Seek Wisdom

When Frinze first arrived in Australia from the Philippines, he had two clear goals: build a sustainable future for his family and create something meaningful for the world. Fast forward to today, and he’s doing just that – working as a Software Engineer at Atlassian, Australia’s largest tech company.

“I’ve always really admired the idea of creating something that solves a lot of the problems in the world,” Frinze says. “When I was in high school, I was thinking, ‘Hey, I want to build cool things in the world that people want to use every single day, especially the people I care about.’”

Choosing to study at UWA

Frinze chose to study a Bachelor of Science at UWA, majoring in Engineering Science (Software) and Data Science. His decision was driven by a mix of passion and practicality.

“I wanted a career that could help me attain financial sustainability for me and my family, and after that, a career that would enable me to be a contributor to society,” he explains. “The technology field just connected to me. While it can be a competitive market, looking for a job comes with the fear of a lack of experience and ability to show competency. However, what resonated with me is that to get experience all you need is your laptop, which really eases any career concerns and brings hope that if I put in the hard work I'll get somewhere.”

This combination of Engineering Science and Data Science gave him the skills he would later rely on at Atlassian.

Building a strong foundation

Looking back, Frinze credits his UWA degree for giving him the technical depth and resilience needed to thrive in the fast-paced world of software engineering.

“There were numerous times in my study where I thought, ‘Where can this be applicable?’ But when I started working, I’d be stuck on a problem for days or even weeks. I had to go back to basics.”

From tracking how data moves across the internet to understanding file systems, Frinze found that the concepts he once thought were “too abstract” turned out to be crucial in solving real-world problems.

“I truly believe that a UWA degree definitely sets you up to handle various challenges in the modern world”.

Finding your people

Frinze also found community and connection through UWA’s vibrant student clubs – especially Coders for Causes, a student-run group that builds software for non-profits.

“There’s no other place after high school where you meet the sheer amount of people that have the same interest and openness to learning, I certainly didn’t expect that nine of the people I work with at Atlassian came from Coders for Causes!”

Career-defining moments

Frinze’s journey is filled with pivotal experiences that shaped his career. From building his first app in a business incubator to landing a job at Lotterywest through a LinkedIn connection, each step taught him the value of  persistence and preparation.

“I was getting mostly rejections that year for internship programs, but someone reached out to me on LinkedIn because my profile was good – thanks to the UWA Career Centre – and I ended up becoming a contractor for Lotterywest.”

After graduating, Frinze took a well-earned break before applying to just three companies. He received two offers and chose Atlassian, where he now works in the Central AI division, helping engineers innovate faster.

Words of wisdom

Frinze’s biggest piece of advice? Learn about the job market and the industries your degree can take you into.

“Most people only talk about technical experience and soft skills, the reality is there’s a third type of knowledge – industry knowledge.”

Understanding what different industries value can help you tailor your approach to interviews and choose the right workplace for your goals.

Ready to start your own journey? Explore where a Bachelor of Science degree could take you. Find out more about the different majors available and how you can apply with Experience-based entry to study at UWA.