Why a STEM career is for everyone

STEM careers aren’t just for one type of student. In this guide, we look at why STEM courses and careers should be high on everyone’s list.

Accel iQ is dedicated to STEM education and careers, but what makes it such a good choice?

The answer is that it just makes sense. It turns out that, no matter who you are, what you enjoy or where you want to go, there’s a Science, Engineering, Technology or Mathematics pathway for you. In this guide, we break down the reasons how and why every student should consider prioritising STEM when it comes to high school, university and beyond.

Future proof

 The future of work is going to be decidedly different than what we’ve seen before. Statistics show that 44% of Australian jobs are susceptible to automation, while the past decade has seen a marked decline in traditional roles, particularly manual jobs such as in manufacturing.

While the job market is changing, signs are great for STEM careers. At the start of this decade, STEM jobs were growing at nearly twice the rate of all other job industries in Australia, with the future predicted to be similarly bright. What it means is that, as young students look ahead to fruitful careers, there’s going to be a lot of job security in STEM.  

Here are some of the reasons why STEM careers are so resilient to change:

• They typically require a higher skill level compared to other careers
• The skills employed are less likely to be automated in the future
• These careers use versatile skills that can respond to change

So many paths to take

When we picture STEM careers, stereotypes might lead us to think of civil engineers or lab technicians or mathematicians. All of those are real – and highly valuable – pathways, but did you know that STEM is actually much broader than that?

Creatives will often disregard the idea of a STEM career as being outside their area of interest, but there’s a huge overlap. A recent Careers with STEM blog touched on this topic, detailing the careers of audio engineers, fashion technologists and more. Creative fields are, more often than not, still driven by those with STEM-powered skills. Artists, musicians, designers and many other creative types can find rewarding careers by combining their passions with STEM fields.

Some other creative STEM careers include:

• Landscape architect
• Industrial designer
• Urban planner
• Game programmer

These are just a couple of examples, so if you think that your passions won’t align with a STEM career, dig a little deeper!

Dedicated to diversity

These days, STEM industries are actively recruiting for diversity, with a huge push to include women and people from a range of backgrounds.

 February 11 2022 was International Day of Women and Girls in Science. To mark the occasion, Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price announced $6.7 million in funding for initiatives related to women in STEM. These include the Superstars of STEM initiative to address the gender imbalance and additional funding for Australia’s Women in STEM ambassador.

While gender diversity remains a challenge across all industries, Australia is working hard to make sure that STEM industries reflect the talent and skill of women. You can learn more about how Australia is prioritising women in STEM by reading the government’s strategy.

For everyone, not just the geniuses

 STEM skills have a reputation for being tricky. They’re often regarded as easy enough for the bright students, but difficult for the rest of us. In fact, some students won’t even study STEM subjects in high school, fearing that the difficulty will drag down their ATAR!

While it’s true that STEM subjects can be tough, it’s also true that not every STEM course or career requires genius-level knowledge and a perfect ATAR. If you’re looking toward a great STEM career but are unsure of how you’ll get there, consider the pathways:

• University: Yes, university courses will have an ATAR prerequisite. But while the most prestigious universities will prioritise the highest achievers, Australia is full of world class institutions with lower barriers to entry. For a Bachelor of Science, a large proportion of universities will accept entry with ATAR scores of 60 or lower, according to University Reviews.
  
• TAFE: You might not even think of TAFE when you think of STEM, but these practical courses are both hands-on and accessible to everyone. STEM courses at TAFE include data analysis, IT, game programming and more. TAFE courses can be great standalone education, or you can use the skills to provide a pathway to further university study.
  
• HSC tuition: Regardless of your ideal pathway, it can be handy to have the reinforcement and tailored learning experience of tuition. If you’re keen to solidify your knowledge, plan a strategy for exams, or want to work hard to nail that high ATAR, Physics, Chemistry or Maths tuition can all be great options. You don’t need to be naturally gifted when it comes to STEM – sometimes you just need a good tutor. 

Set yourself up for STEM success with Accel iQ HSC tuition

At Accel iQ, our HSC tuition draws on the experience of our expert tutors, teaching tailored programs of Physics, Chemistry and Maths tuition. Regardless of future career goals, HSC tuition can help set students on the road to success.

Our Physics, Chemistry and Maths tuition is designed to prioritise the learning goals and style of each individual student, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to excel in their chosen STEM field.

Want to learn more about our Physics, Chemistry and Maths tuition programs? Get in touch with our team today to learn more about how HSC tuition can help set students up for exam success.