When Mildura students visit Peer Learning Advisor Gini Tansey for help with their time management, they can be sure the PLA knows what she’s talking about.
Second-year Nursing student Gini says she’s had her own ups and downs when it comes to managing the work-life balance.
“This year, I thought I was super organised and could work some more,” she says.
“But first semester didn’t work out as well as last year – I was committing myself to too many things.
“At the time, I was essentially working full-time hours, studying full time hours, and then committing to netball and trying to socialise as well.”
But Gini says she’s back in control after scaling back her commitments to make sure she doesn’t short change her study.
What tricks does she use to stay on track?
“I’ve got my diary and I write everything in there, and I also have a whiteboard at home,” she says.
Time management is only one of the topics with which La Trobe’s PLAs can help.
Gini says referencing and essay-writing are what most visitors to the PLA desk want to ask about. And students don’t have to see a PLA from their own discipline, either.
“I’ve seen mostly nursing students, but I have seen students from other disciplines as well, in regards to referencing and how to structure their essays,” she says.
Gini comes to La Trobe after several years in the workplace and she says she’s loved returning to study.
“I love how supportive Uni is, especially for a mature student,” she says.
“We’re approaching the end of second year and I’ve said to my lecturers, “I don’t want to leave!”
Despite not being ready to leave just yet, Gini’s already got plans for the future.
Her current goal is to train as a midwife, and take those skills to work at a women’s and children’s hospital.
She’s also got her sights set on working with the Royal Flying Doctors Service, to which she’s attracted because of “the remote locations, all the different things you see, and getting out and going everywhere helping people”.
You can visit the PLAs in Mildura at the Brian Grogan Building Hub.