Being born into a poor farming family and growing up in a rural area in southern Thailand, I never thought I would have an opportunity to travel abroad. Before I heard of AusAid, the fully-funded scholarships by the Australian Government for students from regional Thailand during the mid-1990s, my dream about the future was never anything bigger than having an ordinary job in my small hometown after getting a bachelor’s degree from a local university.

I applied for an AusAID scholarship as soon as I was informed of the opportunity. I went through all the screening tests and all the required application processes, and was finally awarded a fully-funded scholarship to study an undergraduate course at an Australian university.

With my Australian host family

Receiving an AusAid scholarship was just the beginning of my life-changing journey. My first few years as a foreign student was not as smooth as expected. I struggled a lot with both the different culture and the English language. As a result, my academic performance at my first university in Australia was less than satisfactory, and I was very nervous that I might have to come back to Thailand empty-handed.

With new friends in Melbourne CBD

However, I was very fortunate to be given another opportunity to study in Australia. This time, studying a bachelor’s degree at Deakin University. I finally found subjects of my true interest and I am forever grateful for that second opportunity. With lessons learnt from my previous course at the first university, I realised that I would have to do my absolute best at Deakin, not only for myself and my family, but also for my kind sponsor who did not give up on me.

Working on a final-year project

The course structures at Deakin are very well organised. The unit guidelines helped me tremendously, to plan my study throughout the semesters. My attention was focused on studying and I devoted my time to attending lectures, working on the assignments and projects well ahead of the due dates. My efforts were not in vain. My academic results at Deakin were satisfactory and I managed to graduate with a bachelor’s degree within the timeframe allowed by the AusAid programme.

My degree equipped me with a very strong academic foundation in the technology field. All the assignments from my degree undoubtedly enhanced my analytical skills because some assignments involved long, complex and intricate calculations, as well as applications of theories in real-world practice. Participating in many extracurricular activities during my years at Deakin has also improved my self-esteem and self-confidence.

Participating in many extracurricular activities during my years at Deakin has also improved my self-esteem and self-confidence.

At the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus

After graduating from Deakin, I joined the Thai Customs department when Bangkok’s new international airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, was opened almost 10 years ago. I passed the screening tests and became a new customs officer – one of the few chosen applicants out of over 100,000 people applicants at that time.

As a customs officer, my main duties include inspecting imported cargos. Inspecting a variety of products imported into the country is a very challenging task, however, the skills I learnt at Deakin has helped me to understand and examine the products effectively. The lessons I’ve learnt from my studies at Deakin and my experience living in Australia has definitely helped with my career.

The lessons I’ve learnt from my studies at Deakin and my experience living in Australia has definitely helped with my career.

At Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport

Customer service skills is also very important in my job because we serve a lot of customers from different nationalities each day. Having spent a few years with international friends at Deakin, it has become my nature to be friendly and to approach people with an open mind. My English skills have also been a very important factor for my good performance and continuous career growth as a customs officer at a big international airport.

On duty as a customs officer

With my bachelor’s degree from Deakin, together with my good performances at work, I have received a great opportunity for postgraduate studies overseas. I have been awarded another fully-funded scholarship from the Thai Customs department to take a master’s degree in the field of operations research, which is essential in promoting improved operations and services provided at the Customs department. I have confirmed my enrolment at a university in the UK, where I will go for my master’s degree next year. Without my bachelor’s degree, my experiences living in such diverse cultural settings, and all the lessons learnt during my years at Deakin and Australia, I wouldn’t have this day.

G'day Mates!! I’m Amber Robillard from Canada. As I am writing this it has been exactly one year since I boarded the plane headed for Australia. It doesn’t seem possible that everything I have done could be packed into just one year!

In the winter of 2013, my partner Barb and I started discussing the possibility of living somewhere warmer year-round. Australia was on the top of the list, but seemed very far away, however, the more we talked about it, the more appealing it became. What an adventure! Ayers Rock, the Australian outback, living by the water’s edge, surfing! Barb had always thought about living here and I had always wanted to visit. To be truthful, although I love to travel, I had never considered living long-term anywhere other than Canada.

I have always worked in and around the construction industry, having completed a Certificate of Construction Management. I wanted to further my education with a Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) degree. The prospect of living and studying in Australia was very exciting. We began making plans. I had quite a few names on my list, but in the end I only applied to three universities, with Deakin as my first choice. It seemed to be the most progressive university, making its way up the list of various university rankings and the accelerated study opportunities were appealing. I boarded the plane in Ottawa, Canada on 27 June and landed in Melbourne on 29 June. With delays, customs, running for gates, many movies and a trip across the International Date Line, my travel time totalled 31 hours. A long way from home, although it was made easier thanks to Skype!

I only applied to three universities, with Deakin as my first choice. It seemed to be the most progressive university, making its way up the list of various university rankings and the accelerated study opportunities were appealing.

At the Geelong Waterfront Campus Library

My first trimester at Deakin was both challenging and rewarding. As a mature student returning to study, I hadn’t written a report or an essay in almost 20 years; however, professors and other students are readily available on online discussion boards. Recognising that starting in trimester 2 may introduce some unique challenges, Deakin staff and student volunteers held a tea meet-and-greet, for further support and chit-chat. After settling in, I continued my studies in trimester 3 where I chose to study one unit on-campus and two units wholly online. As it turns out, not having a full unit load right off the bat worked to my advantage. It allowed me the time to adjust to my surroundings and negotiate studying again. Trimester 1 of my second year proved that a fourth unit really tips the barrel. Deadlines become tighter and spare moments fewer. My time-off is saved mostly for school breaks and planned adventures.

Geelong is a great city for things to do, a short trip to Melbourne and down the coast from many adventures. Eastern Park, the Botanic Gardens, the Barwon River trails, Pako (Pakington) Street and the downtown core are all places we love and frequent. We have enjoyed the Night Jar Festival on Friday nights in February and hiked along the Great Ocean Trail during our trip to Anglesea, where we saw kangaroos for the first time. We have also biked the Bellarine Rail Trail to Queenscliff, with a side trip to Point Lonsdale. We love these little surfer towns, with the blue sky, surf and sandy beaches as the backdrop. 42 degree weather for Christmas is also a good thing, as is a feast of seafood!

Hitting the road on my bike

In March we bought a little car and set out for the Twelve Apostles. My first time driving in Australia was made all the more adventurous thanks to the narrow, twisty Great Ocean Road! Over Easter we ventured to Bells Beach to take in the Rip Curl Pro tournament and caught some great photos of professional surfers Mick Fanning and Jordie Smith during their free surf. We have since watched every event online and have become avid surfer wannabes, although stand-up paddle boarding may be more our speed.

At the Twelve Apostles by the Great Ocean Road

With all this talk of travel and adventure, it seems I have had no time for uni! But thank goodness for the breaks! The breaks represent a chance to step back, have a real look at the amount of work and learning that has been packed into eleven weeks and not worry for almost a month about deadlines and presentations. Deakin also understands how important a break is and hosts events throughout the school year, offering students a ‘breather’. Most recently, Deakin’s international students were treated to a day at Simonds Stadium to meet some of the Geelong Cats (a popular Australian rules football team), tour the stadium and run through some typical footy training exercises. This was topped off with a free ticket to the Cats’ exciting winning game against the GWS Giants, where I was given a scarf to fly the colours in support.

Studying overseas for four years seems like a long time at the starting line, but I am already halfway through my second year and the bachelor’s degree at the other end is getting closer with each submitted assignment. I have enjoyed every day in Australia, and as much as I look forward to the breaks, I also look forward to heading back to class and keeping the momentum going.

Balaji is studying a Doctor of Philosophy at Deakin University, Geelong and has a Masters in Engineering in Industrial Metallurgy. He was awarded a full Postgraduate Research Scholarship at Deakin and has been nominated for two of the university’s Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) annual awards. He has also been a finalist at the international youth science event and the British Council’s ‘FameLab’. At Deakin, he is an academic mentor, as well as an International Orientation Coordinator supporting new international students. Balaji also engages in community roles including in the ‘Good Start Breakfast Club’ for the Australian Red Cross, and as a learning support volunteer with EdConnect Australia.

A story from Eun Jeong Ji, she came from Korea to Deakin Nursing with a prior qualification of Registered Nurse from Korea, with this she was granted CPL for 16 credit points.

"I didn't choose my Career, my career chose me."

Florence won an international scholarship to study a Master of Architecture at Deakin University. She talks about the pathway that led her to study Architecture and how much she loves studying at Deakin.

I am Javid, an Afghan refugee, currently studying a Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry at Deakin University. I was born and raised in a refugee camp in Iran. From there, my parents and I fled persecution, and we sought asylum in Australia. Australia is a great multicultural society and you don’t feel isolated. With only basic literacy and numeracy skills, and no English, I enrolled at a secondary school and managed to access around three years of formal education, before getting the scores I needed to get into university. My dream was always to become a medical doctor.

I got to know about Deakin from an information session I attended towards the end of my VCE year (2016). Deakin course advisors and the Scholarship team were the guest speakers at the information session. I consider myself fortunate to have attended the session. I was surprised to learn that Deakin University is committed to giving exceptional experiences to students from all around the world.

Paying International student fees for a tertiary course that I wanted to undertake was out of reach for my family. I had little or no hope of being able to pay these fees and so there was a time that I thought I would not be able to go to university.

The Deakin Scholarship team told me that there are many scholarship offers for not only Australian students but even for Internationals. They advised me to apply for a Deakin Humanitarian Scholarship, and I did. During the application process, I was assisted by the Deakin International Admissions team, the process was quick and easy.

Once I was accepted into the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry, and offered a scholarship, I was immensely proud and excited, but also worried as I didn’t have a network of friends or family who lived in the near the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus (where the course was located). I needn’t have been so concerned. As it turns out, I was offered a lot of support, and everything was very positive for me. On my first day at University, my course advisor greeted me with the following: “Welcome to your university, where you will spend your next best years of your life, here at Deakin”. It made my day!

During orientation week (O-Week) I met many other international students. It was great feeling connected to others who had a similar journey. To add to this, the Peer Mentor program, which enabled me to receive one-one mentorship was invaluable.

My peer mentor made my settlement in university life quick and smooth. He informed me about the bigger picture of university life and helped me to manage study and enjoy my time as a university student. Deakin’s student societies are another great community to be part of it. I got a chance to meet like-minded students from all four corners of the world, get motivated, and set goals for future successes.

Now, as a Deakin student and recipient of the Deakin Humanitarian Scholarship, I feel so proud knowing my study capabilities and goals are catered to by one of the finest Universities in Australia and the world. I was amazed once I realised that Deakin is one of the top ranked Universities in the world. With less than 50 years of establishment, Deakin offers Medicine, Engineering, and as many as 400 additional courses.

As an Optometry student and only halfway through trimester one, I see myself one step closer to my dream of becoming a medical doctor and an Ophthalmic surgeon. My goals are to work and design more affordable intraocular lenses for the disadvantaged people, Indigenous Australians, and for people in developing countries.

Coming from a war-torn country, where the health system is crippled, I am working hard to become a medical doctor in the future. Ultimately I hope to work with an organisation such as Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF), giving hope to people at risk of blindness and assisting them to access affordable cataract and trachoma treatments. I also want to develop bionic eyes for young children, helping those unfortunate children who have lost vision as the result of land mines and suicide bombs.

I am grateful that my circumstances have not prevented me from studying in my chosen field. I hope that with the assistance of Deakin University and my own determination and hard work, my dream of becoming an Opthalmic Surgeon will become reality.