Explore STEM Career Pathways in Regional Australia!

STEM is a word that gets bandied around a lot. 

 But most students don’t really understand exactly what it means, why it’s important, and that 75% of the jobs in the future workforce will require STEM skills.

 In fact, with the world rapidly changing around us due to the advent of digital technologies, automation and globalisation, and with entire job sectors emerging or disappearing and workforces trying to keep pace with the change, it’s more important than ever that today’s students understand what the future world of work will look like for them, and what STEM skills they will need to survive.

What we do know is that automation and globalisation will keep changing industries, jobs and skills, and a more fluid workforce will see today’s students expected to have up to 17 jobs across 5 different careers. 

In short, this means that as the world of work changes, they will need to develop 21st Century workplace skills to match, including greater competencies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) - research predicts that future workers will spend more than twice as much time on job tasks requiring science, maths, complex problem solving and critical thinking than workers today.

But when we think about science and maths, we often think of the cliched image of a bespectacled mad scientist locked away in a lab meticulously performing mundane experiments.

This is not the reality of careers and jobs in STEM. 

Instead, there are a multitude of exciting new STEM career pathways and jobs, and a new guard of rising STEM stars in regional Australia. Many of these STEM superstars are women, and they’re not hidden in laboratories doing tedious work, but increasingly out in the countryside solving big problems, getting their hands dirty and fulfilling their dreams and passions in exciting and ever-changing STEM careers.

While major inner city universities and research centres are seen by some to be the ultimate if you’re interested in a career in STEM, there is a whole world of opportunity outside them. You don’t have to be in the big smoke to make a big impact.

Meet Dr Verity Normington

Dr Verity Normington, a Project Geologist with the Northern Territory Geological Survey (who is described as a “mohawked, mustang-driving rock chick!”), says living and working in and around Alice Springs is like a dream come true for someone in her profession.

 “Going to places in the outback that very few people ever get to go and see is one of the things I am in constant awe of. I’m so lucky to be able to go to the places I do,” she says.

 “My job is to better understand the rocks that are exposed on the surface and buried in the ground. This understanding leads to being able to interpret the way the world was 100’s of millions of years ago. 

 “It’s important to understand what the ancient earth looked like so we can better understand how the resources we need for the future, like copper and nickel for building solar panels, were formed. This also means we can look for them more efficiently which reduces the impact on the landscape and the environment. This understanding can also help to find groundwater or where to build roads - there are so many things that rely on an accurate understanding of the ground beneath us.”

 The former city slicker, who grew up and studied in Adelaide, says living in a regional centre has its challenges, but also its rewards.

 “I work in a small office where there are more opportunities to have my hand in lots of different things, from the planning of big field trips all the way through to the publication of our products,” says Dr Normington.

 Day to day in my role, I get to do a bit of everything which is great because it means that I have a better understanding than someone who does a similar job in a big office in a city, where there are often people to do that kind of thing - and the Geos don’t necessarily have much of an input.”

Meet Dr Ellen Moon

Dr Ellen Moon, a lecturer in Environmental Engineering at Deakin University in Geelong, says there are many diverse and interesting roles for women in regional and rural centres.

 “I think there is a bigger diversity of roles in regional and rural areas, and those roles probably also offer greater variety in terms of your day to day tasks. 

 I think in regional and rural areas there’s also a closer relationship between the STEM professional and the end user or client. I find this really motivating – knowing that you’re working to directly benefit your community,” she says.

 “I prepare the next generation of engineers to solve environmental problems, and I also conduct research. But my main research focus is cleaning up land and water contaminated by toxic metals.

“I’ve always wanted to make a difference in the world, and my job allows me to do that through my research in terms of making a difference to the environment, and also in my teaching, by passing on my knowledge and inspiring students to see the problem-solving power of engineering.”

 Dr Normington says one of the biggest things that stops people moving out of the cities is the unknown.

 “If you can get over (or ignore) that worry, there are endless opportunities for scientific roles in regions. The roles are often very diverse in what you do, and there are many roles like mine where you do data collection, analysis, data interpretation and then the reporting and publication.

“We have lots of women in our office that spend some days on the research farm mustering cattle and fixing fences, and then other days where they are holding webinars with the regional properties discussing drought strategies,” she says.

Both doctors grew up with a natural curiosity for how things work and why the world is the way it is and encourage young women, even if still at high school, with similar interests to keep exploring the variety of careers in STEM.

 “You don’t need to be the best at maths and science to have a career in STEM.
If you enjoy it, and are willing to work at it - then STEM is for you!,” Dr Moon says.

 “STEM is everywhere in just about every job. If you love STEM but also have a passion for journalism, for example, then seek out a career where you can do both - like science communication or media and communications in a STEM organisation,” Dr Normington suggests.

 “Your passion will always shine through resulting in you excelling to heights you didn’t even consider possible.

 All it takes is being brave enough to take the first few steps even if they are wobbly steps.”

Future Amp has just released a STEM Pathways: Discover STEM Careers and Skills online learning micro-credential in partnership with the Victorian State Government, which has been distributed to 15,000+ students across Victoria.

To learn more about our online career education and interactive skills micro-credentials, please get in touch with our team at hello@futureamp.co