“The emphasis placed on practical training and professional placement is very important.”
What made you decide to undertake Postgraduate studies?
I was a secondary school teacher in Melbourne and realised I didn’t have the passion needed for school teaching anymore and I wasn’t enjoying my job. After a year travelling and working in Europe, I returned and knew I needed to do something different.
What pathway did you take to La Trobe?
After year 12, I completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences- majoring in public health at QUT (Brisbane). At graduation I felt I wasn’t ready to settle into a full time job so I moved to Germany where I lived and worked for just over 2 years. On my return to Australia I decided to utilise my German language skills by doing a Graduate Diploma in Education at University of Melbourne. I then taught in Melbourne secondary schools for 4 years and 1 year in Germany before deciding on a career change that would build on my health sciences background.
What made you decide to enrol at La Trobe?
A number of reasons led me to enrolling at La Trobe but primarily the proximity to where I lived, the fact that La Trobe is the only university in Victoria to offer orthoptics and that a bridging course was available. The La Trobe orthoptics course is considered one of the most comprehensive on offer in the world, which appealed to me, as I wanted the option to work interstate and/or overseas.
Where do you see the course taking you – do you have a specific job or career path in mind, or maybe further studies? Do you think your course gives you good career opportunities?
I see myself working in general ophthalmic settings and possibly with elderly low vision patients as this is what I’ve enjoyed so far on placements. As the course covers various areas such as low vision, ocular motility and general ophthalmic practise, there are different areas to specialise in.
What do you like most about your campus?
Bundoora is great campus because it has plenty of spaces for students to work in groups or study individually, with the library and student hubs providing good access to computers, printers and internet. The campus grounds are clean with open spaces and gardens and the agora has everything you need – from places to eat, banks, a post office and pharmacy.
Are there any other comments you’d like to make about your course, or about La Trobe generally? Have you undertaken any placement?
The emphasis placed on practical training and professional placement is very important to me. Placements are opportunities to see which areas you might like to specialise in, make contacts and to make the theory learnt in lectures ‘real’.
Do you have any good tips for other students considering undertaking PG Studies?
If you are considering a career change, make the most of an opportunity to further your studies. It may seem daunting going back to study, but it is energising studying something you are interested in and far more rewarding than staying in a career you no longer enjoy.
