Military academic pathways

I enlisted in the Australian Army as an Air Dispatcher in 2015. While posted in NSW I continued my Bachelor of Government and Public Management as an online student through Flinders Distance Education.

Having the opportunity to study online while living and working interstate allowed me to continue progressing through the degree at my own pace. The flexibility of online study made it really easy and I have continued to study online since returning to Adelaide. However, I’ve also been fortunate enough to participate in one of Flinders University's International Practicum’s in which I studied abroad in China; it was a fantastic experience.

In order to finish my degree, I transferred to the Army Reserve as a Driver Specialist in 2018 and have since developed additional qualifications in Military Public Affairs. Nearing the completion of my degree and achieving an academic commendation, I hope to combine my knowledge and experience to pursue a career in government and advance into an Officer role within the Army Reserve.

I worked in education-related fields for almost 25 years, including nine years as an educational corps officer in the Australian Army. As an ‘Edo’, my core duties were instructional design, teaching literacy, numeracy, English courses, and tutoring Army-sponsored university students. While in the Army I was posted across four states, a south east Asia posting, and a brief deployment in Iraq.

I’m now a doctoral candidate with the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. My thesis project presents an approach to Genesis 4 (the Cain and Abel narrative) that draws on concepts and approaches from biblical exegesis, social sciences, systematic theology, and depth psychology.

I also have degrees in modern history and theology, a master’s degree in ancient history, and several postgraduate qualifications in education.

I am happy to help out any beginning veteran student at Flinders with academic support, particularly those from the humanities and social sciences disciplines.

I spent six years in the Army as a rifleman and a logistician.

With the Army’s support I studied the Flinders Foundation Studies program while my medical discharge was being processed.

The Foundation Studies program taught a remarkably broad but also thorough set of academic skills. I was fortunate to have an amazing tutor who found a way to encourage me but also constantly critique and help me finesse my work. After just three months, I felt entirely capable of academic studies, which felt awesome considering I left school in year 10 and hadn’t studied a day since.

Upon finishing foundation studies I enrolled in a Bachelor of Behavioural Science before transferring into the honours stream the following year.

After volunteering at Lifeline I gained employment at the Lived Experience Telephone Support Service as a peer worker and am currently acting team leader. I supervise and mentor peer workers, assess client needs and draft service procedures and training/support resources.

I aspire to continue my studies and become a clinical psychologist.

I was in the Navy for 9 years. I served on HMAS Farncomb, HMAS Collins, Assail Five and Shoal Bay Receiving Station as an electronics technician. As I was being medically discharged, I decided that I would like to help others and wanted to go to university, but wasn’t sure how to get in.

I enrolled in Flinders Foundations Studies Program as it would prepare me for academic studies and would guarantee entry into university on successful completion, with no extra costs involved.

I successfully completed the program and am currently studying a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)/Bachelor of Science (Animal Behaviour). I am a disabilities peer mentor for first year students, as well as the vice president on the Flinders Psychology Student Association.