SA’s former 99.95 ATAR achievers say Adelaide didn’t have enough to offer
They’re the students who blitzed their year 12 studies with perfect scores across the board. But a crop of SA’s top students of yore have flown the coop. Find out why.
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They’re the students who blitzed their year 12 studies with perfect scores across the board.
But a crop of South Australia’s top students of yore have flown the coop because they couldn’t find study or work opportunities that met their needs – begging the question of whether our state has enough to keep our most ambitious minds put.
While none had a bad word to say about Adelaide – and said they’d consider a return – moving back would mean abandoning their current careers.
It comes as South Australian school leavers received their ATARs this week, with at least five students achieving a perfect SACE score of 99.95.
As the congratulatory messages roll in and these bright sparks look ahead to their exciting futures, The Advertiser tracked down previous high achievers and asked to what lofty heights their impressive result boosted them.
Alana Wagstaff, 31, who was the dux of Pembroke School in 2010, works in finance in Melbourne after finding the city had “much more interesting and challenging” opportunities in her field.
While she studied a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) at the University of Adelaide, going on to land a graduate position at Ernst & Young, she was lured across the border to Melbourne in 2018 to advance her career.
“I left Adelaide because initially I received a secondment opportunity to go to Melbourne for and found the financial services sector much more interesting and challenging than what I was experiencing through my work in Adelaide,” she told The Advertiser.
“I was working on the big four banks, managed funds and large super funds. I knew that I wanted to stay in that sector as it is always growing and evolving and I can continue to challenge myself and build my skill set up,” she said.
Ms Wagstaff, who is now a commercial associate at IFM Investors, said returning to Adelaide wasn’t completely out of the question.
“Never say never!
“I love Melbourne for my current phase of life and for my career. Unfortunately, there aren’t as many opportunities in Adelaide in the sector I work in at the moment so if I did move back it would mean I would likely have to pivot.
“That being said, Adelaide is a great city and I still have family here and a lot of friends so it would be an ideal place to settle down when the time is right. If only you could have it all in one place!”
Deputy Premier Susan Close said this year’s top students have a range of study opportunities to maximise their ATAR results, including in medicine, defence, cyber security and renewable energy.
“The establishment of Adelaide University, expected to be ranked within the top 100 institutions in the world, will help to create better jobs and lift the standard of living across the state,” Ms Close said in a statement, referencing the landmark AUKUS deal to build nuclear submarines in Adelaide.
“The Commonwealth Government has funded extra university places, including at the University of Adelaide and Flinders University, to grow the workforce needed to deliver the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pathway.
“Under the AUKUS agreement, South Australia will play a leading role in the delivery of nuclear-powered submarines and will require a highly educated, highly trained workforce with the cutting-edge skills and capabilities of the future.”
SA Skills commissioner Cameron Baker agreed there was “an exciting period of expansion ahead” for graduates in “emerging and high growth sectors” including defence and space, IT and cyber security, health and aged care and construction.
“The year ahead presents a unique opportunity to be involved in Australia’s first degree level Software Engineering apprenticeship only being offered in South Australia,” he said.
“Students will be paid while gaining valuable on-the-job skills and achieving a degree qualification that will put them on the front foot to be involved in exciting major projects planned underway in South Australia, including AUKUS, and the wider defence and manufacturing sectors.”
New opportunities on the horizon may just be enough to satisfy the appetites of this year’s high achievers.
But looking back at previous years, Ms Wagstaff wasn’t the only high SACE perfect score achiever to set her sights on a career away from Adelaide after school.
Here’s what they told us:
Gemma Gransbury, 30
School: St Ignatius College 2010, 99.95 ATAR
Tertiary studies: Bachelor of Science (advanced) at the University of Adelaide, Double Chemistry Major – Bachelor of Science (honours) in Chemistry at the University of Adelaide, PhD in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Melbourne, Research Assistant in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Melbourne
Now: Postdoctoral research associate at the University of Manchester
Dr Gransbury said she left SA for her PhD as the research she was interested in was only available in Melbourne. This then took her further afield to the UK.
“I moved to Manchester because of the better funding for research in the UK, particularly fundamental blue-sky research,” she said.
“The better funding means we have specialised instrumentation and large research-focused departments able to support academics with similar research interests who can form strong collaborations, rather than having to be in competition.”
“I also chose to move because I wanted the challenge and it helped me grow and better understand myself, but it’s always been my dream to return to Australia.”
She said while returning to Adelaide may be on the cards at some point, she wouldn’t be able to continue the same research.
“We don’t have the specialised instruments I need (in Adelaide) … The options for research funding and permanent university positions in Australia are more limited than overseas and are very competitive.
“My plan is to continue working overseas for the next few years and then re-evaluate. If I return to Adelaide it will require a change in my career path or research direction – or maybe I’ll get to a point where I can move and bring in enough funding to buy my own instruments, one can dream.”
Mitchell Richardson, 22
School: Trinity College dux 2019, 99.95 ATAR
Tertiary studies: Bachelor of Science (advanced) at the University of Adelaide, majoring in physics
Now: Continuing his studies, hoping to complete a PhD
“I’ve stayed in Adelaide since finishing school but in the future it’s very likely that I’ll end up moving interstate or overseas, especially when it comes to looking for a job once I complete my PhD,” Mr Richardson said.
“I’m hoping to pursue an academic career in my current field of physics, which is gravitational waves.
“There are lots of opportunities in this field interstate, and in terms of overseas opportunities the US also has a lot to offer,” he said, adding it was “very common” to move around in academia.
Bridget Smart, 23
School: Wilderness School dux 2017, 99.95 ATAR
Tertiary studies: Adelaide’s 113th Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University
“While I can’t claim that relocating to Oxford was always part of my long-term plan, I am profoundly grateful for the path that has led me here,” Ms Smart previously told The Advertiser.
Now two months into her PhD at Oxford, Ms Smart said for the time being she would go wherever the call of mathematics took her.
“The academic history and vibrant community in Europe has always had a strong appeal for me, but I grew up on Kaurna land and have always felt deeply connected to South Australia,” she said.
“I would love to be back in Australia working on some of the challenges we are facing … I plan to move back to SA, but in the meantime, I plan to make frequent visits to stay connected.”
Jonny Williams, 28
School: Sacred Heart College dux 2013, 99.95 ATAR
Tertiary studies: University of Adelaide Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Structural), honours, with a Bachelor of Finance, semester abroad at Lund University
Now: Moving overseas indefinitely
After a stint as a graduate civil engineer at Tonkin, Mr Williams returned to university to study teaching.
He has recently relocated overseas indefinitely with his girlfriend, where he intends to live and teach.
“I do plan to return to Adelaide for work after my overseas stint, whenever that may be,” he said.
“I do not feel like there is a lack of opportunity in Adelaide for teaching roles and when I was in the engineering field jobs were plentiful. I intend to be in Adelaide in the future, primarily due to the relationships I have built there over time and because Adelaide is a good place to live.”
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