Student stories

CDU nursing student at her locker in a hospital

Alumni stories, Balance work, life and study, Changing careers, Nursing and Midwifery, Online study

A quick step into nursing with an online degree: Meet Michelle

As a busy mum and trained dancer, Michelle never dreamed that a different career would be possible. But CDU changed all that. Waltzing through a flexible online nursing degree, she's now dancing to a different tune working as a nurse.

Psychology

The psych degree that's opening career doors for Matthew

Matthew Cartwright is enthusiastic about his career prospects. He's on track to register as a psychologist when he finishes his master's degree in psychology, and the career opportunities are varied and interesting.

Exercise and Sport Science

Mature-aged student Ruth’s secret to success? Horsepower!

Ruth McConigley’s journey to academic and entrepreneurial success has taken as many turns as a barrel rider. Ruth has transitioned from teacher to student to successful businesswoman—all while juggling married life, two young daughters, and a stable full of horses. Now living in the small town of Denmark on the south coast of Western Australia, Ruth reflects on how it all came to be.

Joel smiling in front of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Learning abroad

Engineering abroad: Joel’s overseas study experience

Through the New Colombo Plan, Joel was given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study abroad and complete overseas internships. The experience both improved his career prospects and gave him the chance to visit many Indo-Pacific nations.

Business and Accounting

Sharina's persistence paid off in the best way possible

When Sharina Muneeb moved to Australia in 2018 and started a Master of Business Administration at CDU, she wanted to combine work and study. And it was ultimately the commitment to her studies that landed her a job.

CDU student Suzanne Van Engelenhoven holds a dumbbell

Exercise and Sport Science

Suzanne was told she didn’t belong in the gym

While Suzanne has always been physically active, she'd never planned on turning her love for sport into a career. In fact, she never thought she'd go to university. Now, she's mid-way through an exercise and sport science degree, with the goal of becoming a physiotherapist.

Trades

From self-doubt to star apprentice: Yron's story

Despite being out of school for so long, Yron tackled his eletrotechnology course head on and emerged as CDU Apprentice of the Year. His secret? Learning from former tradies with a solid grasp of what they were teaching.

CDU student Leah Sloane in front of her pub

Tourism and Hospitality

Chef grad to small business success: Meet Leah

Someone called Leah a mature-age student. To which she exclaimed, “I’m not mature!” All joking aside, Leah Sloan’s journey to success has taken many turns. She’s been an airline lounge manager, a chef—and most recently—an employer of over a dozen staff in her tavern.

Student shows of robot strapped to the wrist of an onlooker

Information Technology

Rock bottom to robot coding rockstar: Meet Joel

Joel Benesha is what you’d call a high achiever. During his time at CDU, the software engineering honours student has been the recipient of over ten scholarships. But things haven’t always been this way. Joel failed Year 12 and “hit rock bottom.” He talks about how he picked himself up and turned his life around.

CDU Nursing student Karita McCarthy during pracs

Changing careers

It wasn’t easy returning to school as a mature student for Karita

You might look at a list of Karita McCarthy’s recent accomplishments and think that studying comes naturally to her. As a Bachelor of Nursing student at CDU, Karita has certainly had a string of successes. But it wasn’t always that way...