Multiply your impact

If you want a STEM career that will make a difference and change lives, then education should be on your radar over the course of your career, you could inspire and nurture hundreds of people”

When I finished high school in Fiji, I didn’t really know yet what I wanted to do for a career – but there was a shortage of science and mathematics teachers at the time, so I took advantage of scholarships available to fill the gap. I studied a Bachelor of Science majoring in mathematics and chemistry, followed by postgraduate qualifications in both education and science. I may not have seen teaching as a calling or a dream job – but looking back, I feel lucky I chose this path. You too might not have teaching at the top of your list of career goals right now. During the 20 years I later spent working as a science and mathematics teacher in Queensland secondary schools, I noticed very few of my top STEM students had teaching on their list of career aspirations. There are lots of reasons for that, but one of them is that sadly we undervalue how important teachers are, and how meaningful and impactful this career can be.

A secure career that can drive change

If you’re considering a STEM career because you want to make a difference, then using your skills to teach and nurture the next generation will guarantee you have an impact. And with the dire shortage of STEM-qualified teachers in Australian schools, you’ll also be in high demand, and guaranteed a secure job for life.

With challenges like climate change, pandemics and a growing and ageing population, our society needs STEM professionals more than ever before. But not enough young people are sticking with STEM subjects or choosing STEM career paths. If we want to change that, we’ll need to change how we teach STEM in schools. It will take passionate and skilled people with a love and understanding of STEM to drive that change. Could that be you?

While as a STEM educator you might not be using your skills and qualifications to personally come up with a cure for disease, or to invent the next big thing in tech, over the course of your career, you could inspire and nurture hundreds of people, equipping them with crucial problem- solving and critical thinking skills that will ultimately make our world a better place. You don’t need to be a mathematician to understand how exponential your impact could be by building solid foundations for the next generation of STEM professionals.

After 20 years as a secondary school teacher, I decided to complete my doctorate in education and I now work in academia at QUT in Brisbane, in STEM education outreach projects in the developing world, and also teaching, nurturing and hopefully inspiring the next generation of STEM educators.

If you love STEM and want to make a difference with your career, then I hope to meet you one day on your journey!

Vinesh Chandra Associate Professor, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice, QUT