In fact, I work on my own motorbikes and cars in my free time – working my way through problems and figuring out the exact way things work together is a great passion of mine.
In the last year of my apprenticeship I started to consider what pathways were open to me to advance my career and be part of something bigger – bigger problems, bigger solutions, and bigger accomplishments.
We have all heard, in the media, about the difficulties many industries and particularly defence are facing in recruitment.
That’s why having solid, direct ways into the industry – straight out of university or TAFE – are so key.
Programs like CareerTrackers and the Graduate Program here at BAE Systems Australia are incredibly important for providing a chance for people to ‘get their foot in the door’.
CareerTrackers is a national, purpose-driven organisation which supports Indigenous Australians in finding internships in their field of study, and they play a vital role in giving opportunities to the community I am a part of to be represented across all levels and in all occupations, industries, and workplaces.
When I joined BAE Systems Australia (BAESA) for my initial internship, it was through the work that CareerTrackers and BAESA do together that allowed me to get a taste of a real engineering environment at the Osborne Naval Shipyard on the Hunter Class Frigate Program.
Doing my internship during the midst of COVID was incredibly daunting, and the transition to working from home was always going to be a challenge – a challenge I relished, with the support of the Manufacturing Engineering team I was placed in.
The differences too, between the theoretical knowledge you gain through university, and the hands-on learning you do when you are in the job was difficult to overcome – something I’m sure most people coming out of university feel.
When my internship was coming to an end, I was offered an ongoing position which allowed me to continue working on the Hunter program while I finished my studies.
This position ended up turning into an offer for a full-time Graduate Mechanical Engineer role.
There are a lot of things I’m proud of achieving during my time here, like creating and overseeing the development of a program update for a major piece of equipment in the shipyard, but perhaps the thing I am proudest of is being part of the Work Shadow program, ran by CareerTrackers.
Work Shadow provides an opportunity for students in years 9-12 across Australia to gain first-hand exposure to a job of company of interest, and I was able to impart some of the experience I have gained over the years onto someone from my community, who shares the same passion as me.
I look forward to the next chapter of my journey through life. I want to make an impact and encourage those behind me to push for their future.