Brooke Wright
4th-year student, Bachelor of Maritime Engineering (Honours)
As someone who has always loved sailing, Brooke Wright says studying maritime engineering felt like the right fit because it builds directly on something she already knows and enjoys.
“I’m a sailor, so I’ve spent a lot of time around boats and marine equipment. That naturally made me interested in how everything works behind the scenes, the engineering, the systems and the mechanics that keep vessels operating safely. By studying maritime engineering, I can take my practical experience on the water and turn it into a solid technical qualification. I’d love to work as a maritime engineer specialising in naval architecture, hopefully within New Zealand. This combines my experience at sea with my engineering skills.”
“I chose to study at AUT because it enabled me to start my maritime engineering degree here in New Zealand before transferring to Tasmania for the final two years of my studies. The timing worked well for me – I could begin the programme locally, get settled academically and then make the move to Australia once I’m ready for the specialised part of the degree. It was a practical choice that fitted with my plans and the pathway I want to follow.
Highlights and achievements
Now based in Launceston, Tasmania, and about to head into her fourth year, Brooke has thoroughly enjoyed her studies so far.
“I’ve liked being around a great group of people who share similar interests. Student life has also given me the chance to explore different areas of the maritime industry and a lot of things in this field you don’t fully understand until you’re involved in it. Being around others with the same curiosity makes it easier to figure out where you want to go. I especially appreciated when our lecturer Junior Nomani organised to take a group of us to the New Zealand navy base, which led to conversations with industry professionals and sparked my curiosity about parts of the maritime field I didn’t know existed.
“One of the biggest challenges for me was tackling complex mathematical problems. AUT made it easier to manage this by providing bookable study rooms, which allowed me to form study groups. Working with others helped me understand difficult concepts more clearly and made the learning process much more manageable.”
She has already had a few achievements she is especially proud of.
“In my first two years at AUT I received an AUT Find Your Greatness Scholarship as well as a RINA (NZ)/Babcock/Marine Industrial Design Scholarship. Since moving to Tasmania to continue my studies at the Australian Maritime College, I’ve been awarded an AMSA Sara Bool Women in Maritime Engineering Scholarship and am proud of receiving the Gibbs & Cox Australia Merit Prize for the highest grade point average in my third year study. I also love that my programme has led to an internship with Marine Industrial Design (MID), which has given me the chance to apply what I’ve learnt in a real marine environment and see how the theory actually connects to day-to-day work.”
Advice for other students
Expecting to complete her studies at the end of 2026, Brooke has some great advice for other students thinking about studying maritime engineering.
“Don’t be afraid of moving to Tasmania at the end of the second year. It intimidates a lot of people, but it’s definitely worth it. It’s where you gain the specialised maritime experience and opportunities that make the degree really count.”
She wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the maritime engineering degree to other students.
“AUT gives you the opportunity to get settled and build a foundation in engineering before you head to Tasmania for the final part of the degree. It’s a practical starting point for the maritime engineering route.”
