How a Telstra Student Project helped Dion build her career

“I always knew I wanted a career in industry and the Telstra Student Project gave me the chance to work on a 5G Internet of Things Smart Sensor Platform.”

Study Industry Projects are an opportunity for students to collaborate with an industry partner to develop almost any kind of project – it could be new technology, new ways of working or a design challenge. We then celebrate these projects with a showcase known as the Endeavour Exhibition, where students and their industry counterparts can demonstrate their work.

Master of Engineering (Mechatronics) student Dion Kouskouris worked on a Telstra Student Partnership Project working on a 5G Internet of Things Smart Sensor platform and this is her experience:

“I was involved in building a smart Internet of Things (IoT) system prototype for industrial environment motion monitoring applications. The system was designed to send data from sensors over 4G to cloud servers, which can then issue commands via 4G to raise alarms.

‘This project was an opportunity to increase my technical and professional skills by working to solve a real-world problem that can help Telstra continue to carry out their purpose of building a connected future – so everyone can thrive.’

Throughout my studies, I always knew that I wanted a career in industry upon graduating. In late 2020, I attained a place on the Telstra Summer Vacation Program. I enjoyed everything about it from the culture, the work I was undertaking as well as how they stuck to their values, which were strongly aligned with my personal values.

I then saw the Telstra Student Project as the perfect learning and growth opportunity at a company that I wanted to make a real-world difference with.

Under the guidance of supportive and encouraging supervisors I was able to learn new ways of working, interact with industry experts and understand the importance of being able to effectively showcase progress made on a project. Working on a Telstra project also reaffirmed my choice of pursuing a career in industry and gave me great insight into the day-to-day life at Telstra over an extended period (of an academic year).

Completing a Telstra Industry project is a great way to help you decide what’s best for you in your career while having the opportunity to contribute to a company that helps connect us all through their technology. Not only can it help you apply the knowledge you have learnt in your degree, but you will also be able to gain exposure to industry best practices, all the while, strengthening your soft skills such as communication, critical thinking and time management.

I would advise you to begin organising meetings with your project supervisors as soon as you’re aware of the projects on offer to find a Telstra Industry project that aligns best with your interests.

After completing my Master of Engineering (Mechatronics), I’ve since begun working at Telstra on an IoT project through the Telstra Graduate Program. This program has a lot of pathway options but it means I can take the skills I learned throughout my studies, and my experiences working on the Telstra Student projects and combine all of that into building my dream career.

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