Our Aviators in Schools program connects teachers all over Australia with aviation professionals in flexible, ongoing partnerships, that bring real-world insights into the classroom.
We spoke with one of our Aviators in Schools mentors to hear about their aviation journey and show how #WithSTEMYouCan have a career that evolves with you and our world.
Bridget Hosking, Training Support Specialist, Airservices Australia.
As a high-school student, Bridget always knew she had a flare for problem solving. This was encouraged by her Year 11 and 12 physics teacher who made science real. He encouraged her to ‘ask questions and do problems’, showing her that STEM is all around you and not just a bunch of theories in a classroom.
Bridget turned this flare and curiosity into a career as an air traffic controller, turned training specialist. Bridget shares her journey and tips for those keen to explore a career in the aviation industry.
Did you dream of working in the aviation industry?
“As a child, I don't think I had a dream job, I changed my mind a lot even when I left school. I always really enjoyed chemistry and I liked understanding how stuff works in a biological sense and now I've ended up working with how stuff works in air traffic control.”
What does your career look like today?
“I previously worked as an air traffic controller, monitoring and directing aircraft to ensure safe and efficient flight paths. Now I work as a Training Support Specialist in a team that assists with all of the air traffic control training activities across Australia. From new air traffic control trainees just starting out through to those training on the job.”
What studies have led to where you are today?
“I did physics, chemistry and biology at school, they are great for transferability and they are ultimately about problem solving. I started a couple of uni degrees in science fields, but then I applied for air traffic control because it sounded interesting.
“I undertook something similar to an apprenticeship, so you learn through the initial training environment. It’s current name is the Diploma of Aviation Air Traffic Control [PDF • 413KB]. Airservices Australia is the only RTO that delivers this.”
Have you found your STEM skills useful in your career?
“I use my STEM skills in my career everyday. Air traffic controllers are problem solvers and decision makers. They're knowledgeable, they’ve learnt their procedures and each day they sit down to solve problems.
“Specifically in my current role, we have situations in which people aren't sure why someone's not progressing during training. I have to look at all of the information and ask really good questions. This is the main link with STEM for me, I have to be very good at asking questions to try and find the root cause of a problem and not stop at the first level.”
What would you say is the best thing about your job?
“I really enjoy my job, I love the problem solving aspect but my favourite is training delivery. I train the trainers and the assessors. I work to give Air Traffic Controllers the skills to then train and assess effectively and help their trainees to achieve competency.”
What have been your experiences and observations about culture and diversity in your field?
“Aviation workplaces are finding ways to promote diversity and I have seen a lot of evolution. I don't know if girls see aviation as an option for their career path, but I hope students know the door is open.
“I think air traffic controllers are not afraid to challenge each other and they love to play devil's advocate. So whilst the system is built around a typically male trajectory, we ask good questions and there is a lot of respect in the industry regardless of gender or cultural background.”
What advice would you give to a teenager looking to study STEM
“My first recommendation is to ask good questions and keep asking questions.
“My second recommendation would be, to not narrow things down straight away. Just because we offer physics, chemistry, biology etc. it doesn't mean that STEM has to follow a single pathway, look at the skills you’re gaining and how they transfer to different jobs.
“Things like problem solving, decision making, spatial awareness, pattern recognition, and reasoning offer more employability or technical skills.
“It’s not so much about the subject, it's about the underlying skills. Focus on the skills that would make you happy”.
Bridget has been a dedicated contributor to our STEM Professionals in Schools program for the past seven years and is now leading the way in the new Aviators in Schools initiative.
During her time with the program she has worked with multiple secondary schools and has provided many valuable interactions with students, including taking them to her place of work to understand how mathematics and physics are used in air traffic control.
Find out more about the world of opportunity available through STEM career pathways, visit the #WithSTEMYouCan webpage.