With a fascination of internet networks, international student Chinmayi is living her dream

“I’ve always been fascinated by how networks work!” says Chinmayi enthusiastically, when asked why she chose to study a Master of Science (Network Systems). “I’m not sure if you remember asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) connections, but back in India, this was the type of internet connection we had. And whenever it was down, I’d jump at the chance to pull apart the cabling and check the sockets.”

It's no surprise that Chinmayi followed her passion and is now a proud Enterprise Support Network Engineer at Australia’s leading national broadband network (NBN) internet provider Aussie Broadband. Here, she deals with technical network resources, assists and advises clients, and configures managed services. She credits Swinburne’s lecturers, course content and real industry experience for ensuring she was more than prepared for the interview that landed her the job.

Meet Chinmayi
View video transcript [PDF 165KB]

Thriving with Swinburne

“I worked hard in my classes and my lecturers were extremely supportive. So, in my third semester, I was recruited as a networking help desk tutor,” she said. That tutoring job (which she still holds!) required her to assist fellow students with assignments. To do the job well, she had to make sure that her own knowledge was impeccable. That extra effort equipped her perfectly for the responsibilities of her Aussie Broadband position.

At the start of her university search, Chinmayi made a shortlist of both American and Australian institutions. But why did she choose Swinburne? “The courses at most other universities were general in nature. On the other hand, Swinburne allowed me to focus on the area I was interested in – network security.”

She believes that Swinburne also gave her the real industry experience she needed to thrive in her current role. “Most units (classes) I took involved team projects. This made it feel like I was practising in a real workplace. For example, in my final project, I teamed up with others to answer a brief from an external client.”

  • International student Chinmayi (Master of Science - Network Systems)

    Learn everything you can. It will be really helpful when you join the culturally diverse Australian workplace.”

    Chinmayi , Master of Science (Network Systems)

Tackling the real world

The Internet of Things-related project required her team to design a home automation system that would maintain the dwelling’s air-conditioning. “If it was already cold outside, the system would know to cut back its cooling efforts. If no one was in the living room, it would automatically turn off the air-conditioning in that area,” said Chinmayi.

Her team prototyped the system and presented it to the client mid-semester. The client provided them with feedback and suggested modifications, which they took on board and implemented within the deadline. As a result, her team received positive feedback and she scored a distinction for the unit!

Via the project, Chinmayi also feels that she learnt much about collaboration and navigating differences of opinion. “In groups, it’s so important to listen to other people and try to work things out. It helps us improve on ourselves.”

Looking into the future

That leads into a piece of advice she has for other international students – don’t let your shyness hold you back from meeting people who have come from other cultures. Says Chinmayi, “Learn everything you can. It will be really helpful when you join the culturally diverse Australian workplace.”

And what’s next for her career? She’s currently upskilling her knowledge in Fortinet and Cisco Meraki enterprise security products. She also hopes to become a senior network engineer and join Aussie Broadband’s network operations centre (NOC) – a centralised location where the company’s services, databases, firewalls and network can be monitored 24 hours a day. Beyond that, she’s open to opportunities anywhere in the world. Now, that’s a next gen attitude.

Chat to our international students
Guaranteed real industry experience

Swinburne ensures all students can access industry experience as part of their course, whether it's a placement, internship or an industry-linked project. It's our Work Integrated Learning (WIL) guarantee!

If you're interested in a placement, you can even choose a Professional Degree, which comes with a 12-month full-time paid Professional Placement opportunity.

Learn more about our WIL guarantee
Scholarships for international students

Swinburne has a range of scholarships just for international students. If you're awarded one, you can focus less on finances and more on learning and experiencing life at Swinburne and in Melbourne.

The best part? Every international student application is automatically considered for a scholarship, so you won't need to submit a separate application.

Browse our scholarships for international students

Explore our courses

Find out more about Swinburne

Hear more from our international students

  • International student Sachi (Master of Business Information System)

    Master of Business Information Systems

    Sachi's story

    Sri Lanka

    Getting a qualification in information technology is an excellent move for international student Sachi.

  • International student Jagannatha (Master of Professional Engineering)

    Master of Professional Engineering

    Jagannatha's story

    India

    Robotics student Jagannatha enjoys giving back to Swinburne’s international students.

  • International student Florentina (Master of Design)

    Master of Design

    Florentina’s story

    Indonesia

    International student Florentina has fully embraced on-campus life at Swinburne.

  • Group of 5 students chatting and walking together down McLeod Lane, between AMDC and FS buildings

    International student stories

    Discover how students from all over the world are enjoying life at Swinburne while successfully building a career in Australia and their home countries.

Ready to start your own story at Swinburne?

Our friendly International team is available to support you all the way. Talk to us to find out more about your study options, entry requirements, fees and scholarships, life in Melbourne and more.

Talk to us