What it’s like to study Public Health 100% online

Why have you decided to study at this point in your life?

I’m a mum of four kids, who range in age from 10 to 21. I’ve spent most of my adult life raising a family and taking care of my children. At the start of this year, I started thinking that it might be a good time to think more deeply about the future and figure out what I’d like to do professionally and personally.

Gaining a tertiary education has always been very important to me – and it’s something I tell my kids all the time. My degree is a chance for me to focus on myself and do something I’m passionate about, so I took the plunge. I also wanted to set an example for my children and show them the importance of university education and overcoming obstacles to strive for success.

What were the personal and professional motivations for studying your degree?

I live in Shepparton, which is a melting pot of different cultures and home to the largest Aboriginal community in Victoria. I’m extremely passionate about community work and have always been involved in multicultural and Aboriginal community events and programs.

There was one program that had a real effect on me and inspired my university journey. The Cradle to Kinder program is a program for Aboriginal mums and babies from zero to four years old. I was able to participate in this program, and although my involvement was small, it demonstrated the importance of having Aboriginal people in the health sector and other key professions. It was experiences like this that inspired me to be a part of this change. My degree will give me the skills to implement life-changing programs and policies that positively impact the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people.

What kind of opportunities does studying 100% online give you?

UniSA has given me the opportunity of a lifetime. It is not an overstatement to say that undertaking this course has changed my life. A world of potential and opportunity has opened for me and my family.

As a mother of four, studying online is the only option for me but the quality of the course content played a huge role in my decision. I researched a range of online courses, but I couldn’t find any that were as well organised or as relevant as the UniSA Online degree. From the first phone call I had with the support staff, I felt like everything was possible.

Did you have any concerns before starting your degree? Was there anything holding you back?

I had a definite lack of confidence in returning to formal study. Before I started this course, the last time I submitted an assignment was in handwriting! In reality, the only thing holding me back was myself. My children have been my support crew and are always there cheering me on, which has boosted my confidence and kept me motivated.

If you could give your past self a few words of advice knowing what you do now, what would you say?

You have valuable contributions to make and it is possible. There will always be 100 different reasons not to make the first step but take the plunge and do it anyway.