Joyner twins to make history at USC Moreton Bay

Twins Grace and Tess Hamlin can’t wait to walk through the doors at the new USC Moreton Bay campus … together. They’ll be among those making history on February 19.

Twins Grace and Tess Hamlin will study at the new USC Moreton Bay campus. Picture: Courtesy of USC Moreton Bay

For the Hamlin twins of Joyner, USC’s newest campus is opening in the right place at the right time – and with the right degrees.

When Grace and Tess arrive at USC Moreton Bay for orientation on February 19, they will be ready to pursue their respective dreams of becoming a psychologist and a schoolteacher.

The 18-year-olds are “super excited to start learning again” after a gap year of travel following their completion of Year 12 at Pine Rivers State High School in 2018.

“My twin Tess and I have been joined by the hip since we were born and we love doing everything together,” Grace says.

“We were originally enrolled at different universities but then we both got another offer into USC Moreton Bay and immediately said yes. I always wanted to go to USC but the campuses were too far away. When I found out that one was opening at Petrie, only 10 minutes down the road, I got so excited, especially when they were offering the course that I wanted, a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology).

Twins Tess and Grace Hamlin will study at the new USC Moreton Bay campus. Picture: courtesy of USC Moreton Bay.

Tess, who already volunteers at Kurwongbah State School alongside her teacher mother, says USC’s Bachelor of Primary Education was an easy choice.

“Both of my parents are teachers, my grandmother was a teacher, and two of my three elder sisters are teachers, so it’s in my blood and I hope it is a career that I can excel in,” Tess says. “Being able to go to the same campus as my twin is seriously a stroke of luck. It was also lucky that the courses suited both of us. It wasn’t planned, but it is convenient.

“I was thrilled when I found out that a new university would be opening close to home in the year I would start studying after my gap year. It will make uni life drastically easier as it won’t be a hassle trying to commute to and from campus.”

The twins, who work at a supermarket within walking distance of the Petrie campus, are inspired by the university studies and career success of their three siblings.

“University is obviously so different to high school, so it will be a new experience and it’s this excitement of starting something new that has me buzzed the most,” Tess says.

“Growing up with a twin means you always have someone by your side when you try new things, which is comforting when it’s a little scary. Sharing this experience with Grace is great.” Grace adds: “As twins, we’ve always had the same brain, same train of thought, so throughout high school we would always bounce ideas off each other and help each other out while studying, and we’re both really happy to continue that in university”.