The Great UniSA 30th Anniversary Countdown

Great UniSA The 30th Anniversary Countdown

Volume Six (5-1)

30 years. 30 Degrees. 30 students. 30 accomplishments.

To quote the band, Europe, here we are... it’s the final countdown! For the University of South Australia’s 30th birthday, we have covered 30 different degrees through the eyes of 30 different students, understanding their experiences at the uni, but, most importantly, their accomplishments. Our quest over the calendar year has welcomed some spectacular voices from Aviation to Environmental Science, Aboriginal Studies to Architectural Studies, Creative Industries to Midwifery and the list goes on. Hopefully, we have provided a fair bit of curiosity for you to start researching for yourself what UniSA has to offer. The uni experience is what you make it and the more you explore, the more you are treated. So, hopefully over the course of this countdown, you have found a means to experience the degrees that operate right next door. We hope you have enjoyed this countdown and, most of all, enjoyed your year in this very special anniversary for UniSA.

5Alex Porter – Bachelor of Business (Finance) & Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) I have found with my experience at UniSA that the uni is very flexible with my [cycling] training and racing and having extensions. I have used [my studies] as a way to switch off from when I am racing and riding. It is something that has helped me so much, especially leading into the Olympics with COVID. It was something when I was younger that I didn’t think was necessary, but now I couldn’t imagine not studying while I am competing and racing. You get told as an athlete that having something else to focus on and genuinely put your attention into helps so much for when you need to revert all your focus away from the sport. You then have just so much more energy to put into [sport], because you have been able to completely forget about it for two or three hours of the day. [For further features of Alex’s work in Edition 43, check out In[ter]view: The Olympians from Next Door on pages 26 & 27]

4Mindy Dao – Bachelor of Business: Tourism, Event Management and Marketing After high school, I was passively following a path that was expected of me since I was unsure of who I was or who I wanted to be. It was halfway through my science degree that I realised it wasn’t the life I wanted. Despite the criticism that would entail, I took the risk enrolling into business school and, honestly, it’s been the best decision I have ever made. Through chance and strategic encounters, this led to experiences and opportunities I never saw coming. From travelling interstate for volunteer work, going overseas for the first time through a study tour, becoming a committee member for academic clubs, joining affiliated university programs (UniMentor, BCMP and Student Ambassador) and being recognised for my efforts at award ceremonies, has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people who have pushed and shaped me into the individual I am today. And so, my biggest achievement while studying at UniSA would be the person that I have grown and evolved to become; someone that is courageous, confident, open-minded, resilient, but most importantly, empathetic.

Photo Mindy Dao

3Prabhnisha Kaur Keshminder Singh – Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science & Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) My biggest accomplishment studying at UniSA would be the network I have built in the last 4 years. From my time studying at UniSA, I have met so many people that do so many different things in the field of pharmacy and pharmaceutical science. UniSA’s Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science degrees are renowned locally and globally. The academic staff consist of pharmacists working in various health care settings as well as pharmaceutical scientists that conduct world-class research. I think it’s a privilege that we get to meet and learn from academics that practice in different settings. Both the degrees incorporate placement topics in various relevant settings that allow students to not only get first hand practical experience, but, once again, to connect with people and build a professional network. Networking is vital to establish your place in the real world and that is my biggest accomplishment here at UniSA!

2Abbey Kelsey-Evans – Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours) I believe the accomplishment I am most proud of attaining whilst studying at UniSA is being employed in the field in which I am studying whilst representing my cohort as both an ASR (Academic Student Representative) and Student Ambassador. After completing my first-year placement, I was offered a casual position as an Early Years assistant. I worked that position for 2 years and recently acquired a permanent part-time educator position at another centre. I am proud of this as I have been able to apply my learning to the context of the job throughout my degree, which has really benefited the development of my knowledge, skills and pedagogy. I’m also really proud of the leadership roles I have taken up whilst studying by representing my cohort in the role of an ASR for the past three years and this year also taking on the role as a Student Ambassador which allowed me to become part of the Uni Open Days and inspire other future students to study in the Early Childhood field.

1Daisy Evans – Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) If big accomplishments mean “actually doing alright” within my studies, then that is my biggest accomplishment while studying at UniSA. Throughout my course I have had the opportunity to spend lots of time on placements which has allowed for me to network and make connections, which are crucial for employment and gaining firsthand knowledge about working in a classroom. Uni has been great for me to find like-minded people who have similar passions and can keep me sane during intense study periods! I have grown so much as a person all due to entering my course and having wonderful supportive tutors who have opened my mind to so many new concepts that are relevant for me as an educator, as well as so many life lessons that have grown me personally. So, for me, my big accomplishments have been personal growth through expanding my horizons. Knowledge certainly is power.

Photo Daisy Evans