Within a Cooee! Advice Tool

Being Regional is focused on strengths and qualities; some of these you may already have, which can be translated to many other life situations, including getting a degree.

Introduction

Being Regional

I’m Thinking About Uni

I’m at Uni:Now keep going!

Like a Rollercoaster

These three quotes are typical of how regional people described other regional people:

  • they are disciplined and have self-motivation, an understanding of delayed gratification as most things aren’t as readily or easily obtained in remote/regional areas (Rachel)
  • they have dogged determination (Justine)
  • they are determined and hard-working, resourceful, resilient (Ari)

For more on strengths and qualities:

There’s a willingness by some of the students to want to work in remote areas and help people. And that’s non-Aboriginal students as well. So, there is that “closeness” with some of the students who really do have that interest (Colin, staff)

Colin (staff) is a proud Aboriginal man, and lecturer in cultural safety and awareness on a regional campus

Regional students are generally not spoon fed and have a high work ethic and often are good problem solvers and practical thinkers. (Robert)

Robert is 41-50 from an inner regional area, doing Arts part-time for over 5 years. He is first in family, from LSES background and lives with disability. He is also involved in the local community

  • Resolve. Regional students aren’t likely to flip in and out of studies. Once they have committed to a degree they will most likely see it through. (Sharon)

    Sharon is from an outer regional area, 1st year of Education, fulltime. She is mature aged, from working class background and works part-time. She is a mum and has community commitments

  • I think they’re also tactile with their ideas and their focuses and I just find that they’re generally friendly people as well because they usually know everyone in the communities they live in (Freya)

    Freya is 21-25 from an outer regional area and is in her 5th year of a double Science degree, fulltime, on campus. She is mature age and is a student with disability, and works part time

  • I think just generally country kids are really friendly and I think that’s a really good thing, you know, happy to have a chat about any random thing and that’s something I’ve noticed (Bianca)

    Bianca is 21-25 from a remote area, in 3rd year Business fulltime on campus and moved to the city from a very small town. She works part-time and is from working class background.

  • I found regional students are good with money; they don’t have disposable incomes, so they’re money type of smart because they’re having to budget more for, you know, travel and all that stuff. (Freya)

    Freya is 21-25 from an outer regional area and is in her 5th year of a double Science degree, fulltime, on campus. She is mature age and is a student with disability, and works part time

  • For some of the older students, there’s a real commitment to being a role model for their own kids and grandkids but also for the wider family and the wider community. They have a real pride and love of sharing their culture, a great sense of humour, and I think just a real hope in terms of real openness to connecting with good people, really loving and open, really thinking about the future and wanting to have a role in what that looks like for them (Alison, staff)

    Alison (staff) is a manager of a remote university hub