Name: Patrick 
Role Title: Salinity Research Officer 
Location: DNRE Tatura

Description of work undertaken:  Patrick's general duties are data processing, soil collection, soil  and water sampling. He produces results and maps then sends them to an Extension Officer to give back to the farmer. Patrick says "It's interesting and rewarding because you can see the benefit you are giving the community." Team and /or individual role /responsibilities: The aim of Patrick's project is to map salinity in the Kerang region and also to provide salinity maps for the Shepparton Irrigation Region (SIR) based on his well and watertable monitoring in the Shepparton Region. Patrick collecting a soil sample for mapping purposes

Future? 
In the immediate future, the Monitoring team is going to automate a lot of their processes and link them with GIS technology. In the long term they will be moving into dryland soil salinity monitoring. At the moment they focus on irrigation mapping.

BACKGROUND:
Grew up where? 
Patrick grew up in Mildura Victoria. He studied a geology degree and fell into his current work, after working for mining companies originally. The process (an electromagnetic mapping technique) that he is currently using was originally a mineral mapping tool that was then applied to agricultural processes. 

Course(s) studied: 
Tertiary /post secondary:
Bachelor of Applied Science (Geology) La Trobe University, Bendigo.

Work experience: 
Patrick did a lot of geological surveys for mining companies during Uni (paid).

OPPORTUNITIES: 
Further study: 
Patrick would like to do his masters, in same area he is working in now.

Learning on job, new skills, etc. 
Patrick has have done GIS training courses, and soil-surveying courses. Patrick says "The department offers a number of courses to assist you in your job".

Travel, etc.
Patrick travels mainly when surveying, he has completed surveys in NSW and all around Victoria. He has also travelled for conferences.

ADVICE TO STUDENTS NOW: 
"Try to find out what you want to do now, and structure your education towards that goal. Find as much information as you can about your target career, and study those subjects that relate to that career."

OTHER: 
What careers have other graduates from your course entered?
One works for a mining company in Papua New Guinea, one is a gold prospector (mineralogist), most are working for mining companies, because that is what the course was really geared towards.