Careers/Work Experience News

Girl Power Camp – University Of Melbourne

On the 3rd of July, we attended an Engineering Girls Camp hosted by the University Of Melbourne. 

Throughout this program, 40 girls, including us, attended a 4-day camp focusing on university life around careers in engineering. 

The whole 3 nights were spent in the accommodation lofts and all the girls participated in different activities that were beneficial for our future careers in engineering. 

This camp was application based and each of us had to apply by sending our details and answering questions in regard to our skills and experiences. 

We then had to ask a delegate to write an application letter, which goes along with our answers. 

Students with the finest responses then had to go through a small interview online for the camp. 

If successful, you would then attend this camp (note that this is all free).

The whole program was created so that females are able to understand what engineering is. 

Most people tend to believe that engineering is just building a house, but there is a lot more than architecture. 

Engineering is the application of scientific principles to create solutions and is something people don’t recognise in their daily life. 

There are many skills females have that males don’t, such as how females are more patient and pay attention to detail, they care about other people before themselves and look after their community a lot better than men. 

Females always show empathy and help build up a better working environment and smooth relationships. 

Currently, there are around 20% of females that are pursuing engineering occupations, by having the opportunity for this camp, female students are able to understand the importance of engineering and possibly take that path for their future. 

Throughout the following years, Melbourne University is hoping for the percentage to rise to 30% or 40%.

The days were packed with activities on the University Campus, including lectures on different aspects of engineering.  There were many different activities ranging from workshops to group projects.  There were daily demonstrations on activities as well as a panel discussion evening, which welcomed professional female engineers of different specialties to answer questions provided by the students and mentors. 

The whole experience was incredibly beneficial and enjoyable for all the members of the Girl Power Program. 

Sincerely, we would like to thank our teacher/principal delegate writers. 

Without your letters and encouragement, we would never have been able to go on such a memorable experience. 

Thank you once again and hopefully more girls will sign up for this incredible adventure. 

Nancy S & Chiara M

Year 10 Work Experience

During the last week of Term 2, 140 Year 10 students were very fortunate to be able to participate in work experience. 

Feedback from employers was very positive, with many of them expressing how impressed they were by the students and what a great addition they made to the workplace. 

The students were required to complete a journal reflecting on their experience and the skills that they developed during the week. 

Here is what some students had to say about their week:

For my week of work experience I was lucky enough to be able to attend the University of Melbourne’s work experience program, centered around the different fields of science. During the week I learnt about the type of work mathematicians and statisticians would conduct. From models that tracked virus outbreaks to proving values of square roots, my group was introduced to a whole new type of maths. I enjoyed investigating the winning strategy of the tabletop game ‘NIM’ and being able to meet like minded people who shared similar interests in science. I loved every second of the program and I can’t believe the week went by so fast.   

Derek Y 

We were lucky enough to receive placement at Bulleen Art and Gardens during our work experience week. Working from 9 until about 4 as staff at BAAG, we detailed plants, labelled produce, repotted bare-root fruit trees and more. We also shovelled the carpark (as seen in the photo) to give the place a facelift and planted flowers in the entrance way to welcome customers. This placement provided a unique experience we likely wouldn't have gotten anywhere else, the opportunity to work outdoors, something novel and enjoyable about the horticulture industry. Would recommend to any student still looking for a placement as the staff are also all very friendly.

Matilda C and Olive M 

Wendy Peck