What is your name and where are you from?
I am Louise and I am from Dublin, Ireland.
What course are you studying, and at which campus?
I’m studying a MSS50222 Diploma of Environmental Monitoring and Technology, in Geraldton.
How is Geraldton different from your hometown?
When you move between my hometown in Dublin and Geraldton, it feels a little like stepping from one world into another.
My hometown rests quietly on the edge of Dublin Bay, where life feels compact and close-knit. Geraldton, by contrast, opens itself wide. The Indian Ocean doesn’t whisper; it dazzles. The water is turquoise, the sky enormous, and the sun has a confidence that never quite appears in Ireland.
What do you wish you knew before coming to Geraldton?
Knowing beforehand how spread out everything is would have been good. Geraldton isn’t walkable in the way small European or Irish towns are. You learn quickly that a car isn’t a luxury — it’s a lifeline. A wonderful surprise is how friendly people are. It’s a place where community grows through shared spaces: the foreshore, the markets, the beaches, the cafés where everyone seems to know someone.
What has winning the 2025 WA International VET Student of the Year Award meant to you?
Winning the 2025 WA International VET Student of the Year Award from CISWA felt like someone quietly placing a hand on my shoulder and saying, “Everything you’ve poured into this — it mattered.”
On a personal level, it was deeply affirming. I came into my studies as a mature student, carrying decades of experience but also the familiar doubts that come with starting again.
Professionally, the award validated my work and gave me the confidence to step into my consultancy with a clearer sense of purpose. It marked a turning point and gave me the momentum to build something new with confidence, clarity, and a sense of belonging.
What is the best thing about your course?
The best thing about the Diploma in Environmental Monitoring and Technology is how quickly the learning becomes real. You don’t sit in a classroom imagining what environmental work might look like — you’re out there doing it.
One week you’re testing water quality in an estuary, the next you’re learning how to use field equipment you’ve only ever seen in reports or research papers. There’s something grounding about that shift from theory to practice. It reminds you that environmental science isn’t abstract; it’s hands-on, physical, and often a little muddy.
What do you think about the campus facilities?
What struck me most about the campus facilities was how practical and purposeful they felt. Nothing is flashy for the sake of it — everything is designed to support real learning. The labs, for example, aren’t just rooms with equipment; they’re spaces where you start to understand what environmental work actually looks like. You can feel the shift the first time you handle field gear or run tests that mirror what professionals do every day.
How would you describe your experience with your lecturers?
My experience with the lecturers has been one of the most meaningful parts of the course. They don’t just teach the material — they live it.
Many of them come straight from industry, carrying real stories, real challenges, and real field experience into the classroom. That gives every lesson a sense of authenticity you can’t get from a textbook.
They create an environment where it’s safe to try, to make mistakes, and to grow. What I’ll remember most is their genuine passion — not only for environmental science, but for seeing students succeed.
What helped you make friends or meet new people?
Most of my friendships began in small, ordinary moments. Standing beside someone during a prac, comparing notes after a field trip, or helping each other figure out equipment that refused to cooperate. Those shared experiences created an easy kind of connection. You don’t have to force anything when you’re learning together — the conversations just happen.
Any exciting plans ahead?
After finishing TAFE, my career goals feel clearer than they’ve ever been. I want to bring together my background as an academic and research librarian with my new environmental training to create work that is both practical and deeply people-centred.
I’m excited about opportunities in environmental monitoring and community based projects. The hands on skills from the course have made me curious about how environmental data, education, and community engagement can intersect. I can see myself contributing to local conservation work, estuary monitoring, or citizen science initiatives — especially those that involve teaching or guiding others.
What advice would you give to new students?
Allow yourself to be a beginner. Give yourself permission to learn slowly, to ask questions, and to make mistakes. That’s where the real growth happens.
Don’t try to do it all alone, and take care of yourself. Finally, stay curious. Starting something new is brave. Trust that you belong here.