Bridging Program fosters return to study

Bridging Program fosters return to study

08 Jun 2010

Thanks to the University Bridging Program, Michelle is making her dream a reality, studying a Social Work degree at the Albury-Wodonga campus of La Trobe University.

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Transcript

Narrator:

Michelle Wayenberg, a wife and mother of three, had always dreamt of returning to study social work. On top of her home & family commitments, she had worked as a volunteer in a number of local community and welfare organisations in and around Wodonga. However, Michelle had not been able to complete her secondary schooling. But now, thanks to the University Bridging Program, Michelle is making her dream a reality, studying a Social Work degree at the Albury-Wodonga campus.

Michelle

I picked the Bridging Program pathway because I am someone who finished Year 10 by correspondence. I didn't study again, I haven't studied for 8 years. If somebody said to me how do you write an essay, I would have stared at them blankly. I didn't know how to write an essay or prepare a report; I knew nothing about academic writing. And through the Bridging Program, step-by-step, I've learnt exactly how I need to be able to prepare things to a University standard.

Narrator

The Bridging Program is designed for mature age students wishing to return to study. It provides students with the skills and increased confidence to assist them to successfully complete their proposed tertiary course requirements, and, as such, the content of the program goes well beyond basic literacy courses.

Michelle

I am so excited, I am so prepared to start Uni, I have learnt so many skills from the Bridging Program that are going to come in handy this year. The most important thing that I learnt from the Bridging Program was juggling my home, children and family commitments. Having three kids, it was not an easy task to start with, but over time I learnt to manage my time better - to juggle kid’s sport, school, everything that happens on a weekend, kids wanting to read a story at night time and everything that comes with being a mum."

Narrator

The University Bridging Program can open up tertiary study options for people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Michelle

Not only did it teach me academic skills, I learnt time management skills, social skills. I got to interact with people from different cultures, they taught me about their cultures, I gained knowledge that will be invaluable to me forever."

Narrator

The Bridging Program has provided Michelle with the skills and confidence to do things she had never previously thought possible.

Michelle

It started off with tasks that were easy to begin with and slowly got harder and harder. I know that we started off learning basic skills in public speaking, and at the very start there is no way I could have spoken in front of anybody - and by the end I managed to get up and say a speech in front of the entire class and their families. For me, starting the Bridging Program was a big step and was something I was quiet unsure about. But all it took was somebody to give me a push in the right direction, tell me who I had to speak to, so I rang the campus and I enrolled myself - and my advice to anyone is … give it a go! Make the phone calls, once you start you won’t look back. The Bridging Program was the perfect pathway for me."

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