Careers with STEM

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Careers with STEM

People, careers and events in STEM leading to planet-changing awesomeness.

Careers with STEM is about connecting people who want to change the world with the skills they need to do it. It's a magazine, a website and a state of mind – in which science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) can change our future & create new jobs, making your creative businesses, ideas and study better, easier and more fun. It offers students a clear path into STEM degrees and profiles the tribe who are using STEM to make a better tomorrow.

29/10/2026

Puzzles + computers = a career in cyber security. 🔐

Nathan Timms combined two of his interests and enrolled in Torrens University Australia’s Bachelor of Cybersecurity. He chose it for the small class sizes and lecturers who are also industry professionals, and he loved the diversity of students and staff, who gave him different perspectives on tricky concepts.

Now he’s a cyber security engineer in the operational technology space, working on automation and renewable energy. A typical day mixes client emails, project meetings, access management, networking and application security, plus a few password resets and account setups to wrap things up.

His top tip? Ask as many questions as you can. “Asking questions and learning is a part of the job.”

28/10/2026

Whatever you choose to study, AI can give you an edge. 🤖

Monash University’s Professor Ian Burnett, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology, says AI will always need humans: curious minds to ask deeper questions, creative thinkers, and responsible leaders to define goals that benefit society.

Monash University is building students’ AI literacy alongside the human skills that matter just as much: critical thinking, collaboration and judgement. Whether you’re into healthcare, business, science or something else, the aim is to help you apply AI responsibly.

27/10/2026

Exercise isn’t just for athletes.

Trent Darbyshire was a keen rugby player and long-distance runner, but studying exercise science at QUT showed him how much exercise can do for everyday people, including those living with chronic conditions.

Today he’s a clinical exercise physiologist at The Bone Clinic, helping patients (often those with conditions like osteoporosis) improve their bone density. His days include patient consultations, bone density scans, group classes and some admin. He’s even running virtual home exercise programs that get sent around the world.

QUT’s practical placements were crucial preparation: a taste of the workplace in third year, then full-time placements in fourth. And Trent’s learning hasn’t stopped since.

26/10/2026

Six weeks into a design degree, Cay-Leigh Bartnicke realised it wasn’t for her. So she followed her love of scuba diving into marine science. 🤿

She enrolled in a Bachelor of Science (Marine Science) at Macquarie University, then landed a job at the Australian National Maritime Museum. There she helped create Bidhiinja – Restoring Our Oyster Reefs, a travelling exhibition that combines First Nations knowledge, western science, and art. She even made an Instagram filter that makes a live reef pop out of the display.

Today she works on threatened species conservation at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, using data and new tech to share findings in interactive ways.

And the myth that you have to be a diver to be a marine scientist? Cay-Leigh says you can do marine science from a desk.

25/10/2026

Love sport and science? Here’s a degree worth a look. 🏃

Australian Catholic University (ACU)’s Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science is hands-on, includes multiple work placements, and is accredited by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA), so you graduate with an industry-recognised accreditation as an exercise scientist.

A few things that stand out:
✅ Four campuses: Blacktown, Brisbane, Melbourne and Strathfield
✅ Industry partners including Tennis Australia, Wests Tigers and the Queensland Reds
✅ Register as an AUSactive professional after first year and work as a gym instructor or personal trainer while you study
✅ From 2027, choose a major in exercise rehabilitation or sports performance

22/10/2026

Want to do some good in the world, but not sure what to do? Engineering could be your path. 🌏

Engineers help improve our quality of life, from health and accessibility to sustainability, infrastructure and energy.

From 2027, The University of Newcastle, Australia is giving engineering students more flexibility. All students will complete a common first semester, and the new Bachelor of Engineering (Flexible Entry) means you can choose from 11 specialisations once you’ve explored your options. There are also 28 dual degree options and more than 100 scholarships and early entry opportunities.

If you’re thinking about your choices, or helping a young person work out their next step, this is a great read. Meet Claire Devine, who knew she wanted to work with water, and find out how her degree opened up far more than she expected.

21/10/2026

🧬 Want to stop a disease before it spreads?

At Adelaide University, scientists are going straight to the source, studying viruses, bacteria and parasites and finding new ways to develop vaccines and treatments.

Researchers are:
🔬 Using CRISPR to find vulnerable genes in pathogens
💉 Investigating how pathogens evolve to develop better vaccines
🦠 Engineering bacteria to produce useful medicines
🌱 Using biotechnology to make crops more resilient to drought and extreme weather
🧪 Exploring new ways to target diseases, including cancer and malaria

And you don't have to wait until graduation to get involved. Science students can gain real-world lab experience through work placements.

Just ask Chanelle Lai. A university lab placement inspired her to continue studying. Now, she's researching malaria parasites, looking for weak spots that could become targets for new vaccines.

If you love biology, problem-solving and the idea of discovering something nobody has discovered before, a career in medical science could be for you.

20/10/2026

When you picture a nurse, you might imagine someone doing the rounds on a hospital ward. Gwendolyn Gorogo says the profession is way more diverse than that.

After graduating from QUT's Bachelor of Nursing, Gwendolyn spent 18 months on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait with the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service. She worked shifts on the general ward and with walk-in patients in the primary healthcare centre. Her favourite assignment? The wound room, where she got to yarn with patients and watch their progress.

Her advice for anyone considering nursing: just give it a go. You’ll find out if it’s for you during your first or second placement.

19/10/2026

What do game designers, zoologists and doctors have in common? Today, it’s AI skills.

If you’re imagining what your career could be, or helping a young person work out their next step, our latest issue of Careers with STEM magazine is a great place to start. Explore the A-Z of AI careers, meet students turning assignments into startups, and take our quiz to match your passions with an AI double degree.

Plus, we tackle the big questions behind the careers of the future: who calls the shots on AI, and how can we make it fair, safe and useful?

This issue was produced in partnership with Monash University.

📖 Read, share, download or buy the latest issue of Careers with STEM: Artificial Intelligence:
https://careerswithstem.com.au/tomorrows-ai-skills-today-read-the-latest-news-in-careers-with-stem-magazine/

18/10/2026

Not long until our next webinar! Love creating things, solving problems or figuring out how stuff works? This one's for you.

Join Careers with STEM and QUT for a FREE webinar exploring coding, cybersecurity and design. Hear from people studying and working in tech, and discover where your interests could take you.

Wednesday 4 November | 12pm AEDT / 11am AEST

Students, parents and teachers welcome. Teachers can register a whole class!

Save your spot: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ty4Tc0IZQe6yHxhgi1Io4w

Can’t attend live? Register to receive the recording.

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