Paige Wilson has moved from the top end of Australia to the bottom to find the perfect university experience.
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Ms Wilson is in the second year of her Bachelor of Nursing/Psychological Science at Deakin University’s Warrnambool campus and says it has refreshed her love of study and rural living.
Ms Wilson had started studying in Darwin but didn’t enjoy the experience. “It didn’t give me the vibe of being in university,” she said. “I came here to Warrnambool and had my head blown away. There was all this stuff that I never had the opportunity to do before.”
Ms Wilson was keen to study with Deakin University but reluctant to go to Melbourne. With friends moving to Warrnambool, she decided to give the regional campus a chance.
“I didn’t want to go straight to Melbourne,” she said. “Coming from Darwin and having lived half my childhood in Kakadu National Park it would have been too much of a shock to the system to go to Melbourne. I know Darwin is a city but it’s very isolated and nothing like Melbourne. Warrnambool was my best bet because I could adjust easier and I liked the idea of continuing to study nursing in a rural setting because I think you get a better learning experience.”
That expectation has turned into reality and Ms Wilson is hopeful the campus will continue to provide similar positive experience for others in the future.
“I get the university experience here and the focus in Warrnambool is all about the students.”
Ms Wilson has enjoyed living only a few minutes from the uni and has become involved in on-campus clubs, including the Warrnambool Psychology Club which she founded.
“There are a lot of student events and a lot of student support,” she said. “If I had an issue with an assignment I could access an advocate through the student association. People are really nice and it’s not hard to find someone to help you.”
Ms Wilson decided to do a double degree to help her job prospects and aims to finish what’s normally a four year course within three years. She’s also studying a Certificate III in Fitness to create more employment options, is secretary of the Campus environment club and a member of the Salvation Army where she does voluntary work and youth ministry.
