New England locals were part of the largest graduation ever at the University of Newcastle last week.
Bree Elliot moved from Tamworth to Newcastle to study in 2022 and has loved every part of her degree, including the experiences she got to enjoy related to study as well as moving to a new city.
Bree spent the first two years living on campus, where she made plenty of new friends from all over Australia and the world, who had different experiences and were studying different degrees.
“Getting involved in college and residential events and competitions created some of my best memories from my first year in Newcastle,” Bree said.
Another highlight from her degree was being able to complete work placement as part of her studies, which she undertook with the University’s CEEHE research centre (Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education).
“I got to work alongside and observe some of the amazing work they do in their team, and how they use the skills and knowledge I have gained in my degree in a practical manner. The staff there were so supportive and full of advice for finishing my degree and starting my career.”
Bree is looking forward to graduation and her future career in social science.
“I am extremely excited to graduate, and feel ready to take the next steps into full time work.”
“Completing my Social Science degree has left me with so many different areas I would love to work in, but ultimately I hope to use my social science degree to assist in bringing positive change to our local communities in an impactful way.”
“At the moment, I am open to moving wherever my career or job may take me, whether that be in Newcastle, Tamworth or elsewhere. I am really excited to see where I end up next year.”
The University of Newcastle are also celebrating the biggest ever cohort of Indigenous doctors graduating from the Joint Medical Program (JMP), with 18 new doctors ready to bolster an empowered Indigenous health care network. The JMP is delivered through partnership between the University of Newcastle and the University of New England, and each year allocates 17 places for admission to applicants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky said the University of Newcastle is committed to improving life outcomes of Indigenous Australians.
“Through dedicated education and support, over the last 40 years the medical program has graduated 180 Indigenous doctors,” Professor Zelinsky said.
Director of the University’s Thurru Indigenous Health Unit, Professor Peter O’Mara, noted the importance of creating pathways to medicine for all, highlighting the University’s support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
“We offer a range of support to our Indigenous students, such as through the Miroma Bunbilla Program, a specialised pre-entry pathway to our Joint Medical Program. We provide a culturally supportive environment where students can grow academically and personally.
“Our students come from across Australia to study this program and on completion of their study, they graduate ready to become part of an empowered and capable Indigenous health workforce,” Professor O’Mara said.
“Every student graduating here this week has made an investment in their future. With nine out of 10 jobs created over the next decade requiring tertiary level education, we know they’ll reap the benefits of that investment for a lifetime.
Graduates will join a network of more than 185,000 alumni who stretch across 154 countries around the world.
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