From navigating the leap from Year 12 to university, to returning to study after a decade in the workforce, two local students are showing just how different the path to further education can look.
Both are recipients of the Mirboo North & District Community Foundation’s Education Support Program, which supports local people commencing tertiary education and is currently accepting applications for students beginning study in 2027.
For Aleasha Read, this year has meant making the transition from secondary school to a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science at Federation University. She says one of the biggest adjustments has been the independence expected at university, particularly with much of her course delivered online.
“It has been difficult trying to adapt to university studies. I have found how different it is to high school as you don’t always have someone there to guide you,” Aleasha said.
While the flexibility of blended study has been valuable, Aleasha said the online component can also feel isolating, particularly around exams and assignments. On-campus block weeks have given her an important opportunity to connect with her peers and teaching staff and build the relationships that can be harder to establish remotely.
At a very different stage of life, another Education Support recipient returned to study this year after a decade working as a graphic designer. She is now completing a Master of Teaching at Monash University with the goal of becoming a secondary art and design teacher.
“Returning to study as a mature-aged student was initially daunting, but I have quickly found my rhythm and am thoroughly enjoying both the learning and the new connections I have made.”
She has since received Permission to Teach, allowing her to teach three days a week while completing her degree. Her return to study has also meant balancing a mortgage, reduced income and travelling from Mirboo North to Clayton twice a week.
“This year has been an incredibly rewarding rollercoaster. It has been a significant personal and professional shift, but one that has confirmed I made the right decision in returning to study and pursuing teaching.”
Despite their very different circumstances, both students identified the practical and financial support provided by the Community Foundation as an important part of making the transition into further education.
Aleasha said the Education Support Program had helped her access the resources she needed to begin her degree and eased some of the financial pressure, while the mature-age recipient said the support had helped make “the practical realities of regional study more manageable”.
Their experiences also highlight that the Education Support Program is not only for students finishing Year 12. Eligible mature-age students beginning university, TAFE or other recognised post-secondary qualifications are also encouraged to apply.
Applications for the Mirboo North & District Community Foundation’s 2027 Education Support Program are now open and close on 22 November 2026.
For eligibility information and application forms, click here.