WITH more than a year to go until she finishes secondary school Bonnie, 17, and Suzanne Dwyer are thinking ahead when it comes to Bonnie’s tertiary education.
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The mother-daughter pair attended Deakin University’s Warrnambool campus yesterday to see the facilities and the courses available, impressed with the local offering.
“We thought we’d come a bit earlier so that next year (when Bonnie’s in year 12) it’s not that rushed and there’s not that pressure,” Mrs Dwyer said.
The year 11 Emmanuel College student hopes to study at the Warrnambool campus, live at home and then transfer to Melbourne to study in the second or third year of her course.
“I’d been tossing up heaps of different options but now I’m kind of thinking of going to do nursing/midwifery so I’m going to have a look at that one. I want to do a year here and then work at the same time so then I have a bit of money to move to Melbourne with and go (to uni) there,” Bonnie said.
The Warrnambool open day included information sessions, campus and accommodation tours, faculty displays and tours of the labs and research facilities.
The Dwyers attended a VCE information session, visited the nursing labs and spoke with representatives at the various course information stands.
Vice-chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said she was pleased with the large turnout yesterday and said growing the Warrnambool campus was a big priority. “The more numbers that we have the more we can offer here,” she said.
“We’d hope that we’d have a very good year here next year. I think with all the conversation in the budget and the future of education has focused people. If you’re going to get educated you should get into the system early and quick. I think that’s a very important message,” she said.
Mrs Dwyer agreed. “We’re here in Warrnambool. Originally Bonnie wanted to go to Melbourne, but we’re thinking rather than have a gap year why not stay in Warrnambool (and study at Deakin), even just for a year?” Mrs Dwyer said.
“It’s that transition. It’s such a big step so we’re so lucky in Warrnambool to have that option. I think it’s important we support the local university, too.”