Faculty of Science and Technology
Deakin University
Nathan Stamkos WITHIN months of starting his new job Deakin graduate Nathan Stamkos was avoiding falling trees and helping fight bushfires that swept across Victoria in the summer of 2006/07. It was an exciting start to his new career as fire management project officer. Mr Stamkos spent 11 years as a telecommunications engineer, before deciding on a change of direction. He enrolled in the Environmental Science (Environmental Management) course and graduated in 2006. Mr Stamkos said the on-the-job skills he had developed fighting fires complemented the knowledge he had gained in the classroom at Deakin. “During the busy fire season, I gained exposure to lots of fire suppression activity and I was given extensive fire management and fire fighting training,” he said. He believes that the high level of training is a big advantage of his position in the DSE graduate program. He will also be involved in projects across Victoria, and be based in Ovens, Bairnsdale and Colac, for eight months at a time. Mr Stamkos said he would also enjoy the opportunity to travel around the state. “Moving to different locations will give me a broad understanding of fire management in Victoria,” he said. “I will also get to experience different cultural centres around the state, which will help me decide where I want to work in the future.” He said he was looking forward to working with and learning from experts in the field, as well as working autonomously on projects. “In my role, I’m given lots of responsibility to see projects through from start to finish and my next project involves developing a fire strategy for a land management unit in East Gippsland.” Despite the differences between his current and previous role, Mr Stamkos said that Deakin University had made the switch easy. He said that professional practice units, a careful selection of subjects and committed lecturers helped him achieve his goal of gaining a position in fire management. “The lecturers are passionate about teaching and they inspire you to learn and develop a genuine interest in the environment,’’ he said. Some of Mr Stamkos’ tips for current students are to take part in volunteer work to show future employers that you are committed to the field and choose electives according to your interests. “I didn’t choose subjects to maximise days off on my timetable or because the unit didn’t have an exam. All my electives were chosen strongly around plant biology and I think it helped offset the core management subjects,” he said. In his new career, Mr Stamkos aims is to develop his fire and people management skills through training, practical experience and community and industry engagement and become a fire management officer in the future.
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