General News
21 August, 2023
Charlie finds Swinburne inspiring
Charlie Inkster from Warracknabeal Secondary College participated in a fully subsidised trip to Swinburne University for its open day. The Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) allowed several aspiring country university students to...
Charlie Inkster from Warracknabeal Secondary College participated in a fully subsidised trip to Swinburne University for its open day.
The Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) allowed several aspiring country university students to experience university life on Sunday July 30.
Ten Year 11 students took advantage of the opportunity provided by the CEF, which paid for their travel, accommodation and food expenses in collaboration with Swinburne.
Students travelled to Melbourne from Deniliquin (NSW), Kerang, Warracknabeal, Balmoral and Ararat to get a taste of life at Swinburne.
Charlie said her visit was incredible.
"Attending the open day was a great experience and I got a lot out of the day," she said.
"I was able to attend all of the sessions and lectures I was interested in, and it was really valuable to see the facilities, get course information and speak with lecturers and alumni from those courses.
"I was escorted around campus in a small group by a current Swinburne student who could provide unique insight into life on campus and answer any questions I had."
Swinburne student equity ambassadors led the visitors on campus tours and to the course sessions they chose to attend, allowing them to learn more about the institution and what it offers.
Additionally, they looked through the labs for exercise and sports science and the TV studios and saw trimble robots parade across campus.
They also had the option to learn about things such as on-the-job training, studying abroad and dorm life.
CEF manager of partnerships Hilary Matchett said it was rewarding to support rural students who might not otherwise have been able to visit Swinburne.
"As one of our valued education partners, we're extremely grateful to Swinburne University for giving us the opportunity to bring a group of regional students to its open day," Ms Matchett said.
"For regional students there can be great barriers to accessing university events such as open days, including distance, cost and availability, so this type of trip allowed the students to learn more about Swinburne and to help make informed decisions about their future."
Since its founding in 1993, CEF has given out more than 7000 individual grants and scholarships worth more than $15 million, with more than 400 volunteers working tirelessly across its network of local foundations to help local students receive the support they require.