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Sixteen-year-old Ōrewa College student Rachel Slacke has loved technology since she was at Dairy Flat Primary, where she was in the team that organised the tech for school assemblies.
At college, now in Year 12, she took this forward to being in the sound and lighting crew for productions and other events.
When the opportunity came up to apply for the Royal NZ Navy’s School to Seas camp, she jumped at it. The programme, funded by the Navy, is designed for young women who are interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. It aims to empower them with confidence and curiosity about STEM-based careers in the Navy and wider marine industry.
Included is the opportunity for Year 12 and 13 students to get hands-on experience with machinery, robotics, and electronics; plan and execute a real naval navigation exercise; use a bridge simulator; and develop resilience and leadership skills with workshops from women in leadership.
Rachel was one of 30 students selected from 150 applicants to attend the week-long programme, at Devonport Naval Base last month.
It turned out to be a window into future opportunities – as well as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“It has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” she says. “I honestly couldn’t comprehend how many jobs and trades are offered with the Navy. It has given myself and others a way to help break the mindset barrier of ‘what you can’t see, you can’t be’. I loved being around strong female role models as well as hearing stories from current and past Navy personnel.”
Rachel spent six nights sleeping on the HMNZS Canterbury, in a cabin with seven other girls. “We lived as if we were part of the Canterbury crew: eating, sleeping, and completing tasks on board,” she says.
Her favourite activity was riding and navigating the small rigid-hulled inflatable boat, which she describes as “almost like a jetski for eight people”.
“The adrenaline from the speed as well as jumping waves and crashing down with water hitting our faces was so exhilarating,” Rachel says.
But it wasn’t all fun and games. One of the most challenging activities was being in the Flood Room Simulator, where the whole room rocks back and forth to simulate a ship sailing through a storm while the operator outside the room creates gushing leaks. Those inside must stop the leaks, with minimal light and water rising above their waists.
“Once we climbed back up the ladder, we did a count-off only to realise that one of our team members was still on the lower level, which had been prearranged by one of the operators. This was to show that during disaster control, people can get ‘injured’ and you need a strategic plan to save them as well as keeping yourself safe.”
Participants also completed the Defence Force Fitness entry requirement, which includes the beep test, dragging an 86kg ‘body’ over 15m in less than 30 seconds, and carrying a 20kg kettlebell weight over a course in less than 45 seconds.
“This was the minimum requirement, so it gave myself and others a great understanding of what fitness levels are needed to join the defence force!”
Other activities included team building, firefighting, and visiting the Six Squadron Air Force Team for a tour of their helicopters, flight simulation, and introduction to the Air Force.
There were also talks from the Police and night manoeuvres with Coastguard.
Rachel says the divisional leaders, Courtney Glover and Simone Sheenhan, demonstrated and encouraged the values of integrity, courage, companionship, and commitment.
“They brought young women who had never met each other into a strong team that formed friendships,” she says. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I would like to thank Lieutenant Commander Emily Kutarski for organising such brilliant opportunities and experiences.”
Importance of STEM: School to Seas project lead, Lieutenant Commander Emily Kutarski, says NZ’s STEM workforce has less than 30 percent representation of women. “Female students in NZ drop out of studying maths and science at a rate far higher than their male counterparts, and if they happen to also be Māori or Pasifika, that rate is even greater,” she says. “With global long-term shortages in the STEM workforce, we need to attract young women in order to sustain and grow our numbers both in the Navy and the wider marine industry.”
