. What skills should they develop?

To be successful in technology, one must have the right balance of technical and soft skills� Today we work in a multicultural, agile environment that involves interaction with different teams� Interpersonal skills like influencing, negotiation and collaboration are essential to achieving success in technical roles�

Soft skills can be developed through a range of volunteer activities, part-time jobs and internships� I volunteered at Melbourne Space Program� I also got a fantastic opportunity to work as a technology intern at ANZ Bank and before starting with NAB I worked as an analyst at Accenture Australia� These roles provided me with great exposure to the Australian work culture and a strong foundation for developing and applying different soft skills that are critical for being successful in the workplace�

What sort of person succeeds in your career?

Technology is changing very quickly� Therefore, a person with a growth mindset who is keen to learn new skills, is flexible and adaptable, and who is self motivated to grow and perform will succeed and stand out�

I have found working in technology a steep learning curve� While this is a big plus, at times I get so engrossed in learning new technical skills that I do not prioritise participating in networking events and activities� So, I am booking in some time to meet people outside my stream and foster quality connections�

What advice would you give to students?

■ Demonstrate a growth mindset and flexibility. ■ Challenge the status quo to foster innovation�

Anima Sinha studied a Master of Information Systems and is a technology digital graduate at NAB.

Study

Master of Information Systems, University of Melbourne, 2017

ROLE

Technology digital graduate, NAB

Interpersonal skills like influencing, negotiation and collaboration are essential to achieving success in technical roles.

Day in the life

Matt Burgess

5.30 AM

The alarm rings but I’m hoping to snooze for a bit longer� I’ve been off for the past two days to recoup after Australia’s earnings season and a busy period in the markets� I quickly take a look at the headlines in case there’s something pressing that I might need to rush in and read up on to prepare for the Asian trading day� There’s some news on the US–China trade talks and Brexit but nothing that hasn’t been priced in or wasn’t expected� The emails from when I was off? They can wait� Woohoo, I can snooze!

6.15 AM

The alarm rings again and I feel rested� I get up, grab a drink of water and turn on ABC radio to get a quick rundown of the local news, then I’m out the door by 6�30 am to head into the bureau� I’m feeling a little lazy, so instead of biking the 20km to the city, I ride the 7km to Manly and jump on the ferry�

8.00 AM

Showered, shaved and suited up for the morning disclosure dump from the ASX� I quickly check in with my colleague Tim on anything pressing for the Australian markets� Then it’s a quick chat with peers in New York to get the scuttlebutt on Wall Street and a chat with my editor in Tokyo as we gear up for the start of trading�

9.00 AM

The US stock futures market opens – generally speaking, the best indicator of market

Matt Burgess studied a Bachelor of Science (Marine Ecology)/Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (Indonesia) and Master of Journalism. Matt is a superannuation reporter at Bloomberg.

sentiment globally� It’s flat, as expected� No news is good news but that could change in the next few hours with economic data releases or any breaking

news� There’s also the chance that President Trump may tweet� The impact that 280 characters can have on equity markets is astounding!

10.30 AM

The Australian equity market has been open for 30 minutes� Between Tim and I, we’ve written quick stories about the largest stock moves driven by earnings downgrades or company announcements� I quickly compile the opening market wrap with the largest stock moves and news that’s impacting Australia� I then get back to work on longer pieces that are hitting deadlines, while chatting with contacts who trade equities and foreign exchange to keep a sense of what’s happening in the stock market today�

12.15 PM

I send a message to my editors in Asia to let them know I’m heading out to an investment adviser lunch held by a prominent money manager and then catching up with a source for insights into a story I’m working on� I ask someone to keep an eye on the markets as things can turn in an instant� It’s awesome to have such close colleagues who all have each other’s backs� As they say: one team, one dream!

2.00 PM

I let my team leader know I’m back in the bureau after an interesting lunch and catch up� What was talked about during the lunch was too weedy for my area of coverage, so I’ve sent it along to the beat reporter for use in other stories and background for a possible interview later on�

4.15 PM

The Australian market has closed and I write a quick update on the stocks wrap that was published earlier� It’s been a quiet day in Australia and New Zealand� Not much has changed, but not all days are like this!

5.30 PM

Quick messages with another editor on the story that’s being published early in the morning – tweaks to wording and anything missed in the initial fact check� A final read and it’s ready to go�

I then take a sneaky look at Swellnet or Coastalwatch to see if there are any good waves to wash off the day and relax� Surf is pumping! Yes!

6.00 PM

Time to call it a day� I send a message over to my colleagues in Europe, for them to take over

monitoring the US equity futures market� I tell them it’s been a quiet day here for a change so we didn’t write anything� I get a note back acknowledging they’ve got the watch� It’s great to be part of a global newsroom!

Excellent, time for a quick surf� I let the team in Asia know that the Europe team is watching the futures market and I’m heading out�

Day in the life

Nicholas Ho

6.30 AM

Smooth jazz plays through the smart speaker next to my bed, as the morning light filters through my bedroom windows� ‘STOP!’ I groan from my bed� It follows my command and halts right on cue� After a quick round of calisthenics, I pour myself a bowl of cereal and chill out on the couch while reading top news stories of the day� After a quick shower I get ready for work and dash out the door�

7.30 AM

If I’m lucky, I manage to grab a seat on the limited-stops train, which brings me to Sydney’s Central Station in just half an hour� It’s a nice walk down to the office at Commonwealth Bank Square� I usually listen to an audiobook or a podcast episode during my commute – it makes the time go quickly and I learn something new too�

8.30 AM

I love starting my work day with a cup of green tea at my stand-up desk, scanning a few newsletters before checking my emails� It’s another opportunity to keep myself up to date on topics like financial intelligence, cybersecurity and the daily news� There’s chatter in the background as my team gradually makes their way into the office. Once my team assemble, we head downstairs to our favourite café for a quick coffee to start our day�

9.00 AM

Back in the office, it’s time to begin our peer code reviews: reviewing the coding work completed by

Nicholas studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering) and Master of Biomedical Engineering. Nicholas is a software engineer in the Digital, Operations and Technology division at Commonwealth Bank.

fellow engineers on the team� Code reviews are an essential aspect of a software engineer’s job� It can be tedious at times, but code reviews play a key role in effective collaboration, as we

all contribute code to a shared repository� My code is my team’s code and vice versa� I’ve found that reviewing code is the best way to learn about novel programming concepts and patterns from my colleagues� Everyone has had different experiences and sources of inspiration for their codewriting style� We try to make the process as enjoyable as possible by injecting some fun into our comments with emojis and some good-natured ribbing on the occasional mistake� Eventually everything gets merged into a single shared repository of code, which materialises into one of our many apps used by our customers�

10.30 AM

Finally, it’s code-writing time! I catch up with our team’s business analyst and fellow engineers to get all the information I need to start the coding task. I find coding enjoyable because it feels like I’m assembling parts of a very elaborate jigsaw puzzle� Thanks to the work of the team’s architect, we have an idea of what the complete solution should look like� Depending on what existing code we have, I usually have some locations in the code that I can use as a starting point and dive into building the next cohesive piece of the puzzle�

12.30 PM

Lunch time! One of my favourite times of the day� Normally I bring in a homemade meal, but sometimes I’m happy to treat my taste buds to one of the many culinary options around Darling Square� My favourite go-to meal is a Vietnamese crispy skin fried chicken and rice or a pork sisig from a Filipino restaurant nearby� I grab my lunch and walk across to Tumbalong Park and join the other graduates from my cohort� It’s always fun; lots of laughing and chit-chat� If we have time we go for a stroll along the harbour� Ah what a sight – Sydney Harbour, the blue sky reflecting on the sparkly water, never disappoints!

1.30 PM

Back at my desk and fighting off the food coma, I continue on with my coding task� A cup of tea helps me to concentrate�

2.00 PM

Time for the daily team huddle� We gather around a screen displaying the team’s project management board and each of us take turns to share what we’ve been working

on that day� It’s a good opportunity for me to ask for support from my wider team if I come across any difficulties or hurdles that block my work� It’s all quite informal; everyone feels comfortable to share their progress, which is important to the smooth running of the project�

3.00 PM

I return to my desk to continue coding� Once I complete the code, I upload it for my teammates to review� Occasionally our team has other meetings, which usually revolve around discussing the state of the project as a whole and re-assessing the work that needs to be done� Understanding the team’s project backlog of work means we start and deliver work at a consistent pace�

5.00 PM

Wow, this day has gone quickly! I really enjoy my work thoroughly and the people I work with make all the difference� On some occasions the graduates plan a dinner catch up after work� On other days I like to rest and relax at home, watching a movie or playing a video game� All in a day’s work�

Day in the life

Michael Freeman

8.00 AM

Alarm goes off� I quickly get ready, make myself a coffee and drink it on the five-minute walk to the office from our Manhattan apartment – which is lucky because really I’m a late night person�

8.30 AM

I arrive at the office and find out what’s for breakfast today� I grab a bagel (my favorite)� Being New York, you won’t find a better bagel anywhere else!

9.00 AM

I usually start off checking emails from overnight – catching up on any world news and reading trading stories from the previous day written by other traders� I’ll also order lunch using the corporate Seamless (Uber Eats) account� I think I might get some food from the greatest Chinese restaurant in Manhattan: China Chalet�

9.30 AM

Stock markets open in the US� I am in one of the US options trading teams� Mornings can be busy in the markets, so I am quite occupied with my desk duties of answering phones and booking trades for the traders� There isn’t much shouting or yelling like you see in typical Wall Street movies, because trades are mostly performed electronically rather than on the phone�

11.00 AM

Markets have quieted down, so I have some time to work on my

Michael Freeman studied a Bachelor of Commerce/ Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) and is a graduate quantitative trader at SIG. Michael is currently on placement in SIG’s New York office on Wall Street, completing his trader training.

Excel/coding projects� These kinds of projects can involve directly testing trading strategies, but can also involve creating programs and

spreadsheets to assist traders in assembling information and making decisions�

12.00 PM

Lunch arrives!

2.00 PM

One of the other graduates covers while I spend some time with the traders� We discuss some of the interesting situations they encountered during the day and how they responded� This is a great time for me to ask more questions, understand their decision-making and see how the concepts I’m learning in trading class apply�

4.00 PM

Markets close for the day� The trading team meets to discuss the interesting stories of the day and collaborate about trade ideas�

4.30 PM

Depending on the day, we either have trading class, where we learn about trading concepts; poker class, to help improve our decisionmaking; or mock trading class�

Today is mock trading, which is taught by senior traders to simulate trading stock options� This is done on a whiteboard without computers, as if we were in trading pits, so trades are made out loud� This is one of the main ways we can develop our trading skills and learn from experienced traders in a simulated environment� This allows everyone to hear each trade, inciting conversation about the decisions made�

5.30 PM

Time to head home� On the way, I’ll swing by my local deli to pick up a pastrami and roast beef sandwich for dinner�

8.00 PM

A few times a week, I’ll head down the road to nearby courts to play a game for SIG New York’s basketball team�

9.00 PM

We won! We’ll have a couple of beers to celebrate�

10.00 PM

I spend the rest of the night watching TV or catching up with family and friends back in Australia who are now awake�

12.30 AM

Time for bed!

Day in the life

Vicky Su

9.00 AM

I arrive at work and start the day off with admin tasks� I catch up on any emails and messages I may have missed, and then check if my overnight builds have passed� Today my timing fixes from the previous day have worked in my new build (yay!)�

9.30 AM

The execution team has its stand-up at 9�30 where we give a brief overview of what we did yesterday, what we plan on doing today, and any issues we may be encountering so it’s easy to find someone who can help out� Once that’s over, we head up to the top floor for breakfast and coffee�

10.00 AM

Back at my desk, I start a quick test for my bitfile from last night’s build as a sanity check after yesterday’s changes� I’ve already done thorough testing prior to this and there should be no functional changes, but better safe than sorry� We have some FPGAs in our lab downstairs so I firstly flash my bitfile onto one of the free FPGAs, then configure the connections to the appropriate interfaces on the server I’m using so that I can send and receive packets� I then run my script to set my configuration registers on the FPGA� We’re now good to start testing� I replay my pcap file I use for testing and send this to the FPGA and dump the output to another pcap� After some analysis of my pcap, I confirmed that my product is working as expected so I finally get to merge my pull request�

Vicky Su studied a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Programming Minor and is now working as a graduate software developer at Optiver.

11.00 AM

I don’t quite have enough caffeine in my system, so I head upstairs again for another coffee with some of the other grads�

11.15 AM

Time to get started on my next feature for my project� I take some time to figure out what parts of

the codebase need to be changed and start mapping out a plan on how to tackle the problem as I go� I then start diving into the code changes�

12.30 PM

Today’s lunch menu is fish of the day or tomato, spinach and ricotta tarts for the vegetarians, plus salads for everyone – all prepped and cooked by our lovely in-house chef and kitchen staff! Lunch is also a great time to socialise with colleagues and meet new ones too�

1.30 PM

This is probably when I get the most done in my day, especially when I don’t have meetings on�

Most days I am writing code (primarily in VHDL and System Verilog and sometimes C++ and Python)� Other days I will be doing testing in our lab or staging environment, reviewing or updating pull requests, or deploying my changes into production - the cool thing about working at Optiver is that I get to take ownership and be part of the entire life-cycle of my change from planning through to deployment, even as a graduate�

I also find some time to pop up to the top floor again to grab a snack or a cuppa with my coworkers�

5.30 PM

It’s time to clock off� Today happens to be a climbing day (I organise indoor climbing after work every week with my Optiver climbing crew)� We catch the train to St� Peters for a couple of hours of climbing at Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym before heading to our regular pizza joint near the station for dinner� If it’s not a climbing night, I’ll either have orchestra rehearsal, go to the PT classes provided by Optiver, catch up with friends over dinner, attend some sort of Meetup, or have the occasional quiet night at home�

On the job

What’s your name and job title?

Matthew Whitehead – junior quant trader�

What did you study?

Bachelor of Mathematics (Computer Science)�

How did you get to your current job position? For how long have you had it?

I grew up in Wollongong, NSW� I got my job at Tibra via the summer internship program through the University of Wollongong� I have been working for nearly two years now�

How did you choose your specialisation?

I chose my specialisation as it was the right balance of my skills and my interests�

What was your interview process like? What kind of questions were you asked?

It was a fairly straightforward interview process – many logic questions and riddles�

What does your employer do?

Tibra is a market maker, which means that we supply liquidity to the financial markets.

What are your areas of responsibility?

I am responsible for the research and deployment of trading strategies�

What are the career prospects with your job? Where could you or others in your position go from here?

There are many career development opportunities available to myself and my peers� Tibra has Tibra University, which is like a university but at work! It’s pretty cool as you feel like you’re always learning and becoming better at what you do� We are all encouraged to step up and take on a mentoring or leadership role at some point�

Could someone with a different background do your job?

We have people from many educational backgrounds working in the same team; most of them are from STEM based backgrounds�

What would your career be if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?

Anything involving technology, as that is my passion�

What do you love most about your job?

I enjoy the low-level details�

What kind of task do you enjoy the most?

The kind of tasks that require expert-level knowledge in that field to complete.

What’s the biggest limitation of your job?

It’s challenging but in a good way� No day is ever the same�

Which three pieces of advice would you give to a current university student?

■ Undertake a degree that you love and are genuinely interested in� ■ Marks matter! Try and put in as much effort as possible; it goes a long way� ■ Apply for work experience and internships; they are the best addition to your CV�

Matthew Whitehead

Matthew Whitehead studied a Bachelor of Mathematics (Computer Science) and is a junior quant trader at Tibra Capital.

Study

Bachelor of Mathematics (Computer Science), University of Wollongong, 2016

ROLE

Junior quant trader, Tibra Capital

Tibra has Tibra University, which is like a university but at work! It’s pretty cool as you feel like you’re always learning and becoming better at what you do.

On the job

Stephen Powell

What does your employer do?

I work at Tibra Capital, a proprietary trading firm that operates using a diversified set of strategic approaches on local and international markets� Tibra facilitates liquidity, price fairness and the efficient allocation of capital in financial markets through its trading activities� Operating in highly competitive and dynamic trading environments ensures Tibra is always challenged and must constantly innovate and use cutting edge technology to compete�

What are your areas of responsibility?

In my role as a quant trader, I am engaged in the trading front lines: researching, implementing and evaluating trading strategies� My role involves not only discovering the complex relationships that exist in the modern world, but also efficiently making use of trading systems�

How did you choose your specialisation?

I studied a dual Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Mathematics at The University of Queensland�

My original intention was to pursue civil engineering professionally� There was a clearly defined career path and modern structures are truly awesome� However, while undertaking an internship at a structural engineering firm, I realised I was more interested in the mathematics and problem solving involved in engineering than the reality of client focused project delivery and conservative design� Fortunately, my dual degree offered me alternatives� While I had no formal programming training, I had previously begun to explore programming as a way of better applying my mathematical knowledge� I applied for several internships through the university’s mathematics department and accepted an offer at Tibra’s Austinmer office. Following this, I was offered a graduate position�

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes� Innovation is at the heart of successful trading, with diverse team member backgrounds preventing stagnation and idea homogenisation� While a high level of mathematics and programming is not required, the ability to understand and communicate mathematical ideas as well as the desire to engage in program development is necessary� Tibra’s quants have mainly mathematics, engineering or computing experience� Prior experience or training in finance is not a requirement, with most having little exposure prior to joining� Although cliché, a willingness to learn, keep an open mind and take the initiative are all important attributes�

What’s the best thing about your job?

Completing a project and watching calculations happening at a speed even millions of individuals would be unable to compete with, is always thrilling� Modern trading occurs at a speed and scale beyond normal comprehension� The markets are constantly giving feedback and require us to constantly give innovation; everyone is working on something new and putting theoretical ideas into practice�

What are the limitations?

Financial markets are highly competitive� As such, Tibra has high expectations of its employees� Quant work isn’t for everyone and it is difficult to know prior to giving it a go� High expectations sometimes translates into longer working hours if a project is urgent, and international trading can also cause offset working hours�

Stephen Powell studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering)/Science (Mathematics) and is a junior quant trader at Tibra Capital.

Study

Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering)/ Science (Mathematics), The University of Queensland, 2018

ROLE

Junior quant trader, Tibra Capital

Innovation is at the heart of successful trading, with diverse team member backgrounds preventing stagnation and idea homogenisation.

On the job

What does your employer do?

TAL (This Australian Life) is a life insurer who prides themselves on protecting people and not things�

How did you get to your current job position?

I originally started at TAL as an IT intern where I worked for three months in the data space� A few months later, I was fortunate to come back as a business intelligence/data warehouse developer until I joined the graduate program in 2019� Since joining the graduate program, I’ve worked in the IT strategy & architecture team as well as the cloud engineering team� I’m currently on a rotation outside of IT in the innovation space�

What are your areas of responsibility?

In the rotational program this tends to change every six months, however some of my responsibilities have been around database development, vendor comparisons, azure resource manager, template building and uplifting development practices� I also try to get involved with various activities at TAL, whether creating internal promotional videos, helping to organise IT events and collaborating with my graduate cohort for fundraising/volunteering events�

At the moment I’m on an external rotation in the innovation space, where I’m trying to bring the knowledge and best practices I’ve learned in my previous teams to help uplift the team’s development practices� I’m also looking at different options for deploying a project, so I’ve been spending time learning about the different cloud technologies available� This week I’ve been participating in a Microsoft OpenHack event with another team member, so it’s fair to say there’s always some exciting opportunities available!

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Definitely! I think IT is such a broad area that you can almost always find something that will captivate you and allow you to excel� I’ve met a lot of people in IT who have come from completely different backgrounds�

What would your career be if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?

I’d probably have a crack at building a start-up/social enterprise�

What do you love most about your job?

The ability to rotate every six months and work in different areas of IT, allowing me to challenge myself and get a better idea of where I’d like to go career-wise in the future� I also love the work-life balance culture�

What’s the biggest challenge of your job? Do you bear a lot of responsibility? Are the stress levels high?

I always feel there’s more to learn in technology, which can be quite daunting at times� In terms of responsibility, I’ve been quite happy about being given ownership over a lot of large tasks throughout my working life at TAL, however this doesn’t mean I’m stuck working weekends and late nights� You have your usual ups and downs regarding stress, but it’s always at manageable levels� If it’s not, there’s your team to support you through it�

Aaron Long

Aaron Long studied a Bachelor of Information Systems and is an information technology graduate at TAL.

Study

Bachelor of Information Systems, University of New South Wales, 2018

ROLE

Information technology graduate, TAL

This week I’ve been participating in a Microsoft OpenHack event with another team member, so it’s fair to say there’s always some exciting opportunities available!

Charity, social work and volunteering

Overview

There are some 600,000 charities in Australia, contributing about $43 billion to gross domestic product each year� With Australia boasting the largest number of charities per capita in its history, the opportunities for graduate employment are abundant� The work charities do to address a range of social, political, health and environmental problems occurs alongside similar efforts by Australian volunteers� Social workers commonly work in tandem with charities and volunteers too, sharing a similar focus on marginalised populations� Irrespective of where social workers are employed, their career is a strictly regulated one with standardised entry requirements�

What’s involved?

The Australian charity sector responds to a wide variety of social causes� According to the ACNPC, ‘nearly half (43 per cent) of registered charities have social and community welfare as their main purpose, with religious charities making up about 22 per cent of these’. Not-for-profit organisations are also critical to community art initiatives, nature conservation efforts, animal welfare, mental health advocacy, aged care and more�

Volunteering Australia reports the highest proportion of Australian volunteers (37 per cent) contribute to sports and recreation organisations, with other popular causes including welfare and the community (22 per cent), religion (22 per cent), parenting, children and youth (16 per cent)�

The actual work of being in a charity or not-for-profit organisation varies widely� You may provide support to the homeless as a volunteer, or oversee the social media strategy of a not-for-profit organisation as a full-time employee� Established charities and not-for-profit organisations are complex entities that often require the same skills as similarly large private businesses – from legal advice to marketing coordination�

The Australian social work profession is broad and diverse, bringing together people from a range of backgrounds to focus on a spectrum of social issues� Social workers may find themselves involved in casework, counselling, advocacy and various forms of community engagement� Social workers often dedicate themselves to particular social challenges or marginalised populations� As such, many end up specialising in social work related to children, mental health, people with disability and so on�

As outlined by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), ‘Social workers also work in areas such as policy development, education and research particularly around issues of social justice, disadvantage and the marginalisation of people in their communities or in society’�

Where do people in this sector work?

Often, the most effective charities and volunteer organisations are those willing to go where others won’t� Couple this with the universal desire to give back, and it’s no surprise to learn – and this is no exaggeration – members of charities and volunteer organisations are found virtually everywhere� Whether they are assisting the urban homeless in Australia, or coordinating famine relief efforts abroad, people in this sector find themselves in a diverse range of settings�

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission reports that within Australia, the highest concentrations of charity organisations are in New South Wales (34 per cent), Victoria (24 per cent) and Queensland (18 per cent), with the remaining quarter spread across the other states� The distribution of volunteer organisations, says Volunteering Australia, follow similar patterns, though it is interesting to note a revealing statistic: the adult volunteer rate is 34 per cent in capital cities (3�7 million people) and 41 per cent outside capital cities (2�4 million people)�

The AASW says social workers work in all parts of the community, in both regional and rural areas and in various settings� These include hospitals, community health services, state and federal government departments, local councils, nongovernment organisations, educational institutions and international aid and advocacy bodies�

The Australian Government’s Job Outlook for social workers notes that the majority of social workers are employed in New South Wales (28�5 per cent), followed by Victoria (29�4 per cent), Queensland

(17 per cent), and Western Australia (8�7 per cent)� The remaining states have more or less equal proportions�

Entering the charity, social work and volunteering sector

Chances are, you have ‘entered’ the volunteering sector before – as a volunteer� You may even have supported a charity initiative like the World’s Greatest Shave or Daffodil Day� A career in the sector is oriented towards the same social outcomes but involves a full-time commitment� These roles can take many forms, from performing administrative services and planning events, to working with disadvantaged populations and coordinating community art projects�

Social workers assume an enormous amount of responsibility in the community, and as such, work within a well regulated profession� It is necessary to complete an accredited Bachelor of Social Work, which is a four year degree� Alternatively, students may complete a Master of Social Work, which is a twoyear postgraduate degree available to people from certain three-year bachelor degrees� These degrees emphasise both practical experience and a thorough knowledge of the theory of social work�

Career prospects

There are many roles within this sector, offering you the opportunity to progress upwards in your chosen organisation or move laterally as you apply your skills to different causes�

Encouragingly, the number of volunteer and charity organisations continues to grow� For example, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission notes that 70 per cent of charities have been active for over ten years – the rest are relatively new�

Social workers often pursue senior positions in many of the settings listed above� As community workers, they are in increasingly high demand� This is especially true as the average age of Australia’s population continues to increase� The Treasury predicts that the proportion of the population aged over 65 years will almost double to around 25 per cent by 2042�

How can I take advantage of my STEM background?

Charities and volunteer organisations seek out graduates who are strategic, skilled at analytical thinking and able to address problems creatively� They value the very same attributes as are cultivated in the STEM disciplines� They also hire graduates such as programmers, statisticians and medical personnel�

Social workers will almost invariably have to complete a social work degree� However, they may be able to take advantage of their undergraduate STEM training and apply for a two-year master’s program, which will expedite the necessary training�

Average salary

Salaries vary widely in the charity and not-for-profit sector, in large part because they are determined by the board of each individual organisation� Many choose to offer competitive salaries designed to attract people with the skills and experience necessary to help the charity achieve its goals� In addition, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations are entitled to offer perks such as salary packaging, which allows employees to access their pre-tax salary on things such as cars, computers and superannuation�

Most social workers are paid in accordance with a professional award rate� This ranges from around $60,000 per annum for graduate employees to $148,000 for level eight employees (those with significant experience).

Choose this if you:

■ Feel passionately about social justice, public health, the environment, human rights or another issue addressed by a charity or non-profit organisation ■ Can commit to completing a range of required placements (as a social work student), often working with marginalised populations in challenging contexts�

Chemical and materials processing

Overview

The heavy chemical industry converts raw materials, such as oil, metals and minerals, into more than 70,000 secondary products that are sold for use in other industries� These products include basic chemicals (such as chlorine, sodium carbonate and sulfuric acid), complex specialty chemicals (such as plastics, pigments and additives) and consumer chemicals (such as soaps, detergents and cosmetics)�

What’s involved?

The Australian chemical industry is critical to Australia’s overall economic health� It supplies 109 of Australia’s 111 industries and about 80 per cent of its output goes directly into other sectors, such as mining, advanced manufacturing, and food and agriculture� Encompassing 5,500 businesses nationally, the chemical industry includes some 60,000 people who contribute $11�6 billion to Australia’s gross domestic product�

Importantly, the chemical industry is a leading employer of Australian STEM graduates� Around 75 per cent of the world’s fastest growing jobs rely on skills from STEM disciplines, and many of those jobs are found in the chemical industry� They include roles in chemical engineering, product development research, quality assurance, hazardous waste management, process chemistry (the ‘scaling up’ of chemical reactions to create bulk amounts) and formulation chemistry (the selection of ingredients, such as flavors, binders and colorants, for a final product).

It’s difficult to describe any job duty as ‘typical’ when considering the range of occupations in chemical and materials processing. However, you may find yourself conducting studies on the long-term stability of products, managing clinical studies and pilot trials, monitoring reactions, developing sustainable consumer goods or investigating accidents to determine their cause�

Where do people in chemical and materials processing work?

According to the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, the largest specialities in this industry in order of decreasing size, are polymer product manufacturing, cleaning compound manufacturing, basic chemical manufacturing, fertiliser manufacturing and natural rubber manufacturing�

The states that employ the most people in this industry, again in decreasing order, are Victoria, New

DuluxGroup seeks graduates with degrees in chemistry.

The Australian chemical industry is critical to Australia’s overall economic health. It supplies 109 of Australia’s 11 industries and about 80 per cent of its output goes directly into other sectors.

South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania�

Entering chemical and materials processing

Several major employers in this sector have dedicated graduate entry schemes� These organisations include Orica, Incitec Pivot and DuluxGroup�

Needless to say, you will need a strong background in chemistry, chemical engineering or a related field like biochemistry or genetics� A bachelor’s degree will prepare you to be a researcher, a bench scientist or a member of a product development team� To pursue more complex roles, such as supervising others and working on novel technical problems, you will likely require a master’s degree or Ph�D�

Career prospects

Jobs in this sector are well paid and relatively stable� They are also highly valued outside the industry – a CSIRO study concluded that every job in the chemical industry created five jobs ‘in related supply chains’. Overall, the industry looks set to grow substantially� To quote a Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources report: ‘over the next several decades, the world will also see a number of social, economic and environmental changes that could impact the industry� New environmental regulations and social pressures could present great opportunities for the chemicals and plastics industry to supply new, innovative, environmentally friendly, socially conscious products to downstream industries�’

How can I take advantage of my STEM background?

It’s quite difficult to gain employment in the chemical industry without some sort of STEM background� If you’re interested in pursuing a career in this sector, it’s a good idea to load up on chemistry subjects and also consider studying areas that might be of interest to the industry in the future (such as sustainability and environmental science)�

Popular degrees sought by this industry

Chemical engineering

Chemistry

Biochemistry

Environmental science

Food and nutritional science

Mathematics

Environmental engineering

Agriculture

Earth science

Mechanical engineering

Biology

Petroleum engineering

Learn more

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Construction

Overview

The Australian construction industry is, as its name suggests, concerned with the development of buildings and infrastructure� This includes everything from residential homes to corporate skyscrapers, as well as all infrastructural projects, including bridges, roads, tunnels, freeways, dams, marinas and so forth� The Australian construction industry includes over 330,000 businesses nationwide and directly employs over one million people (around 9 per cent of the total workforce)� The industry includes an array of civil engineers, architects, designers, consultants, surveyors, conveyancers and trade professionals�

What’s involved?

While the end goal of a construction project may differ, the process behind its completion is relatively consistent� First, a client – be it a government department, a developer, a local council or a private individual – will decide what to build and consider timelines and any budgetary constraints� They will then hire consultants (often after a tender process), who use their expertise as architects or engineers, to carry out the design of the project with respect to any special requirements (for example, budgets or aesthetic goals)� Generally, the consultants oversee the subsequent hiring of the professionals who actually build the project� These include engineers, foremen, labourers, trade professionals, surveyors, site managers and so on�

A career in the construction industry could involve being present for any of the stages described above� For example, you might be a civil engineer hired by a firm like Arup to design new infrastructure projects and perform feasibility reports� Alternatively, you could contribute to the industry in a financial or administrative role (most larger construction companies have in-house legal and accountancy teams)�

Where do construction sector employees work?

The construction industry, says a report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, operates in the private and public sectors, and has three main goals: residential building, non-residential building and engineering construction� These activities are found across Australia and, as a result, the construction industry has a strong presence in both rural and urban areas�

Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra are predicted to experience the highest employment growth in construction over the next five years� Perth, previously known for high rates of construction employment opportunities, is now expecting an industry employment growth rate lower than any other Australian capital city and many regional areas�

Entering the construction sector

The entry requirements for a job in the construction sector change significantly from role to role� For example, to join a construction firm as a civil engineer, you will first need to complete a bachelor’s degree (usually with honours)�

Administrative and supervisory jobs in this sector often require specific degrees and tertiary training too� For example, project managers tend to have studied engineering or acquired specific postgraduate qualifications (such as a Master of Project Management)�

Career prospects

Despite the overall economic downturn caused by the slowing of the mining boom, the construction industry has grown steadily over the past few years, says a construction industry report by The Australian Industry Group� One indicator of future growth is the increasing urgency of infrastructure development and renewal projects� Infrastructure Australia notes that, with the country’s population set to hit 30 million by 2031, the country’s largest cities will have to accommodate an additional 5�9 million people� All of this means the construction industry offers the prospect of a relatively stable career well into the future�

How can I take advantage of my STEM background?

Research conducted by GradAustralia has shown that, among university graduates who work in the construction industry, 60 per cent have studied engineering, maths, IT or computer science� This fits with information on the government’s Job Outlook website, which lists

Downer invests a lot of resources in training grads and views them as the future leaders of the business.

One indicator of future growth is the increasing urgency of infrastructure development and renewal projects.

the essential skills of construction industry workers as including critical thinking, complex problem solving and maths – all skills developed within STEM degrees�

To take advantage of your STEM background, it’s a good idea to identify key skills in your target career and then see if you’ve acquired any corresponding abilities from your STEM training� You may be pleasantly surprised to discover there is more overlap than you expected�

Average salary

The average starting salary for entry-level graduates in the Australian construction and property services sector is $66,000 per annum� They generally work around 46 hours a week�

Choose this if you:

■ Enjoy working in large teams with professionals from a range of speciality areas� ■ Generally prefer committing to medium or longterm projects� ■ Possess solid communication skills and the determination required to bid successfully for government tenders and other lucrative contracts�

Popular degrees sought by this industry

Civil engineering

Mechanical engineering

Electrical engineering

Environmental engineering

Mining engineering

Environmental science

Robotics and mechatronics engineering

Computer systems and networks

Software engineering

Renewable energy engineering

Chemical engineering

Learn more

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On the job

What’s your job title?

Systems engineer at Aurecon�

What did you study?

A Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) (Chemical and Pharmaceutical)� On completing my degree, I secured my first job as a risk engineer in the oil and gas industry�

How did you get to your current job position?

I was interested in moving into the infrastructure industry due to its tangible impact on society and the opportunity to contribute to sustainable solutions for communities� However, I knew my options may be limited by my area of study� Through contacts I made at an Engineers Australia event, I approached Aurecon, as I’ve always been excited by their innovative and unconventional focus� In 2017, I was contacted about the position of systems engineer in the company’s rail team, due to my relevant work experience in risk engineering�

What does your employer do?

Aurecon is an engineering, design and advisory company� We bring our clients’ ideas to life through our technical and advisory expertise� We’re designing a better future in the infrastructure; defence and national security; built environment; energy, resources and manufacturing; and government spaces with projects that make an impact�

What are your areas of responsibility?

I work on major rail projects around Australia and beyond� I like to call what I do ‘technical project management’ – ultimately making sure the components of a design work together at project completion! This involves ensuring client needs are understood, interfaces and hazards are managed, and the design meets standards and requirements� It’s a great multidisciplinary role that involves technical skills but also strong coordination and management skills�

Can you describe a typical work day? What was the last thing you worked on?

A typical work day for me would include designing projects, writing project reports or managing data using various digital tools� This is complemented by meetings with clients and collaborating with project design teams through using our in-house ‘design-to-innovate’ tools� In a nutshell, the tools use design thinking principles and diverse perspectives to enable us to develop unconventional solutions for our clients�

The latest project I worked on was Inland Rail; a once-in-ageneration project connecting regional Australia to domestic and international markets� It completes the spine of the national freight network between Melbourne and Brisbane� It is a great team to work with and an exciting, monumental project, which will significantly impact Australia’s future and freight network�

What are the career prospects with your job?

There are many career path options within Aurecon and you aren’t limited to just a technical role, even if you start in one! As part of Aurecon’s graduate programme, there is no rigid schedule� You have the flexibility to pursue your passions, and design and fast track your career� If you want to head in a particular direction, there are always options available to you�

Lauren Thompson

Lauren Thompson studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) (Chemical and Pharmaceutical) and is a systems engineer at Aurecon.

Study

Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) (Chemical and Pharmaceutical), University of Adelaide, 2015

ROLE

Systems engineer, Aurecon

I approached Aurecon, as I’ve always been excited by their innovative and unconventional focus.

On the job

Why did you decide to join the construction industry?

My grandfather has built a successful career in construction and suggested it as a prospective career path� At the time when I started my degree I didn’t know much about the industry and the possibilities it could offer� Fast forward to 2019 and I think it was one of the best decisions of my life�

What did you study?

A Bachelor of Construction Project Management (Hons) at the University of Technology Sydney�

Why did you choose to join Icon?

Icon seemed to be the perfect balance between a third-tier building company and a large organisation where you are just a number� It has allowed me to be involved in the running of a project on a much deeper level, while having the benefit of the exposure to more complex construction methods, brilliant systems, processes and high standards�

What do you enjoy about your work?

I really enjoy my time on site and contributing to the daily running of a project� The best part is that every day is different, which makes my role dynamic and keeps me motivated� Working with subcontractors to meet deadlines, helping resolve issues and clashes, and ensuring we are delivering a high-quality product for our client are all rewarding and interesting tasks�

Since starting at Icon, I have been very lucky to be exposed to various parts of the business� Going through the cadet/graduate program has been a highly valuable experience as it has pushed me to learn in areas including contract administration, estimating and project planning, through to safety, programming, coordination of works and so much more�

What are some of the challenges you face?

Being a young graduate and not having enough experience and credibility behind me� It takes a while to prove yourself, especially as a female� A steep learning curve can also be overwhelming in the beginning, but it can be overcome�

How would you describe the team environment?

My team is not very big and because we spend so much time together it almost feels like a second family� Everyone has a unique personality and a distinctive style of working, but despite that, we have a strong bond� It gets busy and stressful at times, but we are always there for each other to tackle any issues that come our way�

What makes you proud to work at Icon?

Working with Icon means being a part of a strong brand across Australia and overseas that delivers high-calibre projects� It is also a people-focused business that supports growth and provides recognition for hard work and efforts�

What advice would you give to new graduates?

Set small achievable goals and aspire to learn something new every day� Work on overcoming the fear of asking questions and you will find there is a vast amount of support and encouragement out there�

Marina Zavaleeva

Marina Zavaleeva studied a Bachelor of Construction Project Management (Hons) and is a cadet at Icon.

Bachelor of Construction Project Management (Hons), University of Technology Sydney, 2018

ROLE

Cadet, Icon

It is also a people-focused business that supports growth and provides recognition for hard work and efforts.

Day in the life

April Clark

5.30 AM

The first of several alarms. I hit snooze and try to go back to sleep� I repeat this until I crawl out of bed�

6.10 AM

I begin my walk to the train station� I prefer to walk in the morning as it is a chance to get some fresh air and wake up for the day ahead� From there it is roughly a 20-minute train ride into work where I can get in a quick read or just sit and relax�

6.55 AM

I arrive at work and get my coffee fix with breakfast while I read emails and check my calendar for any meetings I may need to prepare for� I generally have a few urgent items I need to complete from the previous day, which I prefer to do first, as my day can be taken quickly�

More specifically, I need to review the document control emails in Aconex, which involves transmittals of revised drawings and workflows. This can be a mundane task, however it’s very important to review daily to ensure subcontractors, staff and consultants are working off the latest documentation�

Following that, I review a subcontractor’s delivery schedule, which has raised concerns on their ability to maintain program� To assist, I issue a revised forecast of delivery dates and quantity of materials required on site, to ensure program can be met�

Currently as the project coordinator for the hotel finishes, my days consist of workshops, site meetings/inspections, coordinating design, and managing procurement and program for a fast and quality delivery of the fit-out.

9.00 AM

After a busy morning I put on my personal protective equipment (PPE) and head out to site� I have a

April Clark studied a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management. April is a graduate at Probuild

brief discussion with the finishes supervisor to run through any concerns or issues on site and status program�

I always take a hard copy of the target program to track where each floor of works are at. I use the opportunity to speak with the subcontractors about challenges for upcoming works and raise any concerns about the expectations of our project�

You learn a lot and build good relationships by walking the floors on site and speaking with the subcontractors. I find being on site is one of the most important parts of my day�

11.00 AM

Following the site walk I need to issue constant reminders to subcontractors that require action� I also inform my line manager of any potential issues� A lot of my work involves managing works and speaking with people – this is where building good relationships comes in�

In construction you can get many curve balls� As there are so many aspects happening very quickly, it is impossible to be across every detail. But that is what I find most exciting about construction: finding solutions to problems!

12.00 PM

Lunch, errands and personal administration� I generally try to use this time wisely for personal administration, as I don’t have much time outside of work to organise this�

12.45 PM

I return after lunch recharged and full�

Throughout the day, checking my emails constantly is a must! However, being able to focus on my work is one of my key priorities, and turning off email notifications can help immensely�

I am currently working on creating a tender package for the design component of the food and beverage fit-out of a hotel. This involves creating a scope of works that will be incorporated into the consultant agreement� I am required to issue the scope, relevant drawings, specifications and agreement to the market for interest�

3.00 PM

I set time aside to undertake a review of outstanding samples� As a finishes coordinator there are many samples throughout the building that are required to be approved by the architect and client� A lot of paperwork and collecting physical samples is necessary� I enjoy the flexibility and variety in my day.

4.00 PM

Time for the weekly team meeting where we run through safety, quality, design, finance, procurement and program� We discuss key issues, milestones and ‘look ahead’ of works for required planning�

Workshops and actions develop out of the team meetings, in order to provide solutions and planning for upcoming works� It is a very collaborative environment� We also have a ‘trophy of the week’, both for rewarding work and ridiculous mistakes� Staff members pass on the trophy to acknowledge either! We always end the meeting with a laugh�

5.00 PM

I finish up any outstanding work before calling it a day and heading to the train station� I rush off to pilates/yoga to mentally and physically recharge and relax. I find this balance essential!

On the job

How did you choose your specialisation?

Before studying construction management, I originally chose to study architecture� Shortly after commencing studies, I started working at a fire services company and discovered I had more of an interest in construction management, so made the switch� I realised the best way to immerse myself in the industry was to secure a cadetship� An opportunity opened with Watpac and I started there in 2017�

What does your employer do?

Watpac is a multi-disciplined construction contracting group that has been delivering projects throughout Australia for nearly 40 years� These projects are across a variety of sectors including health and science, sports, defence, education, aviation, commercial, residential, food processing, hotels, aged care, and secure facilities�

What are your areas of responsibility?

A contract administrator generally manages costs and contracts, but we also cross into other areas such as design and coordination� My key responsibilities involve tendering and managing subcontractors, quality and environmental management, and managing the Green Star component of the project�

Can you describe a typical workday?

A typical day involves checking new drawings, processing invoices/ payments, managing variations, site checks for environmental and quality standards, and addressing issues that arise from this� Much of my work involves collaborating with team members from other disciplines (foremen and design managers)� The last thing I worked on was creating a pour break/concrete mix pour plan for the foreman to use, to ensure the mixes and mix designs were Green Star compliant�

What are the career prospects with your job?

There are many career paths from my position� I could become a senior contracts administrator and continue further up the commercial path, or go down another stream, becoming a design coordinator or site engineer� Each of these could lead to senior management positions�

What do you love about your job?

I love working with the site team on quality control measures and issues� I work with the site manager to manage activities such as concrete or reinforcement usage and crane installation� I enjoy the on-site, hands-on work supporting the commercial aspects of the project more so than sitting at a desk�

What’s the biggest limitation?

Coming from a non-traditional construction background or trade means I currently have limited knowledge about how a building comes together� This is why I take every opportunity to work on the ground and with site people to learn and gain more experience�

Do you bear a lot of responsibility? Do you work on weekends? Are the stress levels high?

My designated activities do bear significant responsibility as they impact the project commercially� My team relies on me for input as well as to monitor and control information� Long hours are generally worked in the construction industry and occasionally I work on weekends� Stress levels can be very high but working with a supportive team makes this better� Our team leaders are very understanding�

Delphine Shawcross

Delphine Shawcross studied a Bachelor of Urban Development (Construction Management) (Hons) and is a contracts administrator at Watpac.

Study

Bachelor of Urban Development (Construction Management) (Hons), Queensland University of Technology, 2019

ROLE

Contracts administrator, Watpac

I work with the site manager to manage activities such as concrete or reinforcement usage and crane installation. I enjoy the on-site, handson work supporting the commercial aspects of the project, more so than sitting at a desk.

On the job

Michael Cross

What did you study?

A Bachelor of Science (Earth Science)�

Can you tell us about any previous jobs you’ve held?

Since as early as I could – the age of 14 – I’ve had a job� I’ve always worked for what I have� In school, I always had a passion for science and furthered that passion in high school� I had numerous jobs while studying to get me through university� At one point I was studying during the day and then working night shifts in a factory� After I graduated, I got a job working on the Newcastle Airport terminal and runway upgrade, as an environmental and safety officer. I decided I wanted to further my geological career and chased a job as a geotechnician working for a geotechnical testing laboratory� Here I gained skills and knowledge I still use every day in my current job�

How did you get to your current position?

In 2018 I decided I needed a change� My role as a geotechnician wasn’t stimulating enough for me and there were no further opportunities to grow in that company in the near future� I had contacted my now current boss about a year earlier, chasing a job that at the time, was with Parsons Brinkerhoff (which was undergoing a lot of changes becoming WSP)� Towards the end of 2018, I was chasing him up every week until I finally got an interview. A couple of months later I had acquired my job at WSP as a graduate engineering geologist, which I started in January 2019�

What are your areas of responsibility?

Geotech investigation and field testing, design, site supervision, 3D geological modelling, soil and core logging, liaising with clients and subcontractors, reporting, proposal writing and project set up�

Can you describe a typical work day?

I do a lot of field work. Typically I am out in the field undertaking geotechnical investigations 75 per cent of the time� I have done geotechnical fieldwork on numerous projects: mine and dam expansion projects, Burrawang to Avon Tunnel (BAT), mine subsidence investigations and Sydney Trains drainage investigations�

What do you love the most about your job?

I love being out in the field. You get to work with different people from all walks of life� You get to see locations few people see – some of which are inaccessible to the public� Working in the Southern Highlands on the BAT project, I got to see a beautiful part of Australia that I likely wouldn’t have gone to otherwise� I feel like I am constantly learning and testing myself when I’m out in the field. I also enjoy being in the office; it’s a good change sometimes� It is also in a beautiful location right near Newcastle beach�

What’s the biggest limitation of your job? Are the stress levels high?

As much as I do love fieldwork, I spend a lot of time away from home, which impacts my ability to do sport and train throughout the week� Stress can sometimes be reflected when budgets and timeframes are restraining�

Michael Cross studied a Bachelor of Science (Earth Science) and is a graduate engineering geologist at WSP.

Study

Bachelor of Science (Earth Science), University of Newcastle, 2016

ROLE

Graduate engineering geologist, WSP

Typically I am out in the field undertaking geotechnical investigations 75 per cent of the time.

Special Feature

Bruna Rocha

What is your current role?

I work as a structural engineer in the bridges team at AECOM� I am also the chair of the Young Engineers Australia Western Australia committee�

How did you get to your current position?

I applied for quite a few graduate positions, including the graduate structural engineer position in the AECOM bridges team� I received offers from some other companies, but the outcome from AECOM was going to take a few weeks� Although I really wanted to work with the AECOM bridges team, I was scared I could end up without a job if I didn’t accept one of the offers I already had� I discussed this with a member of the Young Engineers committee who was a graduate at AECOM� He had a discussion with managers within the company and they ended up fast tracking my application because they were really interested� It was a great outcome�

Why did you become a member of Engineers Australia?

During my master’s by research degree, I felt I was becoming a bit isolated from the engineering profession� It is easy to become so focused on your research that you end up not seeing the bigger picture� I joined Engineers Australia so I could attend events and stay up to date with the engineering world outside of my research bubble�

Suppose a student was considering your career, what skills should they develop?

I would suggest they develop their communication and writing skills� As students, we often underestimate how much writing we will be doing as engineers� Although our studies mainly focus on mathematical calculations, in the real world there is a lot of writing and communication involved�

How does being a part of Engineers Australia benefit your career?

It has allowed me to meet so many inspiring engineers who have done some amazing work� This gives me the motivation to be the best professional I can be� I’ve also made friends with many people who go through the same challenges I face, and this provides a great sense of community and support� Additionally, the roles I’ve taken within Engineers Australia have given me the ability to develop skills I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to develop so early in my career�

What do you love most about your role with Engineers Australia?

I love that I get to work with other motivated young engineers to deliver events that benefit our community� I also like that my role – and the responsibility that comes with it – means I am often out of my comfort zone trying different things and learning more about myself�

What is your best advice for graduating engineers?

My best advice is not to be afraid to ask for what you want or need� If you are genuine, passionate and share your goals with others, they will try to help you� Just don’t forget to do the same for them�

Bruna Rocha studied a Master of Engineering Science (Structural Engineering) and is a structural engineer at AECOM. Bruna is also the chair of the Young Engineers Australia Western Australia committee.

Study

Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), Federal University of Santa Catarina, 2015; Master of Engineering Science (Structural Engineering), Edith Cowan University, 2018

ROLE

Structural engineer, Bridges team, AECOM; Chair, Young Engineers Australia Western Australia committee

I joined Engineers Australia so I could attend events and stay up to date with the engineering world outside of my research bubble.

Cybersecurity

Overview

Believe it or not, internet usage rates continue to rise, as people rely increasingly on internet access for business and pleasure� For example, the number of broadband subscribers and the volume of data downloaded in Australia has continued to increase, with 94 per cent of adult Australians using the Internet to conduct banking, pay bills, or buy and/or sell goods and services�

Unfortunately, the global shift online, while advantageous in many ways, has also exposed individuals and businesses to the ever-present threat of cybercrime� From hacking servers to steal private information, to sharing ‘ransomware’ files that spread with viral efficiency, cybercriminals have a range of tactics they can use to enrich themselves, sabotage competitors or generally cause mayhem�

Cybercrime was estimated to have had a US$600 billion impact on the world in one year alone� According to annual surveys by Telstra, security breaches have major impacts on businesses, including loss of productivity, corrupted business data, distrust, external fines, litigation and loss of intellectual property, reputation and customers� In Australia, 60 per cent of businesses experienced at least one disruptive security breach a month in the past year, with phishing and compromised emails being the most common�

ASIO is a unique workplace with an important purpose. The staff are committed to deliver on its mission of safeguarding Australia and our way of life. The cybersecurity industry has developed in response to such threats and aims to protect individuals and organisations while mitigating the damage of any attempted cyber-attacks�

What’s involved?

The cybersecurity industry employs a broad range of people in roles associated with IT, network design and engineering� Common job titles include infosec officer, cryptographer, security engineer, security administrator and network analyst� These jobs all have two central goals: first, to prevent breaches by implementing an appropriate security protocol� Second, to help businesses recover as quickly as possible when compromised by a cyber-attack� Cybersecurity workers may also develop and promote policies or protocols designed to minimise the impact of cyber-attacks on Australian businesses and private individuals�

Where do people in this sector work?

The omnipresence of online operations in the business world means the skills of cybersecurity experts are highly valued in a wide range of organisations� Generally, these organisations fall into three categories� First, cybersecurity experts may work directly for IT-oriented companies such as Google, Deloitte, Accenture and Microsoft� Second, they can provide technological support within non-IT companies that store sensitive or proprietary data. This category includes financial institutions,

Deloitte’s threat intelligence team conducts further research to provide recommendations for clients on how to best protect themselves.

A career in cybersecurity can see you starting with a well known company, often for a competitive salary and with excellent opportunities to advance.

charities, educational institutions and large retailers and wholesalers� Finally, the government’s commitment to supporting cybersecurity has resulted in the creation of numerous public service jobs (for example, at the Australian Cybersecurity Growth Network)�

Cybersecurity professionals almost always work in an office, though they may occasionally travel off site to review security arrangements at data storage and colocation centres�

Starting a career in cybersecurity

The importance of cybersecurity has led to the development of dedicated master’s degrees at the University of New South Wales, Deakin University, Swinburne University and others� Visit postgradaustralia.com.au for more information�

However, it’s possible to prepare for a career in cybersecurity while completing a more general degree in a related discipline, such as information technology or computer science� To increase your chances of getting hired by a leading firm, it will be advantageous to prioritise the attainment of high marks in relevant fields of study, such as digital forensics, network security operations, programming or advanced operating systems�

Career prospects

Skills in cybersecurity are in high demand, with skill shortages in Australia and internationally� This offers the added benefit of higher salaries to attract rare talent� The Australian Cyber Security Growth Network (ACSGN) estimated that the shortage resulted in a loss of $405 million in revenue and wages in one year alone� Australia’s demand for cybersecurity skills will increase by 18,000 positions by 2026�

This is good news for students who study relevant disciplines, such as computer science, programming and information technology� A career in cybersecurity can see you starting with a well known company, often for a competitive salary and with excellent opportunities to advance�

Average salary

The average starting salary for entry-level graduates working in cybersecurity is $65,000–$75,000 per annum� They generally work around 42 hours a week�

Popular degrees sought by this industry

Computer systems and networks

Learn more

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Software engineering

Electrical engineering

Data science

Robotics and mechatronics engineering

Statistics

Actuarial science

Mathematics page 68

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On the job

Claire

How did you get to your current position?

I’ve been in my team for about four months, but I’ve worked for this employer for over five years. I’ve been a software developer, a project support officer and now a security practitioner� We had a restructure recently and I was asked if working in emerging technology was something I’d want to do, so here I am� I look at an emerging technology to try and understand what we’d use it for, what its benefits and limitations are and how we can use it securely�

What does your employer do?

I work at the Australian Cyber Security Centre, a part of the Australian Signals Directorate, which aims to improve cyber security for the whole of Australia� We do a range of things, from responding to incidents to providing advice on how to protect yourself online from malicious cyber activity� My section looks at emerging technology, which is technology that is out there but hasn’t had mass adoption yet, so we can provide advice on its risks and how to mitigate them� I’m in the prototyping team and right now we’re about to start building a software-defined network.

Suppose a student was considering your career. What would you advise them to study?

People in my career come from a range of backgrounds with a computer science focus, such as network engineers, software developers, systems architects and so forth� Soft skills are important too; I’ve been required to write project documentation and write briefs to executives, so communication skills are a must� Also, you should definitely pursue work experience, internships and any other opportunities that are open to you. STEM is a huge field; there are a lot of cool things to try�

What do you love most about your job?

I love getting to find out about new things� My job is all about looking at the cool, new technology coming out, which is awesome� I also get to run the Canberra Girls’ Programming Network, which runs workshops that teach girls how to code� It’s one of my favourite tasks� My job is pretty great – I don’t really work weekends, it’s not physically demanding and it’s pretty flexible. I have responsibility, but I also have a really supportive team that is amazing� The biggest limitation is probably the paperwork� It can take so long to achieve things sometimes!

What advice would you give to someone beginning a graduate job?

Spend some time with the business side of the organisation, not just the capability/technical side�

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done in your life?

One of the coolest things I’ve ever done is participate in the Unmanned Airborne Vehicles (UAV) Outback Challenge at Dickson College, where we got to fly UAVs and work on autonomous packet drop systems�

Claire studied a Bachelor of Software Engineering and is a security practitioner at the Department of Defence.

Study

Bachelor of Software Engineering, University of Canberra, 2014

ROLE

Security practitioner, Department of Defence

I also get to run the Canberra Girls’ Programming Network, which runs workshops that teach girls how to code. It’s one of my favourite tasks.

On the job

How did you choose this field?

I completed a university assignment about the military uses of nanotechnology and it really peaked my interest, so I went looking for careers in the same kind of field. I came across the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) website, which was advertising the role of a scientific intelligence analyst, and decided this was what I wanted to do�

What does the DIO do?

DIO is an all-source intelligence assessment organisation where information from a range of sources – both nationally and around the globe – is transformed into reliable and incisive insights that help defend Australia and protect its interests� DIO is on the forefront of worldaltering events as they happen and sometimes even before they happen�

What are your areas of responsibility?

I work in DIO’s counter proliferation and terrorism branch, where we work towards preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)� As scientific analysts, we analyse the capabilities and threats from countries of concern in the areas of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons� This involves keeping up to date with technological advances and how they could contribute to a country’s WMD programs, as well as informing Defence and other government customers of the threat and how a country’s WMD program contributes to its broader strategic goals�

What do you love about your job?

I love that I am contributing to something really important� Everyone at DIO has their own area of expertise and is valued for the experience and insight they bring� It doesn’t matter if you’re a graduate or a section head; if you’re the expert then DIO will trust you to deliver the information to customers� This could be anything from publishing formal written assessments, through to briefing senior levels of government face to face� It gives you a real sense of purpose and lets you see how much impact your work can have�

What’s the biggest limitation?

Working with classified information can make it difficult to talk about your job� This can be particularly frustrating when someone decides to tell you all about a topic you know a lot about and you can’t tell them how wrong they are. The flip side of working with classified information is that you can’t take work home with you� While that results in the occasional long day or weekend at work, it’s a great feeling to know when you step out of the office, your time is your own�

What advice would you give to a student?

Don’t be afraid to study courses in a field completely unrelated to your major if it’s something that interests you� I took a course on international security studies as an elective because I thought it sounded interesting, which led me to complete a minor in security, terrorism and counterterrorism� Now I work in a role that combines my science majors with my interest in security studies�

Graduate name

Emma studied a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) (Physics and Nanotechnology) and is a scientific intelligence analyst at the Defence Intelligence Organisation, Department of Defence.

Study

Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) (Physics and Nanotechnology), Murdoch University, 2016

ROLE

Scientific intelligence analyst, Defence Intelligence Organisation

It doesn’t matter if you’re a graduate or a section head; if you’re the expert then DIO will trust you to deliver the information to customers.

On the job

How did you get into this field?

I worked a number of casual jobs from retail to tutoring, before realising I wanted to gain practical experience surrounding my interest in computing and technology� I ended up applying for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) cadetship program and received an offer with the Department of Home Affairs� Through my cadetship I gained experience in different areas of the ICT division and was given the opportunity to take on six or 12-month placements throughout the program� The coordinators were really helpful in taking our preferences and interests into consideration. Upon finishing the program, I joined the cyber risk services branch�

What are your areas of responsibility?

The cyber detection and response section is responsible for the monitoring, identification and response to cyber threats to the Department’s ICT environment� My role involves cyber threat analysis within our cybersecurity operations centre, cyber incident response, vulnerability management and situational awareness using various tools�

Can you describe a typical day?

My typical day varies depending on whether we have received any urgent notifications or critical alerts� If so, the day is spent investigating the incident, removing vulnerabilities and communicating with respective business areas and stakeholders� On other days, its business as usual: monitoring and looking out for suspicious activity or critical incidents, assessing requests, investigating vulnerabilities using cybersecurity systems and writing reports�

Suppose a student was considering your career. What would you advise them to study?

Any degree in relation to computer science or engineering with a strong background in coding, data analysis, software development and networking would give you the technical knowledge required for the role� Getting to know technology trends and what types of technology you’re interested in would be beneficial, alongside effective communication and collaboration�

What do you love about your job?

The work across my varied rotations has been very interesting and rewarding but working in the cyber risk services branch is particularly exciting� I love that cybersecurity is a bit like detective work� We are continuously monitoring and detecting serious vulnerabilities in the departmental network and ICT systems� I really enjoy working in a collaborative environment learning from others and contributing to the overall mission of the Department�

What advice would you give to students?

Be open to trying different things� Having a willingness to learn, working in different roles or projects and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone provides you with experiences that further your career�

Melissa Nguyen

Melissa Nguyen studied Information Technology (Information Systems) and is a cyber-security analyst at the Department of Home Affairs.

Study

Information Technology (Information Systems), Australian National University, 2018

ROLE

Cyber-security analyst, Department of Home Affairs

I love that cybersecurity is a bit like detective work.

Defence

Overview

How big is the Australian defence industry? To answer that question, it’s necessary to first make a distinction between the Australian defence industry and the Australian Defence Force� The former describes those companies which design, manufacture and maintain quality military equipment, while the latter describes the 60,000 military personnel who put that equipment to use� This section will focus on jobs in the defence industry�

Many people employed by the Australian defence industry have an ambiguous role, which can make it difficult to assess the sector’s size and contributions. This is largely because many of the same firms that often service the military are engaged in important civilian work� However, the general consensus reached by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission is that the Australian defence industry employs approximately 27,000 people� They work chiefly for military contractors, such as BAE Systems, ASC, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon�

There are also 3,000 small-to-medium enterprises, comprising about half of the Australian defence industry� All must apply for membership to the Defence Industry Security Program, which maintains ‘the integrity of Australia’s Defence capability by ensuring Defence Industry maintains its security responsibilities and safeguards the supply chain’�

What’s involved?

The defence industry supports the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by designing, manufacturing and maintaining military equipment, as well as providing a range of services, such as transport and secure data storage� According to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, the Australian defence industry organisations also export about $750 million worth of defence products and services each year�

Numerous professionals contribute to the defence industry, from civil engineers and physicists to accountants and shipbuilders� Their responsibilities are equally varied, ranging from the development of new information technology systems to construction of military transport� A survey of recent military contracts finds Australian defence industry partners involved in a range of projects� These include the development of vehicles to detect and neutralise improvised explosive devices, the provision of emergency airborne rescue services to support the ADF and the maintenance of critical infrastructure at various military facilities�

While success in the defence industry can be lucrative – Australia’s largest military contractor, BAE Systems, has global annual revenue of approximately $30�5 billion – it depends greatly on competitiveness and the ability to adapt quickly to new circumstances� After all, there are only so many contracts to go around�

Where do people in this sector work?

The Australian defence industry is confined to no one city or state – it is, instead, found across the country in both urban and regional areas� For example, the primary shipbuilding areas are found in Osborne

(South Australia), Henderson (Western Australia), as well as Cairns (Queensland)�

Major military contractors are equally dispersed, with head offices in Queensland (Airbus), New South Wales (Rockwell Collins and Thales), the Australian Capital Territory (Lockheed Martin and Raytheon) and South Australia (BAE Systems and ASC)�

As an employee of the Defence industry, your work environment may vary from a corporate office (for example, while preparing bids and tenders for an engineering firm) to rugged terrain (for example, while participating in the assessment of new military hardware)�

Several of Australia’s largest military contractors – Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon – are foreign-owned, which means they can offer careers with significant scope for international transfers and work abroad�

Entering the defence industry

To win contracts, companies that do business in the defence industry rely on the ability to attract and retain talented graduates from various disciplines� Consequently, several of them offer internships and graduate positions to students and graduates who possess desirable skills – technical or otherwise�

Raytheon, for example, offers internships and regularly goes on to hire students ‘with strong academic grades’ and the ‘ability to work in a team environment�’ Airbus, an aviation company that is also Australia’s fifth largest military contractor, recruits graduates for a two-year program that includes work experience in the Airbus, Airbus defence & space, and Airbus helicopters divisions�

Generally, defence industry organisations recruit high-achieving students from STEM backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on those from engineering and maths�

Positions are also available in the public bodies that regulate and issue contracts to the defence industry� The Department of Defence employs more than 20,000 Australian Public Service (APS) employees who aim to defend Australia and its national interests� The Department of Defence has its own graduate program that offers multiple streams and career paths� The engineering stream, for instance, offers three six-month rotations across Australia, with opportunities to be involved in the Future Frigate program, guided weapons systems, the Air Warfare Destroyer program and more�

Career prospects

The future of the Australian defence industry is a contentious issue. The industry benefits from large amounts of investment from the federal government, which is eager to ensure jobs (and wealth) are created domestically, not abroad� The Australian Government has committed to investing $200 billion, over the next decade, into upgrading and modernising Australia’s defence capabilities� The investment includes an ongoing naval shipbuilding program, specific projects to engage, attract, train and retain a highly capable STEM workforce, improving Australia’s cybersecurity capabilities and support for small and medium enterprises delivering defence capabilities�

How can I take advantage of my STEM background?

STEM graduates are highly valued in the defence industry� With a STEM degree, you can compete for roles at private organisations, such as engineering and construction firms, or apply directly for jobs at the Department of Defence� Importantly, while your technical skills will be tested as part of the application process, you will also be expected to demonstrate certain personal attributes�

To quote the Department: ‘just as important as your qualifications are the personal qualities you can bring to the role – particularly integrity, curiosity, objectivity and your ability to think critically�’

Popular degrees sought by this industry

Electrical engineering

Mechanical engineering

Software engineering

Computer systems and networks

Aerospace engineering

Robotics and mechatronics engineering

Data science

Civil engineering

Mathematics

Chemical engineering

Environmental engineering

Cybersecurity

Design and user experience

Artificial intelligence

Learn more

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On the job

Rebecca Holmes

What’s your job about?

At sea, marine engineers are one of the officers in charge, responsible for the marine engineering department� Our department provides engineering and maintenance capabilities to ensure the seaworthiness of the ship�

I lead and manage the team responsible for maintaining and repairing the ship’s structures, propulsion systems, electrical generation and distribution, and associated mechanical services�

My team also looks after the main and auxiliary machinery, engines, automatic and remote control systems, hydraulics, air conditioning and refrigeration, ventilation systems and electrical power generation, and conversion equipment� My role involves resource management – assigning and scheduling personnel, assets and equipment to the task at hand�

Ashore there are a wide range of opportunities across Defence� I could work on system specifications, acquisition and through-life support, system certification or machinery trials� I could also find myself in a human relations role coordinating the training and management of sailors and officers or recruiting future Australian Defence Force personnel�

What are the greatest things about your job?

The Navy is a great way to start your engineering life� There are all of these opportunities; if you grab them with both hands you’ll go places you never thought you would go� When I commenced my career ten years ago there were only two women in my engineering cohort at the Australian Defence Force Academy� While it was visibly noticeable that the girls were outnumbered it wasn’t an issue� I had a really supportive group of peers going through my training� You’re respected as a member of the team, supported and recognised for your contributions and achievements�

My highlights include participating in the Centenary of ANZAC deployment� I was on board HMAS Anzac for a fivemonth deployment around the world� We were in Turkey for ANZAC Day taking part in a naval review led by the locals, sailing past Anzac Cove�

What are the limitations?

Military engineers don’t do a lot of traditional engineering design work� We generally don’t build things from scratch, but we have so much other work to do� In the Navy you’re not just one type of engineer� You gain a breadth of experience� You live an active lifestyle� It is hard work, but the work is worth it� You know you’re achieving something�

At sea, connectivity can be a challenge� Your work environment is so busy and Wi-Fi is intermittent, which can impact staying connected with people back home� Navy does recognise the importance of staying in touch and good Wi-Fi is becoming more common� What makes up for it is the team around you� You form a close-knit community at sea�

Rebecca Holmes studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) and is currently completing a Master of Project Management. Rebecca is a marine engineer in the Royal Australian Navy.

Study

Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), Australian Defence Force Academy –UNSW Canberra, 2013; Master of Project Management, 2020

ROLE

Marine engineer, Royal Australian Navy

You’re respected as a member of the team, supported and recognised for your contributions and achievements.

On the job

What’s the coolest thing about your job?

The Army sets you up to achieve beyond your expectations� I’ve worked in leadership, management and command positions, and instructional and logistics positions� I’ve managed multimillion-dollar assets and I’ve travelled the world� I have completed a masters in the United Kingdom, conducted work experience in Sweden and been deployed to the Middle East�

It’s really pleasing when you do something in the office and see the fruits of that labour out in the wider Army for years to come� I’ve worked on weapons and body armour, and I’ll watch the news – watch deployed soldiers – and think, ‘I had a hand in that and it

On the job What does your role involve?

All officers in the ADF get posted to new positions every two to three we get experience in a variety of roles, ranging from maintenance management, project engineering, regulatory oversight and more� My first posting was to a C-130 Hercules squadron, which included management of a technical workforce, assuring compliance with technical regulations and aviation risk as a project engineer for the acquisition of the P-8A Poseidon, involved drafting compliance findings for airworthiness certification, and developing engineering and maintenance support systems to sustain the new aircraft� wouldn’t be that way if not for my idea or the work I did’�

Military engineers often don’t specialise in one field as civilians are able to, but we will work with people who’ve worked in a specific field for 10, 20 or 30 years. You’re not stuck in a lab or behind a computer� You get out into the field, leading and managing people and creating solutions� In the Australian Defence Force you could find yourself designing and building systems, programming a robot, designing bridges or designing planes� The

Benjamin Harington

Benjamin Harington studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) and a Master of Science in Gun Systems Design. Benjamin is an Army officer in the Corps of Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

years� For an engineer, this means management� My latest position opportunities are limitless�

How did you land your job?

I was looking for a part time job and was considering joining the Army Reserves� While browsing the Defence Jobs website, I discovered the Defence University Sponsorship (DUS) program, which would pay for the remainder of my degree, pay a salary and secure my employment for four years following graduation� I decided to join the RAAF and am here 11 years later�

There are 13 different engineering jobs across the Navy, Army and Air Force� Outside of engineering, there are many other rewarding careers with requirements ranging from year 10 to a university degree� The ADF offers more than 200 different career opportunities�

Jocelyn Williams

Jocelyn Williams studied a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and is an electrical engineering officer in the Royal Australian Air Force.

Day in the life

Monique McLennan

6.00 AM

I get up and make a cup of tea to start my day� I make sure to water my pot plants before I leave the house�

7.00 AM

I get the train and connecting bus to Garden Island Naval Defence Precinct where I now work�

8.10 AM

When I arrive at work and log in, the first thing I do is check my emails and action any that I can straight away�

8.20 AM

I get started on the task of the day, which often includes designing parts to be installed on the ship structure of the naval vessels I work on� It’s pretty exciting� I contribute to the design of parts that go on the Royal Australian Navy’s ships�

9.00 AM

Some days I’m required to get on board a navy ship and do an inspection, so I’ll put on my hard hat, safety glasses, hi vis and steelcapped boots and head over to the docks� That’s a really thrilling part of my day – actually getting up close and personal with the ship and its technology� I’ll take notes on the ship for measurements and locations, as well as take input from the ship’s crew� I may even take some photos of the area to help me understand the issue� This can take all morning, but it’s one of the best parts of my job as an engineer here�

12.00 PM

It’s lunchtime� The weather is often sunny and the bay is beautiful, so I go and sit outside with others from my team to enjoy the view of the yachts on Sydney Harbour and birds flying by.

Monique McLennan studied a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering/Bachelor of Science and is a mechanical engineer at BAE Systems.

12.30 PM

Using my notes from earlier, I’ll develop an analysis of the scope of my project�

2.00 PM

Time for an afternoon tea break� I keep some Earl Grey stocked at my desk!

3.00 PM

This is the time of day when I often feel lowest on energy, so it’s important for me to stand up and stretch my legs – sometimes just getting some fresh air and going for a walk� This is a great way to reset and refocus on the task� I’m also able to look at the task from other angles while I’m away from my desk�

4.00 PM

As it’s approaching the end of the day, I like to try and leave whatever I’m working on at a good place, to pick up from tomorrow�

5.00 PM

Time to grab the shuttle bus and head home on the train�

6.00 PM

When I get home I like to cook dinner so that I have enough food for lunch tomorrow, as well as for dinner�

7.00 PM

Depending on the day I’ll go for a bike ride with my partner before bed or maybe play some online board games on my PC with friends�

Day in the life

Cassandra Heffernan

6.30 AM

The day starts early, giving me about an hour to get ready� I have a cup of tea, morning breakfast and feed my two cats, all with a show on in the background� I live 20 minutes away from my work at the Defence Science and Technology (DST) site in Edinburgh, Adelaide’s north-east� My partner works close by so I drop him off on the way�

8.00 AM

DST has flexibility with start and finish times, so I can negotiate my preferred work hours with my supervisor to be any time from 7�00 am–7�00 pm� I choose to start and finish work earlier, when my brain is actually working! I typically kick off the day having a quick morning chat with the team� Next it’s checking and responding to emails, which usually takes about half an hour� These can influence which specific tasks I will work on for the day, including preparing and attending meetings with relevant team members or stakeholders, reading relevant research papers and reviewing documents�

10.00 AM

The way my work is structured, I lead a team that has sole responsibility for an interdisciplinary research study� I rely on regular meetings with my supervisor and colleagues, and prefer to do that in the morning so I can then work on their feedback during the day�

Cassandra Heffernan studied a Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) and is a human systems scientist at Defence Science and Technology, Department of Defence.

When undertaking human factors research, the focus is on how it can support our Defence stakeholders – in particular, the Royal Australian Navy� Our current research focus is

exploring the use of uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Navy� This involves examining the effects the increased level of system integration from these new information sources has with ship on task performance, operator roles and operator workload during a maritime tactical picture compilation� We then discuss how that question can be answered, which is typically through ‘human-inthe-loop’ experimentation� I work collaboratively with an engineer to create the necessary simulation software needed to run my study, and also with my team to determine what is needed to record the results�

11.00 AM

Following the team meeting, I liaise with the software engineering team to turn the psychology requirements into simulation requirements� At times this can be a challenge as I don’t come from a computer background and they tend not to come from a psychology background! Together we work towards a common language which, through an iterative process of discussion and demonstrations of the software, can lead to a successful end product�

12.30 PM

At lunch time, I typically sit outside with others from my building for a chat and a laugh� When the weather is nice, I like to use the time to walk around the base, where I often see many sheep, cockatoos and kangaroos� There are many lunch time activities you can take part in including social soccer and volleyball, and even board game clubs you can join�

1.00 PM

Each week, the software engineer provides ‘drops’ for me to review� This helps move the translation from discussion of requirements into something more tangible� I can play with the simulation and ensure it meets the needs of the experiment� To help me do this, I bring in fellow colleagues with specific engineering, psychology or Navy backgrounds�

Two Navy specialists are embedded alongside us and as scientists, we make sure our work has the necessary operational value for our stakeholders� These sessions often involve participating in the simulator in the way we would expect our stakeholders to respond, then identifying areas for improvement� This is then provided to the software engineer for feedback�

3.00 PM

The last part of my day typically involves solo research work: reading relevant journals, further refining my experimental method or compiling results for our Navy stakeholders�

4.00 PM

I typically finish work around 4�00 pm each day� Once I am home, I usually go to the gym and spend time with my friends and family� The flexibility of my work times at DST helps create a great work-life balance, which ultimately helps me feel refreshed and keen for the next day!

On the job

How did you choose your specialisation?

I started out doing a double degree in arts and science and hated it� I’ve always loved IT but didn’t consider studying that alone until I realised I wasn’t interested in what I was initially studying� After I changed into software engineering I was leaning towards teaching VCE IT, however this was before I gained experience developing in a professional environment� Within months of starting my internship I was sure this was what I wanted to do long term�

What does your employer do?

We build and maintain software solutions, often for defence and intelligence customers� I work as a developer in an agile team currently building legislation drafting software for UK and Scottish Parliaments�

What was your interview process like?

I applied online and was given a phone interview followed by a three-person panel interview� There were technical and non-technical questions, and the interviewers were very open about the fact that interns were not expected to be experts, as they had not yet completed their studies� This meant that whilst it was still a formal interview, it was very comfortable�

Can you describe a typical work day?

At about 9�30 am the majority of us head out for the daily coffee run and then my team’s daily stand-up is at 10�30 am� During our two-week sprints my day is a mix of writing code for a current ticket and testing/reviewing the finished tickets completed by team members� I also take part in regular sprint ceremonies including reviews, retrospectives, planning and backlog refinement meetings. We are based in the CBD so there are always heaps of options for lunches and morning teas�

What are the career prospects with your job?

We are constantly made aware of opportunities to undertake additional training to further build our skills� For example, during downtime on my current project I was able to complete scrum master training to refine my knowledge of agile processes� There are always a number of interesting and exciting projects being worked on by the various teams� As these grow and evolve over time, there is the possibility of not only joining them as a developer but also possibly leading them�

What do you love the most about your job?

The flexibility. While I was still studying I was given the freedom to work the hours I wanted� This meant I was able to work full time over the breaks and not at all when I needed to study for exams� As a full-time employee I am ]given the freedom to come in early and leave early as long as I am present within the main working hours�

What advice would you give to a university student?

■ Study something you are passionate about� ■ Take your studies seriously all the way through; there will be plenty of time to work when you finish. ■ Research internships and graduate roles early�

Casey

Casey studied a Bachelor of Software Engineering and is a software engineer at Leidos.

Study

Bachelor of Software Engineering, Monash University, 2020

ROLE

Software engineer, Leidos

... the interviewers were very open about the fact that interns were not expected to be experts, as they had not yet completed their studies.

On the job

How did you get to your current job position?

I originally applied to the C-27J platform as a configuration and data management officer with the technical services team� I started in 2017 as a technical services officer until 2019 when I transitioned into my current role as an aircraft structural integrity engineer� I was given the option of joining the distinct design services or ASI/MTCH services teams� I chose the ASI/MTCH team because the work would be broader and give me a wider range of system and engineering�

What was your interview process like?

The interview was with a member of the HR staff, the team leader and the chief engineer� The platform members were interested in my application as I was a graduate engineer applying for a technical position� They indicated that after developing knowledge and further experience within the industry, I would have the opportunity to advance my career as a professional engineer�

The questions were stepped to develop an understanding of my experience, team dynamics and my interest in the aviation industry� I was also asked about my honours thesis and what I believed were the qualities required to work in the industry�

What does your employer do?

Northrop Grumman is proud of its established relationship with the Commonwealth of Australia and is committed to enhancing its business and geographic footprint in the country� They have a strong customer base in Australia and have been supporting a variety of defence and civil programs here for more than 20 years� As a leading provider and integrator of autonomous, C4ISR, cyber, logistics and strike systems and solutions, Northrop Grumman works with Australia’s Defence Force to ensure border and Pacificregion security and mission success� Northrop Grumman is deeply committed to growing its investment in Australia through partnerships and acquisitions�

What are your areas of responsibility?

My broad responsibility is to support and ensure the platform’s aircraft are structurally sound to perform the missions and roles expected by the operator� My current responsibility is in support of the structural condition monitoring system (SCMS), which in short, provides the data capture of the aircraft’s structural condition as it evolves over the life of the platform�

My typical work day can cover a range of activities to support the SCMS� This may involve development or review of the system’s routine reports, review and design of the updated system and assisting team members� The last thing I worked on was updating process instructions and maps for our document management system�

Do you bear a lot of responsibility? Are the stress levels high?

The level of responsibility in my current role is high, however stress levels are often moderate due to the work culture emphasis on work/life balance� Everyone in the team is keen to help and develop my knowledge base to facilitate continued growth and learning�

Scott Xing Du

Scott Xing Du studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Aeronautical)/Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) and is an ASI engineer at Northrop Grumman.

Study

Bachelor of Engineering (Aeronautical)/Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics), University of Sydney, 2019

ROLE

ASI engineer, Northrop Grumman

Everyone in the team is keen to help and develop my knowledge base to facilitate continued growth and learning.

On the job

How did you get to your current job position?

I have been working with Rheinmetall Defence Australia since February 2019� Initially, I met Rheinmetall during a seminar held at university about the current projects and upcoming opportunities in defence� One thing led to another and I had an interview for a position that needed me to travel to Germany for two years�

I was a little nervous before my interview, but it turned out I had already met a few of the interviewers during the seminar� The interview was a general conversation about the project and role, my interests, my experience and whether moving to Germany was something I was interested in�

What does your employer do?

Rheinmetall is a leading provider of innovative products in defence for Australia and other international customers� Rheinmetall will provide the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with the new BOXER COMBAT RECONNAISSANCE vehicle as part of the LAND400 Phase 2 program�

What are your areas of responsibility?

Currently, I’m on an international assignment as a systems developer/engineer in Germany with Rheinmetall Electronics� My major area of responsibility is in developmental test and evaluation to verify functionality of mission equipment electronics and software at the component and system level�

Can you describe a typical work day? What was the last thing you worked on?

My daily tasks include developing test methods for software verification and then creating automated software tests to verify these test methods� On other days, I am involved with integration and system level verification activities within the laboratory, or travelling off site for extended system commissioning, testing and evaluation�

The last thing I worked on was the LANCE turret in Breman at a test facility about two hours drive from our HQ� My tasks primarily included checking functionalities and isolating problems during live testing� I was also corresponding with development teams at HQ to find solutions and make rapid on-field updates.

What do you love the most about your job?

I would say the most interesting thing is the commissioning, test and evaluation work. Specifically, working inside the BOXER CRV and performing diagnostics during live dynamic testing with the weapon system! At times it can be challenging– you have to adapt and solve new problems all the time, but this is something I find very enjoyable�

What’s the biggest challenge?

There is a lot of travel involved in the job, especially when the system is going through commissioning, field-testing and evaluation, or perhaps even verification and validation with the ADF� This type of work can involve long hours in the field or laboratory, which can be demanding, so that’s definitely something to consider�

What advice would you give to a university student?

Prepare thoroughly for interviews! Learn about the company, ongoing projects, major milestones finished and upcoming, work culture etc� And of course, remember to ask questions during your interview!

Umesh Mutubandara

Umesh Mutubandara studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical, Aerospace) (Hons) and is a systems engineer/ developer at Rheinmetall Defence Australia.

Study

Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical, Aerospace) (Hons), Queensland University of Technology, 2018

ROLE

Systems engineer/ developer, Rheinmetall Defence Australia

The interview was a general conversation about the project and role, my interests, my experience and whether moving to Germany was something I was interested in.

On the job

Robert Oates

What does your employer do?

Saab Australia is a defence and security technology company� Their main business is developing a combat management system (the software that controls the weapons and sensors on navy ships), but Saab also develops many other technologies from combat, communications and security systems, to mixed reality and cybersecurity solutions�

What are your areas of responsibility?

In my first year I worked in the underwater department, developing technology for Australian and Swedish submarines� I worked on building my team’s ability to easily create augmented reality experiences from 3D computeraided design (CAD) models� This involved using a CAD program to adjust models of submarine components, such as water tanks or winches; programming any actions within augmented reality, such as animating moving parts; and giving augmented reality demonstrations to various people� I was also involved with developing software for the system that drives the Australian submarines, which involves writing code and testing it using virtual submarine simulators or a physical room set up with computers to imitate real submarine equipment�

I have just entered my second graduate rotation and moved to the maritime department� I’m currently completing an eight week induction course to get me up to speed on developing the software for Saab’s combat management system� This involves learning about different weapons and sensors, and learning about the software development processes and tools used at Saab�

What do you love about your job?

Although the initial novelty of working on submarines may wear off, it is rewarding to know the code you wrote is running on a submarine somewhere and helping Australia’s defence capability� There are lots of smart people around to learn from and I’m always surrounded by interesting projects and technology� The opportunity to continuously learn new technical skills to assist in solving problems is what I love most�

What’s the biggest limitation?

Working in defence can be a slower pace than some industries� This probably suits people who are selfmotivated and enjoy taking their time to do a job well, however it may not suit people who thrive on tight deadlines, high pressure and a rapidly changing environment�

What advice would you give to a student?

■ Get as much work experience as possible� The domain of the projects you are working on is less important than the skills you get to use� For example, engineering a space shuttle may sound more interesting than engineering dishwashers, but the space shuttle may involve primarily administrative paperwork, while the dishwasher may involve more creative engineering design� The best way to figure out what a job is like is by speaking to people in the field and trying it out yourself� ■ Go on an international exchange�

I have never spoken to someone who has regretted this decision�

Going on exchange was beneficial to my career as it offered new learning opportunities, boosted my grades and provided a point of difference for my resume and interviews�

Robert Oates studied a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Hons)/Bachelor of Commerce and is a graduate engineer at SAAB.

Study

Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Hons)/ Bachelor of Commerce, Monash University, 2018

ROLE

Graduate engineer, SAAB

...it is rewarding to know the code you wrote is running on a submarine somewhere and helping Australia’s defence capability.

Education and training

Overview

The world-class Australian education sector is widely considered a vital resource to Australian society and has also become a $20 billion export industry that attracts international students from far and wide� The education and training sector involves teachers in elementary, primary and high schools, as well as academics and university staff, TAFE instructors and a range of people in administrative and support roles�

What’s involved?

Think of the education sector and you’ll probably think first of teachers� The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that 288,294 teachers work in Australia’s school system, along with around 100,000 administrative and clerical staff�

The administrative and clerical staff include bookkeepers; education aides; gallery, library and museum technicians; general clerks; ICT support technicians; office managers; school principals; and secretaries� They are joined by a range of other supporting staff, such as caretakers, commercial cleaners, greenkeepers and handypersons� The education sector also employs many non-teaching professionals, including counsellors, librarians, life scientists and sports coaches�

The tertiary education system employs around 15,000 teaching academics, 15,000 research academics and 27,000 academics who do both� Academia is concerned with the pursuit of research, education and scholarship�

Academics are people who work in the education sector, either as a teacher or researcher at a university or other higher education institution� They are typically people who study and analyse their area of specialisation before sharing their findings through teaching, publishing and participating in public discussions�

Where do education and training employees work?

Australia boasts a well developed education system that includes preschools, primary and secondary schools, universities and other tertiary institutions (such as TAFEs), and a range of programs that support adult education� An ongoing trend is the rise of online educational programs, with many colleges pushing content to the web, allowing students and teachers to interact from virtually any location�

Entering the education sector

The path you take to enter the education sector will depend largely on which branch you’d like to join� Broadly speaking, careers in the education sector are split into four categories: those in the public education system, those in the private education system, careers that provide support (administrative, managerial or otherwise) within educational organisations, and academic roles�

If you’d like to work as a teacher, you will need to meet the academic requirements for employment as a teacher in your state� Generally, this involves the completion of a relevant bachelor degree (a process that usually takes four years) or enrolment in a postgraduate Master of Education� Working teachers are then expected to satisfy continuing education requirements throughout their careers�

By default, all public sector appointments are meritbased, with schools generally expected to advertise all non-casual positions that will be occupied for more than twelve months (the specific requirements change from state to state)�

This applies to both teaching and administrative staff� Independent and private schools have a lot more autonomy when it comes to recruitment and will often advertise vacancies on job boards or in newspapers� You can also contact them directly to discuss career opportunities�

A career as an academic will often begin with shortterm or casual positions as a tutor� To secure these positions you need to be a standout performer as a student� This means highly competitive marks (ideally including some academic merit prizes), strong relationships with faculty and successful admission to an honours program (many of which require prospective applicants to possess a distinction average and several references)� You might also demonstrate that you’ve been involved in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)�

Teach For Australia’s Leadership Development Program allows participants to share their skills where they are most needed – as teachers in secondary schools – while they earn a master’s in teaching over the course of two years.

If you enjoy working as a teacher – and many do find it immensely rewarding –there are many opportunities for career progression.

From this point, it’s a matter of continuing to distinguish yourself through excellence in teaching and research, so that you can pursue new academic opportunities as they arise� You’ll need to make a concerted effort to publish articles in prestigious journals or take up extracurricular activities�

Career prospects

As a profession, teaching is known to be relatively stable, with appealing working conditions� While recent studies have shown, quite alarmingly, that teaching has a high attrition rate – around 30–50 per cent of teachers leave the profession within their first five years – the government has responded with a range of policy initiatives designed to create a more supportive, creative and innovative education system�

This is partly because, as existing teachers retire and the population expands, Australia’s education system will need to grow, attracting and retaining excellent teachers� The former Department of Jobs and Small Business predicted the education system would need to hire an extra 16,400 primary teachers and 9,800 secondary teachers by 2023�

If you enjoy working as a teacher – and many do find it immensely rewarding – there are many opportunities for career progression� You can pursue promotion, either as a head teacher or a member of the school’s senior administrative staff (including vice-principal and principal) or transfer to other schools in the pursuit of more challenging or appealing opportunities�

Outside of teaching, career progression opportunities include promotion within an educational department, involvement in regulation of the education sector and advocacy for a range of educational organisations�

How can I take advantage of my STEM background?

The most obvious way to take advantage of your STEM background is to pursue a career as a teacher of maths or sciences� Indeed, there is currently great demand for teachers with STEM training� The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) identified a shortage of teachers in secondary subjects including IT, physics, maths, general science, chemistry and biology, with 25 per cent of students in year 7 to 10 taught maths by a teacher not trained in the subject area� This shortage will make your STEM background extremely appealing to schools and recruiters�

Alternatively, the generic skills you gain during the course of a STEM degree – such as analytical thinking, the ability to communicate and a knack for mastering new concepts – will stand you in good stead if you decide to pursue other opportunities within the education sector�

Day in the life

Steph Thompson

6.30 AM

Today I woke up, spent around 15 minutes getting ready, then headed off to the gym� The gym is a great way to start the day and gives me the opportunity to wake up and mentally prepare myself for the day ahead� If I am feeling like a bit of a sleep in, or have a half day, I will head to the gym after school� However, I do prefer it in the morning as I like to keep my afternoons free for students needing help� I generally get ready at the gym then head to work, but today I went to my friend’s house for a cup of tea before her first day at university this year�

8.00 AM

Today I got to work at 8�00 am� Getting to school early allows me to get into the groove of the day and print off all my resources before the real rush starts� Before period one I prepared for my first class and set up my classroom for my year 10 practical activity�

9.00 AM

Today I had my year 10 biology class in period one� They are a particularly challenging class compared to most of my others, but they are really funny� I had planned for a revision of our previous lesson then to start on a practical activity, but we had a year 10 assembly for the last 20 minutes of class� So, we moved straight into the activity, which involved creating a DNA and RNA strand out of lollies, then labelling and documenting the model� The students seemed to enjoy the activity� I think it was just because they really wanted to eat the sweets, but a win is a win� As the term has progressed this class has significantly increased their engagement levels, which has been great�

10.20 AM

At recess the school hosted a large morning tea function for all the staff� This was great; free food always is� It was also a good opportunity to catch up with some of the other staff members who I don’t see often. I’m finding it difficult to head to the staffroom to socialise as my desk is down the other end of the school, but I am lucky enough to have a great group of people surrounding me and friends in the buildings that are close�

11.00 AM

I had period two off, which gave me some time to organise some worksheets and things for my next couple of lessons� It also gave me the opportunity to go and see the year level coordinators and get their opinions on a couple of questions I was having about assessment procedures� I also had time to check some of the many emails I get every day� They range from students messaging about the homework they have or haven’t done, to teachers sharing resources�

12:10 PM–3.06 PM

In period three and four I had my two year 7 classes� They are both up to the same lessons, which is introducing phases of the moon and eclipses� Both of my year 7 classes are great� They still aren’t too happy about the seating plan I have in place, but they are working really well together in their table groups so that’s what they don’t see� What’s best for their learning

Steph Thompson studied a Bachelor of Science (Applied)/ Bachelor of Business (Management)and is a science teacher for Teach For Australia.

isn’t necessarily sitting next to their friends�

3.30 PM

On a Tuesday we have a working group meeting that involves a review of any big announcements or progressions in our working area, which is the science faculty� Today’s meeting was mainly about ‘spicing’ up our APKs (access prior knowledge)�

6.30 PM–8.30 PM

I had training tonight, which was a good release. I find having a social outlet through sport is a great way to not get stuck in school 24/7� Having the opportunity to play a sport I love, be competitive and socialise with my friends allows me to go back to school recharged�

10.30 PM

I try to go to sleep at around 10�30 pm, but that doesn’t always go to plan!

Electronics

Overview

The electronics industry is usually thought of as including the businesses and factories that produce consumer products with electrical components� However, for the purposes of this article, we will take a broader approach and consider all the roles across numerous industries that graduates with appropriate electrical training can fill.

Electrical, electronic and computing engineers, as well as electricians and specialist technicians, are vital to many industries and sectors, including entertainment, transport, infrastructure, manufacturing, health, government and mining� They build, maintain, develop and troubleshoot electrical devices and systems, working on everything from advanced medical robots to the stadium lighting at major sports events�

What’s involved?

Electrical engineers are responsible for the equipment, machines and systems we use for the generation, distribution, utilisation and control of electric power� By contrast, electronics engineers focus on electronic components, circuits and systems� Electricians are tradespeople who install and repair wiring in buildings, equipment and machines� (You can read more about what’s involved in electrical and electronic engineering by turning to page 20�)

Where do people in this sector work?

Electronics engineers work for various organisations, from engineering firms to mining companies. Victoria employs 40 per cent of Australia’s electronics engineers, with NSW employing a third and the share of the remaining states ranging from one to ten per cent� Electrical engineers are similarly distributed across organisations, with NSW employing the largest proportion (39 per cent), followed by Victoria and Queensland� While electrical engineers often work at a desk, both roles can involve extensive travel and site visits to attend meetings and inspections, or to inspect equipment, ensure that it complies with relevant standards and carry out maintenance�

Entering the electronics sector

There are various organisations that hire electrical and electronics engineers through dedicated graduate programs� These include Arup, BAE Systems, Honeywell and Cochlear, as well as the public service

Honeywell are known for their technology including their work in electronics.

Like many tech companies, Cochlear does what it can to promote STEM careers through sponsoring and participating in various functions and activities.

Victoria employs 40 per cent of Australia’s electronics engineers, with NSW employing a third and the share of the remaining states ranging from one to ten per cent.

and a range of consumer businesses such as Sony, Philips and Hitachi�

Career prospects

While the number of electronics engineers is set to decline slightly over the next few years (from 4,100 to 3,900 by 2023 says the Australian Government’s Job Outlook site), competition for available workers has historically ensured a strong employment rate within this profession� There are many more electrical engineers (around 18,800) and the government predicts that ‘new jobs and turnover from workers leaving may create approximately 6,000 job openings over the next five years’.

Recent data from the University of Adelaide has shown that electronic, electrical and computing engineers find better paying jobs faster than other graduates, with 78 per cent securing a full-time job within four months of graduating�

How can I take advantage of my STEM background?

Your STEM background will be indispensable when pursuing a career that involves electronics or electrical systems� In fact, you will require a degree in electrical or electronic engineering, with additional study of physics, maths and computing often recommended� Electrical engineers who wish to work as a chartered professional must also complete an Institute of Engineering and Technology accredited master’s degree�

Popular degrees sought by this industry

Computer systems and networks

Software engineering

Data science

Electrical engineering

Mechanical engineering

Robotics and mechatronics engineering

Artificial intelligence

Design and user experience

Computer graphics and animation

Cybersecurity

Manufacturing engineering

Actuarial science

Learn more

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Energy and utilities

Overview

The energy industry is responsible for the production and distribution of energy, water and gas across Australia� It overlaps considerably with the utilities industry, which is responsible for the infrastructure used to provide public services (dams, sewerage systems, power lines, stormwater drains and so on)�

Consequently, this is the sector that includes employers such as Sydney Water, TasNetworks, Suez Waste Management and SA Power Networks� Together, energy and utilities companies have created about 155,000 jobs for electrical engineers, civil engineers, chemical engineers and many other professionals�

In the coming decades, it’s expected that this sector will change considerably as it faces three main challenges: increasing demand for renewable energy sources, a growing need to invest in Australia’s energy infrastructure and the pressure to adapt to new policies and public expectations as private and public organisations respond to environmental changes�

What’s involved?

Energy industry workers have a range of responsibilities, from laying pipes and maintaining water infrastructure to reading meters and providing customer service�

Broadly speaking, their tasks fall into three categories – electricity generation, transmission and distribution; natural gas distribution; and water, sewerage and other systems (such as reservoirs and treatment plants)�

As demand for it grows, many professionals in this sector are involved in efforts to create cheaper and more sustainable sources of energy, water and gas� Latest annual data by the former Department of the Environment and Energy shows Australia’s energy consumption has risen 0�9 per cent, up from the average annual growth of 0�6 per cent over the last decade� This rise puts energy consumption at 6,066 petajoules� For comparison, one petajoule represents enough energy to power 19,000 homes or 2,354,000 televisions for a year� In a bid to address this, engineers and environmental scientists in this industry are involved in initiatives such as generating power from solar and biogas conversion (a process that involves capturing the methane produced by vegetative waste before converting it into energy)�

Where do people in the energy and utilities sector work?

Workers in the energy industry may find themselves employed at different points of the energy supply chain, which involves generators (for example, power plants and wind farms), transmission networks (gas lines and facilities that convert low voltage electricity into high voltage electricity that travels further), distribution networks (which convert electricity back to a low-voltage consumer product) and retail providers, ending with the businesses and residences that use the provided energy�

Accordingly, work in this energy sector might be based in an office, for example, managing customer accounts, or in the field, performing maintenance on distribution networks or other infrastructure�

Entering the energy sector

The energy sector is dominated by people who have completed some sort of vocational education and training� For example, bachelor degrees and advanced diplomas are possessed by some 34 per cent of plant operators, while a bachelor degree is mandatory for engineers and environmental scientists�

There are various pathways into the energy industry, including graduate programs for both private employers and public entities such as the federal Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources� The department offers a structured 12-month graduate program with two diverse placements and relocation assistance for interstate applicants� Graduates can enter the program through various streams, including the STEM stream�

Private employers with graduate programs in the energy sector include SA Power Networks, Nova Systems and TasNetworks�

Career prospects

The future of Australia’s energy industry and the workers that support it, is an issue of national concern� Thankfully, the outlook is good: the government on their Job Outlook site for electricity, gas, water and waste services notes that growth in the numbers of most energy workers will be ‘stable’, ‘moderate’, or ‘strong’�

Interestingly, much of this growth, for now, is expected to be generated by traditional employers (such as coal-based power companies)� While alternatives such as solar energy and wind power are growing in popularity, the government notes that employment in large scale solar and wind power is primarily driven by installation activity, rather than by ongoing operation and maintenance� Consequently, it relies heavily on the creation of new infrastructure and as such, is relatively volatile�

How can I take advantage of my STEM background?

The energy industry is particularly well suited to graduates with a background in engineering, science and maths� In addition to demonstrating that you possess the technical requirements of a role, you may find it helpful to emphasise any desirable generic skills that you’ve developed� These might include your communication skills, teamwork experience, critical thinking abilities and an aptitude for mastering complex concepts independently�

Electrical engineering

Mechanical engineering

Data science

Chemical engineering

Computer systems and networks

Civil engineering

Cybersecurity

Environmental engineering

Renewable energy engineering

Materials engineering

Robotics and mechatronics engineering

Petroleum engineering

Software engineering page 26

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The energy sector is dominated by people who have completed some sort of vocational education and training.

Western Power graduates will have access to training through the registered training organisation (Power Training Services) plus opportunities for coaching and mentoring.

On the job

Christopher Flack

How did you get to your current job position?

I applied to Hydro Tasmania when the graduate applications were open in March 2017� The recruitment process involved an online assessment, group interviews and an individual interview. I flew to Hobart for my group and individual interviews, which allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the business� The interviews involved a mix of problem solving, teamwork and ‘getting to know you’ questions� The graduate program at Hydro Tasmania is a three-year rotational program�

How did you choose your specialisation?

I chose civil engineering at university because I thought civil structures would always be built and require maintenance� Upon researching Hydro Tasmania, I became interested in hydropower and dams, as it was clear the field would be extremely important as the market for renewable energy becomes greater and greater�

What does your employer do?

Hydro Tasmania is Australia’s leading clean energy business and largest generator of renewable energy� Our system includes 30 power stations and more than 50 major dams, which require ongoing maintenance and refurbishments� Hydro Tasmania also trades energy on National Electricity Market and sells energy directly to customers through our retail business Momentum Energy� We also offer world-renowned power and water expertise through our specialist consulting firm Entura.

What are your areas of responsibility?

Throughout my graduate rotation, I have taken on a number of roles with different responsibilities� During my rotation in the civil assets major works team I was a site engineer and project manager� My roles required me to manage contractors, coordinate project progress on-site and manage financial budgeting of my projects.

My current rotation is with Entura, Hydro Tasmania’s specialist consulting firm. A typical day involves responding to client emails in the morning or attending client meetings� I may then go to site for an inspection or continue working on design/inspection reports� In the afternoon, I will often liaise with my team to discuss recent inspections, report progress or upcoming projects�

The last thing I worked on was developing a comprehensive surveillance report for a client� The document reviews information including design and construction of the dam, the current risk position and outlines observations made during the site visit�

What are the career prospects?

The career prospects are endless� I know civil engineers who have been in the field for a number of years and are now specialist or principal engineers� I have also observed engineers pursue careers in leadership and management (not necessarily limited to engineering)�

What do you love most about your job?

The best part about my job is that every day is different� Even though projects can take months to complete, it is rare to repeat a task, so it always feels like progress� The task I enjoy the most is site visits to the various dams around Australia�

Christopher Flack studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Hons)/Bachelor of Business and is a graduate civil engineer at Hydro Tasmania.

Study

Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Hons)/Bachelor of Business, Swinburne University of Technology, 2017

ROLE

Graduate civil engineer, Hydro Tasmania

Upon researching Hydro Tasmania, I became interested in hydropower and dams, as it was clear the field would be extremely important as the market for renewable energy becomes greater and greater.

On the job

What’s your name and job title?

Lauryn Critchley; applied science graduate at Urban Utilities�

How did you choose your specialisation?

I knew I wanted to work in the water industry, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do� Until I was in the industry it was hard to know what all my options were� I tried to keep my specialisation broad and be involved in a little bit of everything�

Can you tell us about your interview process?

I applied for the graduate program in March 2019� From there I undertook a psychometric questionnaire and was invited to attend an assessment center� At the assessment center I worked with graduates from different backgrounds (science, finance and data science) to complete various tasks as a team. We finished the day off with a short interview and tour of the Brisbane office. The tour was helpful as it gave us time to speak candidly with the graduate who was showing us around and find out their experience of the role. The final stage was an in-depth interview with a member of the talent acquisition team and my future manager, which took place a few weeks later�

What does your employer do?

Urban Utilities is a water, sewerage and recycled water service provider� We supply to Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset in South East Queensland�

What are your areas of responsibility?

My current rotation is in the insights team within infrastructure maintenance� My personal goal while in this role is to improve my GIS (geographic information system) skills� My responsibility is to help analyse and understand data to update or improve our internal processes� This includes finding better ways to schedule our maintenance tasks, identifying high-risk assets and being involved in company-wide projects�

I am involved in everything from hydraulic modeling of sewers to chlorine dosing investigations and forecasting maintenance work. Usually you’ll find me at our Brisbane office, but soon I will be based in our commercial laboratory� Recently we have focused on drought initiatives so the last project I finished was an investigation of our water pressure zones and how we could better our leak detection program�

Over the course of two years I will have experience in four different teams: network planning, infrastructure maintenance, SAS laboratories and environmental compliance� I have also had the opportunity to join different programs and events such as our innovation community and the Young Water Professionals�

What do you love the most about your job?

I love the community at Urban Utilities� There’s a great group of people and I always go home feeling great about my day� I love that Urban Utilities do good in the community and we are passionate about the environment� My favorite tasks normally involve collaboration between teams� I love to meet new people and experience other parts of the company�

Lauryn Critchley

Lauryn Critchley studied a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Resource Management) and is an applied science graduate at Urban Utilities.

Study

Bachelor of Environmental Science (Resource Management), Southern Cross University, 2018

ROLE

Applied science graduate, Urban Utilities

I am involved in everything from hydraulic modeling of sewers to chlorine dosing investigations and forecasting maintenance work.

On the job

What’s your job title?

Graduate engineer�

How did you get to your current job position?

I was fortunate enough to get vacation work over a long period of time at Western Power and from there was offered a position in the graduate program�

What does your employer do?

Western Power is the ‘poles and wires’ company responsible for getting power from A to B� The primary work in Western Power revolves around designing, operating and maintaining both the transmission and distribution networks�

What are your areas of responsibility?

I have had several roles in the business including long-term planning, designing transmission lines and project management (to name a few)� In these roles I have been responsible for designing a new 132kV transmission line in Capel, delivering relocations works including distribution, undergrounding and transmission relocation for a major road intersection upgrade and assessing the network’s capacity to connect new renewable generation�

Can you describe a typical work day? What was the last thing you worked on?

I am currently working on design options and costing for connection of a 100MW solar farm� I am also working on a proposal to mitigate network constraints in the south west, which will facilitate more large customers to connect to the network�

Western Power is very flexible regarding work times� I prefer to start at 7.30 am and finish a little earlier� Other teammates start later – it’s all okay as long as you do your required hours and deliver your projects on time�

My current role has me sitting at my desk most of the day referring to various databases and tools to complete my proposals/designs� However, my project management role required me to go on site quite regularly�

Your average day can look quite different depending on what role within Western Power you have� From mainly office bound to mainly field bound, varying start times and flexible working arrangements, working in our Perth office or at a depot in the suburbs/rurally, there is a role to suit everyone�

What are the career prospects with your job?

The graduate program is very good at allowing you to have a taste of various roles around the business� Once finishing the program, you should be experienced enough to find a role in any of your rotations. If you decide Western Power is not the place for you, you’ll still be an attractive candidate at any company in the power industry�

What do you love the most about your job?

The best things about Western Power include the variety of work and the support from your team with regards to training, knowledge sharing and flexible working options�

What’s the biggest limitation?

The red tape associated with all government departments or businesses that are held to a higher level of transparency and scrutiny can sometimes cause slow decision making� Western Power isn’t unique in that aspect!

Jessica Kitchen

Jessica Kitchen studied a Bachelor of Electrical Power Engineering and is a graduate engineer at Western Power.

Study

Bachelor of Electrical Power Engineering, Curtin University, 2019

ROLE

Graduate engineer, Western Power

The graduate program is very good at allowing you to have a taste of various roles around the business.

Transitioning towards a new energy future

Energy is essential to the global economy and underpins the lifestyle Australians enjoy today� The challenge for many in the energy industry is continuing to meet the growing demand for energy, while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality�

The Australian energy and utilities industry leads the way with innovation, experimentation, and research� It’s far from being a traditional industry in which things seldom change� This is particularly noticeable in the private sector, both with large and small energy organisations�

Within Australia, a number of energy industry players are beginning to transition their business towards a low-carbon model� Shell Australia is one such example� Best known as an oil and gas company, Shell has begun to focus on implementing energy alternatives� Within Australia, Shell is building a ‘onestop energy shop’ which will help drive the energy transition by producing electricity from renewable sources, natural gas for power generation and industry, and offering lower-carbon fuels�

To make this possible, Shell acquired ERM Power� ERM Power is a leading commercial and industrial

electricity retailer in Australia, with two gas-fired generation plants� Shell also acquired sonnen, a leader in smart energy storage systems with a manufacturing presence in Australia, and more recently a 49% stake in ESCO Pacific, one of Australia’s largest solar developers. Shell is also building their first industrialscale solar farm in Queensland� This farm will generate up to 120 megawatts of solar electricity from about 400,000 photovoltaic panels�

Students with a passion for energy and renewable technology will be critical for many within the energy industry who are beginning their transition towards a low-carbon economy� Graduates within Shell already have the chance to work on projects such as solar farms, negotiations with customers, and new energy acquisitions�

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Engineering services

Overview

Not all organisations have the resources (or ongoing need) to hire full-time engineers� Others, while they may employ in-house engineers, periodically require specific outside expertise or the ability to ‘scale up’ by assigning additional engineers to critical projects� That’s where engineering services firms (or consultant engineering firms) come in� By bringing together engineers and technicians from a range of specialities, they’re able to provide clients with a one-stop solution to various challenges in construction, manufacturing and more�

Some of the largest engineering firms in Australia include BAE Systems, Honeywell and Lockheed Martin� There are also a range of medium-sized and boutique firms that focus on particular areas of engineering or service specific industries (such as the health or governmental sectors)� Engineering firms hire engineers from virtually every speciality, as well as people with complementary skills such as technologists, technicians and project managers� They also employ people with necessary business, administrative, managerial and financial expertise�

What’s involved?

Consultant engineers work for clients who require assistance with various engineering problems� These clients include land and property developers, schools and colleges, hospitals, construction firms, architects, industrial and commercial companies, government agencies and individuals�

Engineering firms may be hired on an ad hoc basis, such as when a construction company employs them to work a specific project� Alternatively, they may be paid a retainer to ensure a longterm working partnership, such as with a local government body or architecture firm� Often, larger firms receive a contract and then hire smaller firms to work on specific aspects of an overall project�

Within consultant engineering firms, engineers most often belong to interdisciplinary teams that oversee projects from start to finish� A typical team might include several engineers, a project manager and team leader� As a junior engineer, you might, during the course of a normal day, meet with a project manager to discuss tasks, complete calculations and sketches, liaise with colleagues, update drawings using CAD software and visit construction sites to observe work in progress�

Where do engineering consultants work?

Engineering firms work alongside organisations in various industries, including aeronautical, agricultural, geotechnical, transportation, environmental and resources-focused businesses� These clients are geographically dispersed, with operations in both metropolitan and regional areas�

Given the importance of monitoring the progress of engineering projects, many firms dispatch teams on secondment� In other words, team members, though paid by the firm, will often work out of a client’s office for extended periods of time�

As such, while much of a consultant engineer’s work may happen at a desk, that desk could be located practically anywhere: a hospital, an airport, a university, a farm, an architecture firm, a different state or even a different country� Even for engineers and other professionals who work primarily within the firm’s own office space, off-site meetings and inspections are not uncommon�

Entering a consultant engineering firm

It is possible to enter a consultant engineering firm straight out of university, without the need for additional experience� However, bear in mind while many major firms run dedicated graduate recruitment schemes, these tend to be extremely competitive� Consequently, the candidates who succeed are most often those who have completed prior work experience (an internship or other industry placement), achieved excellent marks at university or acquired additional qualifications (such as a master’s degree)�

It’s not unusual for the recruitment process to include multiple stages, such as an online application, in-person interview and psychometric test� Shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend a second interview that involves meeting multiple people from the firm�

They’ll also have an opportunity to demonstrate their technical know-how by completing tests or participating in group interviews�

Career prospects

Graduates are often presented with a limited range of entry-level positions, so employers can more efficiently coordinate training programs. However, the range of possible jobs increase in number as graduates accumulate experience and in many cases, dedicate themselves to different specialty areas�

A junior engineer, design assistant or junior technologist can ultimately aim to work as a team leader, project manager, construction engineer or design specialist� Alternatively, they can pursue leadership of a team or division that focuses on a specific challenge� For example, a large engineering firm may have a team that focuses only on infrastructural projects for the government� Finally, they may shift into the business or managerial side of the firm, climbing its hierarchy to achieve partnership, board membership or a similarly senior position�

How can I take advantage of my STEM background?

You will, of course, require an engineering degree if you wish to work as an engineer for a consulting firm� Within engineering, there is no particular speciality that is more advantageous than the rest, though civil engineers are generally hired in larger numbers than their counterparts from other areas�

Average salary

Graduate engineering consultants can expect to earn between $55,000 and $75,000 during their first five years� However, salaries do fluctuate based on the conditions you accept (for example, remote jobs tend to pay more) and the firm that employs you (larger and more competitive firms can often offer higher salaries)�

Choose this if you:

■ Enjoy the problem-solving aspects of engineering� ■ Like the idea of completing projects for a range of clients�

Popular degrees sought by this industry

Mechanical engineering

Learn more

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Electrical engineering

Civil engineering

Environmental engineering

Computer systems and networks

Software engineering

Data science

Robotics and mechatronics engineering

Environmental science

Chemical engineering

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Worley’s graduate development program (GDP) provides graduates with their first substantial learning and development opportunity. It is a critical foundation program for all graduates, helping to ensure successful job performance and longer-term career progression.

On the job

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born in Voronezh, Russia and was lucky enough to move to Australia at a young age with my family� Jumping forward a decade and a half, I studied at the University of Melbourne where I completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics & Finance)�

I really embraced university life, living on campus and participating in a wide range of different clubs and societies� During my course, I also completed an internship subject in Bangkok and studied abroad in India� These experiences sparked a love for travel and an intrigue for South East Asia as an emerging economic hub� This is also where I discovered my love for statistics and econometrics and decided that wherever my career took me, I wanted to tell stories through data� I am so grateful I can do just that in my current role at Carlton & United Breweries (CUB)�

Outside of work, I love being able to pursue my passions including yoga, figure skating and hiking�

What attracted you to Carlton & United Breweries?

The culture� CUB offers flexibility around ways of working; it’s all about finding balance and discovering what works best for you� I also love how my colleagues have become my friends and the feeling of support I receive in the office� This is made better by the personal and professional support I receive from my managers�

What do you enjoy the most about your work?

I never stop learning! Every day is an exploration of a new topic, whether that be a new math function or working with a new department in the business� I love seeing how an algorithm comes together to solve real business problems�

There is also a real sense in the company that mistakes and failures are learning experiences and an opportunity to grow� I really like this about CUB, as it encourages me to go a little outside the box and try something a bit different, knowing I won’t be punished for a little ambition in my work�

What advice would you give to a current university student?

Before you start applying for graduate jobs (or anything else), embrace student life and try to get involved! You’ll never have an opportunity like this again, so make the most of it� Keep stepping outside of your comfort zone and just have fun�

Any final words of wisdom?

Don’t be afraid to be passionate about what motivates you� Be confident yet humble, and most importantly, just be yourself!

Lizzy Prosselkova

Lizzy Prosselkova studied a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics, Finance) and is a commercial analytics specialist at Carlton & United Breweries.

Study

Bachelor of Commerce (Economics, Finance), University of Melbourne, 2018

ROLE

Commercial analytics specialist, Carlton & United Breweries

CUB offers flexibility around ways of working; it’s all about finding balance and discovering what works best for you.

On the job

What’s your background? How did you find your way to Monadelphous?

I was born in South Africa and lived there until I was 15� I then moved to Australia where I worked at CBH Group� After two years, I decided it was time for a change� Having enjoyed working at remote sites and with large machinery, I wanted to find a degree that would best facilitate these interests� Long story short: I stumbled across the construction management degree at Curtin�

After graduating I was offered a graduate position with Monadelphous� I’ve really enjoyed my time so far; I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside great people and am always surprised at how welcoming the culture is�

What’s your job about?

As a construction management graduate, I work in maintenance and industrial services of the oil and gas division� Our main purpose is to provide core and campaign maintenance to both offshore and onshore facilities for our client companies such as Shell, INPEX and Woodside�

In my current rotation I am working in project controls, which involves maintaining and supporting the development of standardised processes and procedures across all our contracts, ranging from the onboarding of new employees to the establishment of commercial documentation� Processes and procedures are ideally set up so information can be easily tracked, engineered and exported to reports and dashboards, to assist leadership in decision-making� Our team consists of a lead planner and scheduler, lead cost controller, an estimator and two project coordinators, each with their own field of expertise. As a graduate, this is a great opportunity to get broad exposure to what is happening on our sites, while also working alongside various disciplines�

My main responsibilities include supporting each member of the team as they require� As part of this I have recurring tasks such as maintaining and updating a monthly dashboard; processing monthly claims and weekly work orders for on-site claims; and reviewing and facilitating sign-off of services requests�

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes� As a graduate, I am still building my skill set and knowledge base, but I am confident in the process due to the support provided by my team� Certain technical aspects of my role may require further education depending on previous qualifications and experience� However, with the Monadelphous culture, support and encouragement I believe anyone with the right attitude and interest could be successful�

What’s the coolest thing about your job?

What I enjoy most are the people I work with� Working collaboratively on projects and the sense of comradery when completing projects is extremely fulfilling.

What are the limitations?

For me the greatest limitation is the lack of site time. This is only my first rotation though, so I am sure I’ll get plenty of time later on!

What advice would you give to a student?

Always put your hand up to try new things�

Mario Du Plessis

Mario Du Plessis studied a Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management) (Hons) and is a construction management graduate at Monadelphous.

Study

Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management) (Hons), Curtin University, 2018

ROLE

Construction management graduate, Monadelphous

Working collaboratively on projects and the sense of comradery when completing projects is extremely fulfilling.

Day in the life

Marcus Summers

6.00 AM

I wake up with an ambitious alarm each morning� My goal is to start going to the gym before work again, but back to bed again for today�

7.30 AM

Take two and I’m up and off to work� I walk to the station and get a train each morning which gives me a chance to think about nothing and get some reading done�

8.30 AM

This is my favourite time of the day to make the first of many coffees. The amount of coffee that I drink is not a reflection of stress but having a machine and beans as good as you’ll get in any café will have you putting away more than you would care to admit�

Before catching up with my line manager, I’ll complete any pending tasks which I’ve planned the previous afternoon� Some days, I’ll start by attending a stakeholder consultation meeting or the regular client and progress meetings at our sites� Now however, as we bid for more work, I spend most of my time looking at the staging and methodology of the upcoming job� I update the staging diagrams (showing what we plan to do and when) to be submitted later with the bid this month with comments received in a recent review session�

10.00 AM

Time for a catch-up with the bid team� Outside of my manager and I, who account for the planning discipline, we have team members with expertise in construction delivery, commercial, design management, environmental management, estimating and procurement� Our bid strategy is changing rapidly as we learn more about the work involved to deliver this job and the client’s

Marcus Summers studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Honours) and is a graduate civil/planning engineer at Downer Group.

expectations� Plenty of actions for me out of the meeting!

12.00 PM

I jump out of the office for lunch and walk to a nearby park tomeet a friend working in the same area�

1.00 PM

Back to the office a less hungry and a more clearheaded version of myself�

I’ll typically hit my pace in the afternoon, like an extended “hour of power”; phone calls to subcontractors to confirm methodology details, challenging the design to fit the project constraints, updates to the staging and methodology, coding the project schedule to fit the client’s format�

Honestly, these activities won’t really hold through the year to come, and that’s a lot of the benefit to being in Downer’s Graduate Program� Later this year, I will be handling the project’s shutdown planning and processes (demonstrating we can get in to do work and back out again to let services run at the end of a weekend possession), engaging and managing subcontractors and updating the project schedule so that the project can submit payment claims to the client� Only a year ago, I was responsible for a completely different set of tasks, ranging from stormwater design for power substations in Victoria and earthworks quantities for a solar farm bid in Queensland�

2.30 PM

Times moving fine, it’s getting towards the end of the day and variety in my work keeps me interested� Little bits of information come in here and there to amount to minor adjustments in what I’m doing�

3.30 PM

Suddenly, I get a call from another manager that I used to work for� They’re in a tight spot on another bid and need me to update work which I handed over before joining my current project� I have a little time up my sleeve and it’s a problem-solving exercise which I enjoy each time I get a chance to help with, so I’ll get it done quickly before pushing on�

5.30 PM

All done for the day� I send off a confirmation to the team that what’s needed for tomorrow is ready, write down some tasks which I hope to get out of the way

early next morning and say my goodbyes�

Some days I’m playing sport or meeting friends straight after work, but today I’m headed home�

7.00 PM

First thing on my mind as I walk in the door at home is always dinner�

I’m very good at taking twice as long as I should to cook something� To avoid getting home only to eat at midnight, I normally make a few large meals on the weekend to last through the week�

7.30 PM

Time to pay for my laziness in the morning so I head off to the gym for a little bit. I enjoy staying fit as much as I can be bothered�

9.30 PM

After a quick shower, I’m in bed and trying to read for a while� Same as in the morning, I like this for clearing my mind as I focus on something different to the rest of the day, with the bonus that I sleep like a rock afterwards�

Day in the life

Lauren Harrington

6.45 AM

Rise and shine – living an hour away from the city means an early start to the day!

8.15 AM

A good start to the day is never complete without breakfast� Whilst waiting for my toast to pop I enjoy morning chats with co-workers� I ease myself into the working day by checking emails and writing a detailed to-do list�

9.00 AM

As a graduate sustainability and carbon consultant my work is varied and interesting� I work across two main fields assisting my senior consultants in infrastructure sustainability projects as well as in energy and carbon accounting and reporting� I like to start my day with the latter as this work is highly quantitative, involving energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions calculations� My brain is more equipped for these tasks in the morning�

Before I start, the job manager and I typically sit down to ensure we are on the same wavelength� After a kick-off workshop for the project the day before, we both know the key steps forward involve data validation and analysis (usually of fuel consumption or electricity usage data)� At GHD, we are fortunate to have the perfect combination of guidance and independence, so after a brief discussion on the steps forward, I am confident in my ability to perform the required analysis�

10.45 AM

Before my 11�00 am meeting I consolidate my work by sending a summary email to my job manager� At GHD we place a high value on quality control so all the work we do is checked and double checked�

Lauren Harrington studied a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Geology & Geophysics) (Hons) and is now a graduate sustainability and carbon consultant at GHD.

11.00 AM

Graduates at GHD are given many opportunities to develop their professional network, none better than through the Young Professionals (YP) group� As a YP committee member, attendance at committee meetings allows me to be involved in planning a range of events and activities, including

networking nights with our clients, internal debates between YPs and senior management, and community engagement initiatives�

12.00 PM

Lunchtime! I enjoy nothing more than to give my mind a midday reprieve by going for a city jog with the GHD running club� Even on stressful days, a jog like this with like-minded colleagues is always sure to perk me up!

1.00 PM

Rejuvenated after an active lunch break, I like to switch to our team’s other main field of work: infrastructure sustainability� This line of work involves helping infrastructure projects achieve the best environmental, economic and social outcomes across the design, construction and operation of the asset� We work on a diverse range of infrastructure projects including transport, energy and water facilities, and evaluate the assets against sustainability ratings such as Green Star and the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia’s rating tool, which reward performance against benchmarks�

This requires a good understanding of both the design side of a project as well as the environmental assessment side� Reading through design reports and environmental studies provides me with a good overview, but I find the best way to understand the project is through face-to-face discussions with design leads and environmental technical specialists�

2.15 PM

Time to stretch my legs and head to the project office for a meeting with the design team� One of the benefits of working on large infrastructure projects is that I get to be a part of joint ventures where multiple engineering and consulting firms work together to complete a job�

2.30 PM

I have been looking forward to the meeting with the design team all day! This is where my sustainability colleagues and I get to have a real influence on design, which is undoubtedly the best part of my job�

The meeting usually begins with a briefing on infrastructure sustainability, which, because of the responsibility GHD graduates are entrusted with, I often get to deliver� The rest of the meeting involves discussions regarding where the asset can achieve sustainable outcomes – whether this be by choosing an environmentally friendly concrete mix, installing solar panels and rain tanks at site facilities or by

allowing community involvement on negotiable design decisions�

3.30 PM

On my way back to the office I pick up my usual skim flat white. With my trusty coffee and a cheeky chocolate bar (it’s fine right – I went for a run!) my productivity is sure to be high�

3.45 PM

Back in the office, I like to consolidate my notes from my meeting and send out a few summary emails to ensure I am on the same page as my colleagues and the client� I usually archive these to ensure a record of findings and decisions are kept�

My discussion with the design team has allowed me to update my ongoing sustainability assessment of the project, so I spend the rest of the afternoon documenting evidence for the rating and drafting the relevant sections of our report�

5.30 PM

Before leaving for the day, I always make sure to track my billable work� This is a key aspect to consulting that encourages efficiency, transparency and a happy client� With fewer people in the office at this time, I also use this time to reflect on the tasks achieved for the day, before heading off to catch up with friends for dinner in the city�

On the job

Albert Lam

What’s your job title?

Graduate digital consultant�

What does your employer do?

Worley is a leading provider of professional projects and asset services in the energy, chemicals and resources sectors� As part of the Worley group, Advisian Digital (Worley’s data science, software and digital consulting business) is responsible for driving the digital transformation of the wider company, which includes digitising business practices/infrastructure and assisting our customers and users to keep pace with change, using technology to solve industry challenges�

What are your areas of responsibility?

My current responsibility is the complete design and development of an online skills platform tailored specifically for the energy, chemicals and resources industry� This involves creating wireframes and prototypes that are then tested with focus groups, as well as working with the developers to produce the actual outcome� I have also been involved on the project management and customer-facing sides, where I assist the project director with organising/ chairing meetings and responding to support queries from users�

Can you describe a typical day?

My typical day consists of a morning cup of tea followed by meetings with my team/users and developers, creating prototypes, managing my professional career development, and attending various training and social events held in the office. The last thing I worked on was a presentation of new platform capability we are looking to develop, to several senior business leaders as well as specific customer user groups�

Where could you or others in your position go from here?

This is tricky to answer because at Worley and Advisian, there isn’t a set route one takes� Being only a few months into my role, I am also still figuring out my path. However, being a global company with almost 60,000 people around the world, I look forward to opportunities to work at different sites or overseas on various projects (either technical or corporate)�

What do you love most about your job? Which tasks do you enjoy?

The work is fantastic and it’s what I want to do, however the people are what makes me look forward to coming into the office each day. In terms of tasks, I enjoy running workshops to gain different perspectives from others, which feeds back into seeing my designs go from the drawing board, through to development, and then translated into the live product�

What’s the biggest limitation?

Being new to the job means I have to juggle work priorities with deadlines� Additionally, since I started, my responsibilities have grown� However, my manager is awesome and very understanding if the workload becomes too much�

The biggest limitation so far is my lack of experience in the workplace environment; for example, meeting new people and working with them� Relationships and dynamics aren’t things that are taught at school, but I am not too stressed about this because it’s just something I have to look out for and learn from�

Albert Lam studied a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Industrial Design) (Hons) and is a graduate digital consultant at Worley.

Study

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Industrial Design) (Hons), Monash University, 2019

ROLE

Graduate digital consultant, Worley

Being a global company with almost 60,000 people around the world, I look forward to opportunities to work at different sites or overseas on various projects.

Special Feature

Jerome de Vera

What is your current role?

I’m a graduate protection engineer at SA Power Networks and currently serving as the immediate past chair for Young Engineers Australia South Australia Chapter�

How did you get to your current position?

I wanted to have a career in power systems to become a part of the growing transformation in the energy industry� As part of my industry work experience I worked as an undergraduate engineer at South Australia’s sole power distributor SA Power Networks, and continued to work there part time during my final year. This work experience helped me to successfully secure a graduate position when I completed my degree�

Why did you become a member of Engineers Australia?

I registered as a student member of Engineers Australia during my first day of university� My membership enabled me to attend numerous networking and industry events and I was approached to become a student ambassador for Young Engineers Australia (YEA)� Even after my studies, I continued as a graduate member to keep in touch with the networks I made and to further my professional development�

Suppose a student was considering your career, what skills should they develop?

The engineering industry requires more out of graduates than ever before� Young engineers need to quickly adapt to advancements in technology and provide innovative solutions for complex problems� I highly emphasise to engineering students to not only focus on technical skills but also develop people skills� Establishing professional relationships and effectively communicating are crucial skill sets to have�

How does being a part of Engineers Australia benefit your career?

Engineers Australia has helped kick start my career in so many ways� With my membership, I attended numerous industry events and networking opportunities that allowed me to learn what it’s like to work as an engineer� Seeing technical presentations and expert panels increased my industry exposure and developed my understanding of where my career could lead� Being a member allowed me to establish professional connections and take on volunteering opportunities in my local YEA chapter� These experiences of ongoing professional development have boosted my overall confidence as a young professional to go further in my career�

What do you love most about your role with Engineers Australia?

What I love most are the people I meet from diverse backgrounds and disciplines� I enjoy talking to engineers about their career journey and hearing their perspectives on various topics� Furthermore, being able to share my early career experiences and provide advice to students and younger engineers is a rewarding experience�

What is your best advice for graduating engineers?

Find your passion within the profession� I was lucky enough to know which industry I wanted to work in and this provided me with some direction through the early stages of my career� In addition, seek out a mentor who is willing to guide you during the transition from student to graduate�

Jerome de Vera studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) (Hons) and is a graduate protection engineer at SA Power Networks. Jermone is also the immediate past chair for Young Engineers Australia South Australia Chapter.

Study

Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) (Hons); University of South Australia; 2017

ROLE

Graduate protection engineer, SA Power Networks

The engineering industry requires more out of graduates than ever before. Young engineers need to quickly adapt to advancements in technology and provide innovative solutions for complex problems.

Health

Overview

The health sector is Australia’s largest employer, providing jobs to about 12�7 per cent of the population� It comprises a large private health industry as well as Medicare, Australia’s universal healthcare system� Together, the system includes a vast network of health providers, hospitals, medical facilities, patients and related service providers� The health sector is expected to grow as it adapts to the needs of Australia’s population, which is growing larger and, on average, older� Consequently, medical professionals are considered to be of great social value; their training is substantially supported by taxpayers and they are seen as contributing various essential skills to their communities�

What’s involved?

The Australian health sector now includes medical practitioners, nurses, allied and other health professionals, hospitals, clinics and government and non-government agencies� They offer a range of services, including hospital-based treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care, emergency services, primary health care and various speciality services� Some examples of jobs within the health sector include aged care and disability support staff, anaesthetists, complementary health therapists, counsellors, dentists, general practitioners, Indigenous health workers, medical technicians, midwives, psychologists, registered nurses and surgeons�

Where do health sector employees work?

The health sector is widespread, employing people in both rural and regional areas and in every Australian state and territory� Of course, health sector workers don’t only work in hospitals. You’ll also find them working in medical practices, community health services, schools, hospices, prisons, private clinics, dental surgeries and more�

Entering the health sector

Healthcare employees assume a huge amount of responsibility, so it’s no surprise that the first category of career entry paths in this sector includes those that are stringently regulated� The largest healthcare professions are nursing, medical practice, psychology, pharmacy and physiotherapy – and each of them requires the acquisition of appropriate credentials via an approved degree�

For example, if you are in high school and wish to become a doctor, you can consider taking an undergraduate admissions test (UCAT) before applying for accredited degree programs that are usually five years long. This is followed by an internship, a residency period and then an extended period of specialisation� During their careers, doctors, like many other professionals, are required to meet continuing education requirements�

Alternatively, you may have completed an undergraduate degree, in which case you can complete a postgraduate admissions test (such as the GMAT in Australia) before

entering a four-year program� This too is followed by a structured period of training and specialisation�

Like doctors, the entry path for nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, dentists, occupational therapists and midwives is also regulated�

Career prospects

The health sector is widely predicted to grow at a fast pace over the next half century� The Department of Health predicts that tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of jobs will be created in community services, aged care and other branches of health care due to Australia’s aging population and the National Disability Insurance Scheme� The good news then is that job opportunities in this sector abound and there are a range of supporting initiatives designed to encourage people to enter and graduate from health-related degrees and training programs� Once within the health sector, there are a variety of career paths available to you, from assuming supervisory or teaching positions as a doctor or nurse, to running a busy medical centre� Whatever the role, this is almost certain – your skills will be in high demand�

How can I take advantage of my STEM background?

This is something of an irrelevant question when it comes to the health sector – most of its skilled or ‘knowledge worker’ jobs will require you to have a STEM background, be it in medicine, science or engineering� If you already have a STEM background but wish to train in a different STEM field – for example, if you graduated from biology but wish to study nursing – you will likely find that many of your existing skills transfer across�

Other skilled and unskilled careers in the health sector, from project manager to switchboard operator, mightn’t require a STEM background but possessing one can still be advantageous when making job applications� For example, you might emphasise your procedural and analytical thinking skills when applying to work as a practice manager�

Average salary

Average graduate salaries in the health industry range from $56,000 to about $79,000, depending on one’s speciality area and employer�

Choose this if you:

■ Graduated from a health-related academic discipline or are willing to undergo further training to fulfill the requirements of a role in the health industry� ■ Feel passionately about community health or one of the many issues facing the Australian health industry� ■ Are prepared to travel for work�

Popular degrees sought by this industry

Medicine and medical sciences

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Psychology

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