Marlee Hutton - Marine Scientist

I am a Bardi Jawi woman from the Kimberley, I grew up in Broome and spent a lot of time around the ocean.  While growing up my Nana Lexie would always encouraged me to find a career that made me happy and to find a way to bring my career back home to country.  Every moment spent with her was a lesson, she was a determined, very hard working woman who lived through a difficult time in Australian history.  I am always amazed at how her strength allowed her to overcome her disadvantages and provide her children and grandchildren with a high level of education.  She taught me not to take my education for granted and to never forget where I come from. 

I decided to take Marine Science as a career path, but struggled a lot throughout uni with chemistry.  I unfortunately failed multiple times and was ready to give up and go home, my grandmother however was not going to let that happen.  She would always tell me in the calmest of ways, to just keep trying and if I really want it, then it will happen.  I finally graduated in 2016 and am now a Marine Scientist with CSIRO.  My role at CSIRO has been bringing me closer and closer to home as I had always hoped.  I regularly spend time engaging with Indigenous Rangers in the Kimberley and conducting research around dugong populations.  In the future I hope to be able to move back home permanently and establish strong science and community relationships.  I believe that so many career options are aligned with what a lot of young Indigenous people love doing and they can always find a way to achieve a career that will make them happy and involves being on country.