Within a Cooee! Advice Tool

I’m thinking about uni, but I’m still not sure, conversation starters directed towards regional people who are considering university as an option.

Introduction

Being Regional

I’m Thinking About Uni

Go for it!

You can do it!

Do it because you want to

Be intentional, take your time

Look at all your options

For school leavers: Gap Year, ATAR

Ask lots of questions

Costs

What if I change my mind?

Study options to think about

I’m at Uni:Now keep going!

Like a Rollercoaster

Go for it!

Just to do it. Stop thinking about it and just do it. That’s what I did. I acknowledge that there will be challenges and that there’s challenges in life anyway and the time is going to pass anyway – just do something. If you’re passionate about it, you’ll get it done and at the end of it, you’ll have a degree to be proud of. (Carly)

Carly is 32, from an outer regional area, in second year Nursing, studying online and part-time. She has children, is working full time, is first in family, mature-age and is from a working class background.

  • When it comes to university, absolutely go for it if you are in that position because you won’t regret it at all. It’s a great opportunity to be able to see what else is there outside of your town and really try and spread your wings. There’s so many opportunities available at uni to meet new people and to try things that you may never have had the opportunity to before. Yeah, my advice would be to if you’ve got an idea or some kind of career path that you’d like to follow but you’re not sure, absolutely go for it (Cassie)

    Cassie is 18-20, from a remote area and is in first year of Psychology. She moved 500kms from home to attend fulltime on campus (until COVID). She also works a casual job, and is from working class background.

  • I’d probably just say “Just do it and if you don’t like it find something else [laughing]”. Yeah, I think it’s fantastic but I think it’s important that people coming out of high school do some type of training for what they want to be, whether that’s a degree, an apprenticeship, or a diploma. I think just having that extra learning before you enter the workforce is worth its weight in gold. If anyone is considering doing any type of study, I would say “Just do it and commit to it. It’s only a short period of your life but you will get so many benefits out of it” (Sophie)

    Sophie is 34, in her 1st year of Nursing and studying full-time on-campus (moved online during COVID). She is from an inner regional area, has two pre-school aged children, and works part-time

  • Do it! But be prepared it’s going to be hard but so worth it when you get the end result (Amelia)

    Amelia is 21-25, from an outer regional area, studying Nursing fulltime online in her 2nd year. She also has a casual job and is first in family

  • I would say, “Absolutely. Definitely do it”. I think it’s a real personal journey, I think you’re moving away from home, you’re meeting other people, you’re opening up your ideas and opportunities, and yeah, standing on your own two feet. I think that personal journey and the things that you learn on the way is just as valuable. That sort of stuff is just as much if not more so, than the course itself. I think that’s really, really valuable. (Therese)

    Therese is in her 40s and has just begun her higher degree research study, after completing a health-related degree. She has 3 children ranging from 4 months to 11 years. She is from a remote area.

  • Do it. There is nothing better you can do if you think you can do it. Stick with it because you might as well pay all that money and get a degree at the end rather than pay money then drop out with nothing but debt. (Tully)

    Tully is 18-20, from an outer regional area, in 1st year of Education and is studying fulltime online. Tully works part-time, is first in family and is from a working class background.

  • Do it. If you have the passion and drive, nothing will get in your way. (Zara)

    Zara is 31-40 from an outer regional area and is in her 2nd year of Nursing, studying part-time by distance/block mode. She is a mum, works fulltime, is a first in family, mature age student, and comes from a working class background