Recently I completed a very interesting week of work experience with Natalie and the team at gemaker. It was here that I gained an insight into the commercialisation of a product and also how a business is run. Before I started Natalie asked me to look over the websites of clients we would be meeting with during my week of work experience. This gave me some context as to what the meetings would be about and also showed me that research and preparation are important and are still necessary even outside of school life and assessments.
Throughout the week I shadowed Natalie and observed how business meetings were conducted. This meant that some of the days were long as we had to work start up hours to suit the client’s needs and ensure we were on time for meetings. I was able to be a part of pre-meetings, client meetings and then post meetings all of which I actually found very interesting. I was also able to contribute to a website design by providing input and feedback, adding my perspective as a teenager.
One day was also used as a strategic planning day where I was given an insight into the financial workings of a business. Everyone contributed which showed me just how important team work is to success. It also highlighted the complexity of running a business and the amount of hard work and effort that is needed to create a successful company. Running a business is a lot of work but very rewarding!
I was also able to experience what flexible work life is all about when I worked from home just as all the other team members did. I was able to work on an aerospace project assigned to me by Julie, which I found particularly fun. I also researched and compiled a list of STEM programs and competitions for Natalie (see below).
On the final day of my work experience I learnt about intellectual property, patents and how difficult and expensive it is to successfully get a patent. I was shown how important marketing is to a product or company, with this being reinforced with both good and bad examples. Natalie also told me how important it is to stand out from the crowd and showed me what a great website and resume should look like. I have also been given the opportunity to attend an event where start-up companies get 7 minutes to pitch their idea to an audience.
Overall, my work experience week has been very interesting and enjoyable. Before I started at gemaker I really had no idea how inventions and ideas were brought to the market and over the week I have learnt about everything from patents and intellectual property to funding and website design. It has been a real eye opener for me, exposing me to other ways I can be involved in STEM industries such as the commercial side. It was an extremely enjoyable week at gemaker with everyday being different. The team was extremely friendly and approachable, I highly recommend it to any students considering a career in a STEM industry.
Congratulations Natalie and Julie on your Telstra nomination.
It would be great if you could also list some of the STEM programs and competitions offered by UOW. We are also keen to get more sponsors for our STEM Camp for Girls, this could be an in-kind contribution as well where you present as a speaker on women in innovation and entrepreneurship.
1. We host an annual STEM Teachers Conference – run by our School of Mathematics and Statistics. This will be on Saturday August 5th.
Teachers K-12 from across the state are invited to attend and learn about hands-on programs they can run in their classroom or connect with in the community.
2. We run an annual STEM camp for Girls in Years 9 and 10 going into Years 10 and 11 in 2018. This takes place from January 14th -17th. http://eis.uow.edu.au/stem-camp-for-girls/
Students from across NSW and ACT stay on campus and are supported by female Group Leaders from STEM industries and study areas.
Here they explore STEM skill sets through themes connected to sustainability, innovation, health and medicine and the arts through sites visits, and hands on activities run by industry sponsors. There may be an opportunity for a Westpac mentor to either run an activity, or provide information in the participant bags as a sponsor.
3. We run twice a year Koori STEM Camps for indigenous students (July and November). This unique program explores old ways in new times whilst relating Aboriginal and modern STEM concepts through a unique student focused program, establishing stronger senses of Identity, Connection, Pride and Empowerment for participating students.
4. STEM High School Comps
Prizes are awarded for each competition to both male and female student contributions
• High Schools STEM competitions (12 competitions across Years 7-10)
• Years 7 & 8 STEM inviting entries for the subjects Maths, Science, Technology Mandatory and Integrated STEM.
• Years 9 & 10 STEM inviting entries for the subjects Agricultural Technology, Design and Technology, Food Technology, Graphics Technology, Industrial Technology, Information and Software Technology, Marine and Aquaculture Technology, Textiles technology, Maths, Science and Integrated STEM.
• Years 9 & 10 iSTEM inviting entries for the BOSTES approved iSTEM courses developed by RDA Hunter.
• Materials for the Years 7 & 8 STEM Competitions are to be sent to 898 schools while materials for the Years 9 & 10 STEM Competitions are to be sent to 792 schools.
• In addition to these 12 NSW STEM Competitions, we are continuing to run our ACT Year 7 STEM Competitions.
5. STEM Roadshow
The Faculty’s STEM Travelling Technology Roadshow visits more than 40 schools annually across NSW and the ACT. The main goals of the Faculty’s STEM Roadshow Workshops are to:
• Establish contact with Rural/Indigenous/low SES High School students, especially those in Years 8, 9 and 10,
• Provide students with an opportunity to explore different aspects of Engineering, in a fun hands-on interactive workshop, and
• Generate interest in Engineering and Technology as possible professions.
Thanks for your help.
Rachel Weine
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for your comment! We would be happy to add these to this list if you can provide us URLs for each of them. You can also register your events here: https://starportal.edu.au/.
Cheers,
gemaker