Have you turned your passion into a degree?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meet Brodie, a Torres Strait Islander and Coastal and Marine Science student specialising in Environmental Management. She found a way to turn her passion for the ocean and marine life into a future career!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With ancestors who come from Saibai Island in the Torres Strait, Brodie\u2019s family ties initially drew her to study the conservation side of her degree. She says in today’s world, there’s a big shift to environmental sustainability, and she is interested in being a part of that shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brodie\u2019s favourite things about her course is the hands-on learning experience. She was recently part of a Vacation program (VAC) with Rio Tinto, where she spent three months up North getting experience in the environmental management side of her degree. For the last few weeks of her placement, she travelled to Cape Lambert where did took part in turtle monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Originally from Pemberton, Brodie said the biggest challenge of studying at Curtin was moving to Perth. And despite her initial doubts, the community at St Catherine\u2019s College has felt like a second home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have much family up here in Perth. It was a big shift from very rural country area into the big city. I didn\u2019t think I would last very long, but I\u2019ve found my place now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A highlight of Brodie\u2019s time at uni are the opportunities she has been exposed to through her studies. Specifically, the many companies, scholarships and different environmental VAC programs she has had access to through her degree. She says meeting people in her field and hearing their stories has been super rewarding, but one of the biggest highlights has been learning more about herself and how to step outside of her comfort zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNobody knows you in your classes. You don’t know anybody when you’ve moved to other places. So really putting yourself out there and getting to know people is one thing that I’ve learned and overcome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aside from her studies, Brodie is involved in a variety of extracurriculars. She is part of Curtin Divers \u2013 and it was through the club that she got her scuba ticket and was able to go diving. She also competes in the Indigenous Nationals University games<\/a>, which is a five-day sports competition that brings hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from unis across Australia together to compete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n