A personal quest for industrial engineering student Larnie Ham

Not many people have personally benefited from the work of engineers as much as Larnie Ham. The 21 year-old was born with a severe hearing impairment, and has relied on hearing aids since she was just six months old.

Now a fourth-year industrial engineering student at La Trobe University in Bendigo, Larnie is aiming for a career in biomedical engineering, so that she can design high-tech medical products to help improve people's lives.

"Biomedical engineers are essentially responsible for designing anything that goes in the body or on the body. So if you need a hip or knee replacement, prosthetic limbs, or a pacemaker - designing of these products is all down to biomedical engineers," she said.

Larnie's interest in the health industry was first sparked when she was a child visiting audiologists. "I've always wanted to work in a hospital. I know the impact that a good health professional, and the right intervention, can have on a person's life, because I've experienced it."

Biomedical engineers are essentially responsible for designing anything that goes in the body or on the body.

Larnie Ham

Initially keen to study nursing or paramedicine, Larnie's school careers counsellor suggested she also consider engineering. "Engineering is a really incredible way to look at a problem and come up with solutions. With my interest in health and helping people, biomedical engineering seemed like a good fit."

Larnie is completing her Bachelor of Industrial Engineering in Bendigo this year, and hopes to secure an internship with a biomedical engineering company before she graduates.

"Most types of engineering you can stay in regional areas like Bendigo for work or internships, but biomedical engineering is more specialised. Even though I would have to go to Melbourne to get experience, my hope would be to return to the country eventually, where health professionals are really needed."

Larnie's experience growing up with 75 per cent hearing loss is a strong motivator for her years of study. "I just want to change one person's life. That's all. If I achieve that then the study and work will be worth it. Who knows what I might be doing today if I'd never been offered a hearing aid."

La Trobe University offers a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering and Bachelor of Civil Engineering at its Bendigo campus, as well as options for flexible postgraduate study.

The University opened a new purpose-built, state-of-the-art engineering and technology building at its Bendigo campus in 2019. For more visit www.latrobe.edu.au/courses/engineering