Defence Science and Technology Group placements set Swinburne students up for success

Three Swinburne students have gained invaluable work experiences in STEM through Swinburne’s longstanding partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG).

DSTG is part of the Department of Defence and has an extensive history helping place and mentor Swinburne students.  

As part of Swinburne’s Professional Placement program, Swinburne students Elysia Guglielmo, Bill Keehne and Julian McIntyre undertook their placements at DSTG.            

When Elysia started her 12-month paid placement with DSTG in 2022, she didn’t expect it to lead to an eventual cadetship with them as well.  

“In university, I was very focused on becoming a good programmer. But when I started to tap into the application of different topics like AI, I found myself wanting to explore research in a professional setting and that’s what my placement at DSTG has allowed me to do.”  

By working independently on a research project during her placement, Elysia got her name on a conference paper which she says has really helped in her personal and professional development.  Returning to DSTG for a cadetship was a chance for Elysia to further develop her technical skills in a professional setting while being supported throughout the rest of her studies.  

Similarly, Bill found his placement experience at DSTG extremely valuable in developing hands-on technical skills in research, data analysis and project management. 

“I chose Swinburne out of really any university in Victoria because of all the industry placement opportunities that they offer. Being at DSTG gave me the opportunity to work on some unique projects I wouldn’t necessarily get exposed to elsewhere. You just learn so much that you can’t learn in a classroom setting.”

Getting prepared for the workplace 

Julian has found the collaborative work culture at DSTG immensely helpful to his personal and professional growth

Dr William Sullivan from DSTG, who manages STEM Engagement and Inclusion, has worked closely with Swinburne and says that contemporary workplaces value practical skills that can’t be picked up in a classroom setting. 

“DSTG’s WIL programs are pretty serious about the work component. Some placements have you shadow a member of staff, work as a collaborative team on pre-existing projects or even lead a smaller project.”

Mechanical engineering student Julian really valued the workplace culture at DSTG and the relationships he’s been able to build with his team and fellow placement students. 

“They treat the program as an investment for future employment and really take the time to nurture your skills and understand your goals.” 

“The conversations we have in the office have been one of the biggest highlights so far. Everyone brainstorms how to solve problems that they’re working on. People have really good ideas, and you can learn a lot just by hearing what their ideas are and what their approach to a problem is.”

DSTG is currently working with Swinburne to pilot a new program that gives students in first year the opportunity to build skills directly aligned with the needs of contemporary workplaces. 

“Close, long-term partners like Swinburne University of Technology allow us to be positively involved in a students’ learning journey, enhancing the STEM ecosystem as a whole whilst also allowing us to engage with state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge education. That gives students the real-world hands-on skills that we’re after,” Dr Sullivan said.