I previously worked in Australian Army Cadets and was excited to combine my passion for cadets with engineering. The STEM Cadetship gives me to opportunity to explore that and allows me to work on real-world engineering projects that impact on Australia.
I was fortunate enough to spend 100 days working full time this year in the Hunter Class Frigate Program. It has been great to be involved and taking responsibility for projects within the branch. Throughout my time I have been encouraged seek every learning opportunity from all members of the team, that has allowed me to learn so much during my time.
The most surprising thing about the cadetship is that didn’t expect that I would be involved in so many immersive experiences such as trips to HMAS Creswell, the Osborne Naval Shipyard and HMAS Adelaide. Given my relative inexperience, I was pleased to be viewed as a valuable member of the team and not just an intern (differing from my last internship).
Programs like the STEM Cadetship are important to give you a chance to see what motivates an engineering project, both outside the lecture room and commercial industry. It’s given me the opportunity to see how the primary motivation for a complex engineering project is delivering a vital capability to Australian Defence, rather than just delivering commercial value. It also provides clear pathways to increase STEM engagement and develops a sustained STEM workforce.
Looking into the future, I see this experience continuing to allow me to explore further career options as an engineer in Defence. I hope to complete the STEM Cadetship and move into the Graduate Program then transition into a full time role and later utilise Defence Studybank to complete a Masters in Systems Engineering.
The best advice I would have for other STEM cadets is to be ready to learn. It is important to understand that no one expects you to know everything that will help you complete tasks and projects in the program. Continuing to remain proactive and soaking up all you can will allow you to be an effective STEM Cadet.
To date I have completed 12-months worth of work experience during my studies. I have found that the most vital learning opportunities I have had while at university have come from work experience. The tools that make the most successful engineers cannot be taught in a classroom but have to be developed in professional environments. The STEM Cadetship has provided me the exact environment that is helping me become an effective engineer.