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Proud moments in Australian education history
Proud moments in Australian education history
Australian universities have produced many notable and distinguished alumni in many fields including science, medicine and the arts. Australian universities and education providers have a history of nurturing and celebrating talent, and launching graduates onto the world stage.
Here are just a few examples of graduates from Australian education providers who have gone on to compete on the world stage:
Dr Elizabeth Blackburn
Tasmanian-born molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2009, and is Australia’s 11th Nobel laureate. Dr Blackburn started her tertiary career at Melbourne University, and after completing a masters degree in biology she moved on to complete her PhD at Cambridge. Dr Blackburn discovered the telomerase enzyme, which 85 per cent of cancers depend on for their continuing growth. This discovery may make it possible to treat many cancers by developing drugs that block the activity of telomerase.
Professor Ian Frazer
Professor Ian Frazer from the University of Queensland discovered a vaccine for cervical cancer, which has proven to be close to 100 per cent effective against certain types of human papilloma virus. Professor Frazer was named Australian of the Year in 2006.
Graduates from the arts
James Wan and Leigh Whannell met at RMIT University and went on to create the successful Saw movie franchise. Sam Worthington graduated from NIDA in 1998 and recently appeared in James Cameron’s Avatar, one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Tim Winton write his first nove while studying at Curtin University of Technology. An Open Swimmer went on to win The Australian/Vogel Literary Award in 1981.
First day starting tips
New students
After all the fuss of applying for your course, getting in and enrolling, you’re probably wondering ‘What comes next?’.
A great next step is to attend your education provider’s orientation week. This is the week before classes when you can make friends and get familiar with your campus. ‘O’ Week is filled with fun activities that are designed to ease you into university life. This could take the form of a scavenger hunt, campus tour, sporting activities or a pub crawl.
Orientation is also a great time to seek out the university services: go on a library tour, join some clubs and familiarise yourself with your campus. The more comfortable and at home you feel, the more likely you are to be enthusiastic about your course and do well academically.
During your first day you will probably be a little bit overwhelmed — especially if you are in a lecture with over 200 students. It’s easy to get lost in the crowd, which is why it’s a great idea to take advantage of the many activities available to you. Try talking to one new person in every lecture or class. You’ll be surprised at how many people are just as eager to engage in conversation.
Returning students
You are familiar with your campus and your fellow students already, so for a returning student it may be time to start thinking about your future career. Are there opportunities for you to get involved with an internship or a part-time job that’s related to your degree? It may seem a while away now, but after you graduate you will be in a very competitive environment trying to get a job.
Work experience or internships can often give you the incentive you need to keep ploughing through your degree. Talk to your teachers and lecturers about the kind of opportunities you should explore while you’re in your final years of study.
Working while studying
Working while studying is not a choice for most students — it’s a reality. Most students work casually or part time to fund their education, pay rent, buy textbooks, and have a social life.
How many hours you work depends on your contact hours at university and your specific needs. Many students organise their uni timetable to have one or two full days off during the week, and then work weekends as well.
Make sure you leave enough time for study, and also to chill out and socialise with friends. There are long summer and semester breaks so consider working full time during these periods to save the money you will need during semester.
Remember that the hours you work may affect your Centrelink allowances
Before starting paid work you should be aware of your rights and responsibilities as an employee. The Federal Government has introduced new workplace legislation, Fair Work Australia, which went into effect on 1 January 2010. The new legislation introduced a range of changes, some of which applies to casual or part-time workers. This guide for young workers may answer some of your questions.
Some things to think about:
- make sure you are being paid at or above the minimum rate of pay, as set out by Fair Work Australia.
- think carefully about doing unpaid 'trial work'. You should be paid for all work you undertake (unless you are volunteering or undertaking work experience arranged through your education provider).
- carefully read through any contract you are asked to sign.
Consider looking for work in the field you are studying — this will not only bring in the extra money you need, but also give you invaluable experience for finding work after you graduate. For instance, many media, communication and journalism students look for part-time work as assistants in media organisations such as local newspapers, radio stations or production companies.
Scholarships
Have you considered applying for a scholarship to help with the cost of your study? There are many different scholarships available, for first-year through to postgraduate students.
Students can be awarded scholarships from three different sources: the Federal Government; your education provider; or private organisations such as philanthropic societies, special interest groups and corporations. Scholarships may be intended to provide funds to financially disadvantaged students, high achievers, students in a particular course or those from a particular region. Some cover tuition fees while others go towards living expenses or accommodation costs.
The Federal Government funds many research degrees through the Research Training Scheme (RTS). Thanks to the RTS most research degrees are effectively free from course fees so long as they are completed within a certain time. Other research degrees are generally funded by university ‘fee-waiver’ scholarships or students themselves.
Another option for postgraduate students are the Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) which provide a modest annual stipend designed to cover basic accommodation and living expenses.
Explore all your options on the scholarships search page.
