I found out about the Graduate Program after completing a Summer Vacation Placement with DST Group during my undergraduate degree. I really enjoyed the unique nature of the work and the friendly team I worked with. After completing my placement, I knew I wanted to come back and work at DST Group when I graduated.
Defence is a big organisation and I like that the Graduate Program allowed me to get experience working in different areas on a range of projects.
Through my work on various projects, the highlights have been the opportunity getting on board different Defence ships and submarines. It’s been exciting to see the type of platforms we deal with, and experience the unique style of work. I’ve really enjoyed getting out in the field to collect data and solve challenging problems to help support the ADF.
One of the benefits of the program is having an instant network of other graduates joining DST Group at the same time as me was helpful. We were all able to support each other during the onboarding process. Connecting with other graduates in the program also helped me to learn about the different areas within Defence and some of the opportunities available to me.
After completing the Graduate Program, I now work on corrosion prevention for ships and submarines. This field of work aligns strongly with my studies in Materials Engineering and right now I am really enjoying researching challenging corrosion issues and looking at ways to improve the sustainability of Defence platforms.
I would encourage all future graduates and STEM cadets to take the time to explore Defence. There are lots of areas within Defence that specialise in different STEM fields. It can be a lot to take in at first but by getting to know people and learning about the research they do you will find an area that you enjoy working in.