Student Profiles

Fred - Master of Education
Ellie - Bachelor of Arts
Peta - Bachelor of Business and Commerce

Fred - Master of Education

I studied Special and Inclusive Education as my Masters major. I chose this area because of my experiences as a person living with vision impairment and as a curriculum developer who has been working in the education sector in my country, Kenya. I have a desire to make a difference in the education of children with visual impairments.

I wanted to undertake further studies since I completed my undergraduate degree at Kenyatta University in Nairobi in 1996. However, I was not able to pursue my wish then because of financial challenges. In 2009 I was awarded a scholarship by the International Fellowship Programme of the Ford Foundation. They had recognised my involvement in the disability-rights movement in Kenya and across the African continent as well as the contribution I had made in my place of work. All I needed to do was choose a university. I finally settled on Monash because of its reputation and very clear provisions for supporting students with disabilities.

The Disability Liaison Unit (DLU) organised for a note taker to attend classes with me and initiated a volunteer service where other students assisted me with things like navigating the campus and helping me go shopping. They also loaned me a laptop loaded with adaptive software while I organised to get one of my own. I was linked with Guide Dogs Victoria, which is an organisation that provides orientation and mobility support for people who are blind or vision impaired. I think it is very important that prospective international students be in communication with the DLU as early as possible if they are planning to come to Monash. This will ensure appropriate services are in place when they commence their studies.

Outside of Monash I linked up with a wider community of people with vision impairments. I had my first ever experience of driving a car, an experience I hadn't imagined I could ever have even in my wildest of dreams! This was at the Sandown Racecourse where a local charity organises such an event every year.

I really want to make a significant contribution in the area of inclusive education so my desire now is to establish myself as an authority in the field by pursuing doctoral studies.

Ellie - Bachelor of Arts

I'm studying a Bachelor of Arts with a major in criminology. I looked at several universities and I felt that Monash had a very good reputation and a really good variety of subject areas. I hadn't really considered criminology as a career path before as we hadn't done it in high school and then I discovered it and thought wow, here's something I could do and maybe make a difference.

In high school I was discouraged from undertaking VCE because of the problems I was experiencing. I decided to try anyway and who would have known, I got into Monash and I'm doing well. I think it's really important to try, and if you don't get the thing that you want the most you'll get something else and that might even work out better.

I found the transition from school pretty easy because I liked independent research and study. There were a lot of preparatory classes, like how to go to a lecture and what to expect in a tutorial. And there are just so many social activities here! There are clubs and groups and it's very inviting. I joined everything! It's a great way to make friends and even if you decide you don't want to do that activity later on it gets you involved in the community.

I think the hardest thing about being a student with a mental health condition is having difficulties and people not being able to see them. There are however a lot of services you can use, such as those provided by the Disability Liaison Unit (DLU). The main support I have had is alternative exam arrangements as I find it difficult to work in a large setting. I get a little bit of extra time because it takes me a bit longer to process things.

I have also developed good relationships with my teachers. In first year I approached all of them and explained my situation. Most of them were amazing, and suggested I keep in touch with them about my progress and any difficulties I might be experiencing. I think it's important to investigate all the resources that are available; even if you don't use them you'll know they are there.

I was awarded the Department of Justice Disability Scholarship. At the award ceremony I spoke about what it meant to me. Apart from it being an amazing financial support, it's just a really great recognition that people with disabilities are valuable and worthy and even though I have these challenges I'm doing just as well as my colleagues.

Peta - Bachelor of Business and Commerce

I'm studying a Bachelor of Business and Commerce with a major in tourism and management. My ATAR score was not as I expected so I first enrolled in the Diploma of Tertiary Studies (DoTS) at Monash which is a one year pathway program into the University.

I found the transition to university pretty easy as I was completely over high school. I wasn't good at the rigid routine, particularly getting up early every morning! The workload did surprise me; you have to be quite driven and disciplined. Because I have cerebral palsy it takes me longer to do things, uni has certainly taught me about time management and adjusting my social life to study hard.

The Disability Liaison Unit has been great at organising things like notetakers for my classes and scribes for my exams. They took me on a tour around the campus before I actually enrolled to make sure everything was physically accessible. I can easily access every room which is one of the main reasons I chose to enrol at Monash Berwick.

As far as making friends goes, I've mainly met people through my classes. It's been great. As I'm majoring in tourism I found a lot of people with the same interests and a similar passion for travel. I'm proud to say that this wheelchair has travelled a fair bit. It has been a challenge but that makes me want to travel even more!

Travel is a big thing in my life and it is what got me interested in studying tourism, particularly the lack of accessibility in certain hotels and attractions around the world. My ultimate job would be in management of a hotel chain and making sure they meet accessibility and rating standards. Destination branding also interests me. Professionally I'm extremely determined.

My advice to other students is that if you don't know what you want to do when you leave school that's okay. If you don't get the VCE results you're hoping for it's not the be all and end all, there's always another way. Study something like DoTS.

I've loved my time at Monash, I really have. I've almost finished but it's definitely something I would do all over again.