Indianna Brewer-Williams describes how she combined her passion for sport with science and now shares this with the next generation of global leaders as a secondary school teacher.
In choosing a university degree and, likely, her future career path, Indi wisely went with what she loved most – sport and science.
“My main interests through high school were Physical Education and Human Biology, and UWA offered a major called Human Biology and Functional Anatomy, which covered all my interests," she says.
“I chose UWA as it’s the top university in Western Australia and I loved the campus and the vibe. They also have a wide range of extracurricular sport activities.”
While Indi’s initial plan was to be a forensic scientist, teaching was always in the back of her mind.
“During my time at uni, I realised I needed to be in a sociable career that helps and develops people. I’ve always coached or tutored younger people and loved watching them grow, not only in their physical or academic skills but their emotional and social skills as well, so my major interest in science led me towards teaching the topic in a high school setting."
After completing her Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Human Biology and Functional Anatomy, Indi continued her studies with a Master of Teaching (Secondary).
“My favourite part of the program was the amount of teaching time we got in our practical components. The units provided great context and I felt very prepared for my time in the classroom.”
Since graduating, Indi spent a year teaching in London before returning to Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She now teaches Year 7 to 9 science full-time and programs the Year 8 course. She is also part of the STEM committee, the Health and Wellbeing Committee for students and staff, and coaches the female AFL team.
“The school I’m at currently has a major focus on STEM teaching and its importance in the world today. STEM education is about moving forward, solving problems, learning, and pushing innovation to the next level.
“STEM teaching helps students develop the skills that will prepare them for 21st century careers. These skills also help students at a social level, developing their communication, teamwork and collaboration skills. Other skills that are highly important in our ever-evolving world are based around initiative, inquiry and problem-solving, which are all a major focus within STEM teaching.”
Indi believes the importance of STEM and developing these skills cannot be understated.
“STEM is intertwined in every part of our lives. As the world continues to evolve and develop, these skills become more and more important. STEM empowers individuals to succeed and adapt to the complex and changing world. To sustain our economy, it is necessary that young adults are leading innovators in the science, technology, engineering and mathematical realms.”
Did you know UWA now offers a combined version of these two degrees? Find out more about the Bachelor of Science and Master of Teaching (Secondary) or browse all our Education courses.
