I was attracted to the Defence Graduate Program because I liked the idea of being embedded within a defence organisation. I always look forward to Defence experiences such as base tours, experiencing military-led activities, military history, working on high-tech defence platforms and having a strong purpose about my work.
Fisherman’s Bend has less graduate program activities on offer in comparison to other sites or pathways, but my rotations at DSTG and industry were fantastic. I’ve become well fitted in the Specialised Coatings and Corrosion Science Group.
What most surprised me was the amount of people who relocate as part of the program. This is part of the appeal of the program for people such as myself who were looking for a change of scenery.
It’s also been beneficial going through the program with a number of other graduates. Having other colleagues working through the program means that you have an extra level of support.
This experience was my first full-time STEM role since completing university, so it has been the first step in my career and it will hopefully set me up with good skills and work ethic to continue to progress.
My best advice to future graduates and STEM cadets is to think about where you would like to end up at the end of the Graduate Program and develop your skills in that direction. This includes understanding the intricacies of the organisation and getting to know its high-ranking people.