How an Australian Power Institute scholarship electrified Amelie’s future
Did you know Australians used 274 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity in 2022-2023! That kind of power relies on engineers to keep our power grid safe, everything from your lights to our transport network.
Amelie Blomme is a final-year electrical and electronic engineering student at the University of Western Australia. Her journey into the power sector was supercharged by the Australian Power Institute (API) Power Up Scholarship, which has propelled her from student to soon-to-be graduate engineer.
Finding the spark with API
Amelie was drawn to engineering by an interest in her dad’s career as an electrical engineer.
When a lecturer advertised the API Power Up Scholarship, it immediately piqued her interest. “I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do (in engineering), but I thought this would give a good insight into the power sector,” she says.
“The scholarship connects students to industry and on the job experience while they are studying,” explains Cameron McMurtrie, the program manager for API. “They can explore their passion and launch themselves into a powerful career in the Australian power sector.”
The API Power Up program helps uni students get access to top networking events – giving Amelie the chance to attend conferences like EECON, where she attended under the API’s TJ Effeney award. It also includes paid placements (yes, paid!), quarterly webinars, a jobs list and more. And the best part? Power Up is open to anyone in Australia studying a power-related degree!
Amelie also did an internship with Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). After she graduates, she’ll begin her two-year graduate rotation role with them. She’ll be working to ensure the electrical grids in major areas remain secure and reliable.
Amelie says the API Power Up program really helped her understand where her degree could take her. “I don’t know if I’d find the degree as interesting if I didn’t get outside views, like the internships,” she says
For anyone interested in an energy career, Amelie’s advice is to “just apply for it”. She suggests doing some research and demonstrating genuine curiosity about the power sector.
Why apply for an API Power Up scholarship and program?
- Gain industry experience through guaranteed paid placement
- Gain entry to their annual Power UP Summit
- All expenses paid to attend an industry conference
- Build your professional network
- Bank up $4k across your degree
- Receive API recognition
Amelie’s Career Path
- The University of Western Australia, Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- API Bursary Scholarship awarded 2023
- Engineering Vacation Student internship, Alcoa
- Electrical Engineering Vacation Student, AEMO
- Electrical Engineering intern, AEMO
This feature was brought to you in partnership with the Australian Power Institute.
