Name: Ingrid
Role Title: Sterile Insect Technique Officer, Department of Primary Industries
Location: Tatura

Description of work undertaken:
Ingrid's job involves working within the Plant Standards Team to rear and release sterile Queensland Fruit Flies during the release season. This consists of several activities including: receiving sterile pupae, housing pupae until they emerge as adult fruit flies, handling adult flies for release in chosen locations, and identification of sterile flies on recapture.

Team and / or individual role / responsibilities:
As the Sterile Insect Technique officer Ingrid’s primary responsibility is implementing and reporting on the Sterile Insect Technique program. She also assists with other Plant Standards duties such as auditing of businesses on ICA (Interstate Certification Assurance) arrangements.

Background
Grew Up Where:
Ingrid grew up in Tocumwal on the Murray River in southern NSW. Her career has been influenced by the nearby primary industries in the Goulburn Valley, in particular the fruit industry. She has always had a strong interest in biology as her father is a science teacher.

STUDIES:
Tertiary /post secondary:
Ingrid completed a Bachelor of Science at Monash University, Clayton. She majored in zoology, minored in conservation biology and completed an additional Honours year project researching small mammal ecology.

Secondary:
Ingrid completed science subjects in year 11 and 12 including Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology and Maths Methods.

Work experience:
Ingrid's work experience involved working as an assistant to the Bushcare Facilitator at Port Phillip-Westernport Catchment Management Authority. There she worked on urban and regional environmental issues such as native vegetation protection and environmental weeds.

Opportunities
Learning on job, new skills, etc.
There have been frequent opportunities for Ingrid to undertake training on the job and in more formal environments. Plant Standards has a 'Training and Development Plan' to assist officers in developing their skills by undertaking formal training relevant to their duties.

Travel:
Ingrid has travelled to other Plant Standards Centres around the state including Melbourne, Bendigo and Mildura for training, meetings and field-work. And she hopes to travel to WA and NSW to visit their Sterile Insect Technique facilities in the near future.

Advice to Students Now:
Students up to Year 10
Try and focus on the subjects that you enjoy, as ultimately these are subjects you will perform better in.

VCE students
Don't just focus on the larger universities when choosing a degree. There are many smaller universities and institutions in rural locations that offer high quality degrees, particularly in agricultural and environmental sciences.

Tertiary students
When applying for jobs, broaden your search to rural locations. There are a number of regional centres such as Department of Primary Industries in Tatura that offer challenging careers in science and research whilst providing you with a more relaxed lifestyle.

Other:
What careers have other graduates from your course entered?
Graduates of my course have entered various careers, some have begun PhDs and have continued into research. A number have since completed a diploma of education and now teach science subjects. Others have jobs with environmental firms, government departments such as Department of Sustainability and Environment, or work at places such as the Melbourne Aquarium or Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary.