Changing careers

Winning not one but two scholarships has changed the course of Matt’s career. After working as an electrician for 10 years and seeing the projects and positions that would be available to him if he pursued further study, Matt took the plunge to become a mature age engineering student.

When Matt was working in the hospitality industry, he thought he had his career all mapped out. But after one too many long shifts, it turns out that wasn’t the case. A desire for change led him back into the classroom, as a student then teacher. Now he teaches others the skills to follow their dreams. 

Deciding to study a postgraduate degree can feel like a big step, but it comes with a whole heap of benefits both personally and professionally. Whether you're interested in research or just progressing at work, if you're considering any sort of postgrad experience, check out our tips to know if you're in the right frame of mind to begin. 

Without finishing high school, Wendy moved to the NT and started working in hospitality. Her decision to study a VET course at CDU inspired a love of learning, followed by a love of teaching. Turns out, she's pretty good at it! 

After almost a decade of working in diverse multinational organisations, Saba Sadiq had plenty of people skills. A Master of Business Administration gave her the knowledge to harness people management strategy and enter a new dream career in HR.

Nature lover Chloe lives in Humpty Doo and juggles her job at a plant nursery, her daughter, and her studies at CDU. She may be from Paris, but this horticulture student has set up roots in the Top End.

If you told a younger Toby Snaire he would one day win the prestigious Engineers Australia Graduate Award, he never would’ve believed you. Fast forward a few years and Toby has an engineering degree to his name and his achievements are proof that it’s never too late to change your life. 

It can take months – or years – to decide whether to study at university, especially if life is busy with work, socialising and family commitments. Hear from these five students on what motivated them to take the final step and start studying.

If there’s one thing we hear from students time and again, it’s that support makes or breaks their study experience. Uncover the different ways you can stay motivated, focused and on-track with your studies.