Three primary school friends graduate from UniSQ accounting degree together
Knowing each other since year 4, three primary school friends have now graduated university together. Take a look at some of UniSQ’s recent graduates:
Tertiary
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tertiary. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Graduating alongside two friends that he has known since primary school made it even more exciting for Hugh Goodwin to finish his accounting degree.
Studying in the same accounting class in year 10 Mr Goodwin, Jackson Reimers and Blake Erbacher all went on to graduate with an accounting degree at University of Southern Queensland on April 1.
The three boys were close friends throughout high school where they studied at Concordia Lutheran College but the three have known each other since year 4.
Mr Erbacher and Mr Goodwin both went to Concordia Lutheran Primary and Mr Reimers went to partner school Martin Luther Primary.
Mr Goodwin said he thinks their year 10 accounting teacher, Mrs Holden, would be proud of where they have ended up.
“We had such a small class so to see so many of us pursue it further would definitely make her proud,” he said.
Mr Goodwin said graduating alongside his close friends was very special.
“I know Blake’s family and I know Jackson’s family so it meant a lot more to have everyone there,” he said.
Mr Goodwin has worked at Lawson Accounting since he graduated high school and said juggling full time work and full time study was tricky.
“There were a lot of late nights,” he said.“I think it was helpful having other people that were doing similar courses.
“It definitely helped me along the way having familiar faces there and being able to relate to them.”
Mr Goodwin, who is continuing to work at Lawson Accounting, is going to continue studying so he can be a Certified Practising Accountant.
He is expecting to start his CPA course in July and study part time over the next three years.
Mr Erbacher has already started studying to become a Chartered Accountant, a course he hopes to finish in about two years.
‘Just give it a go’: UniSQ graduate’s inspiring message
It may have taken some time, but for one University of Southern Queensland graduate receiving her degree was worth the wait.
UniSQ graduates from different courses and disciplines celebrated their achievements at their graduation ceremony at the Empire on Tuesday April 1.
The average person will change careers between three and seven times in their lifetime and 50-year-old UniSQ graduate Jacqui Smith decided to take the leap and study something she loves.
For Ms Smith starting her Bachelor of Nursing degree as a ‘mature aged student’ was daunting but she said it was the best decision she’s ever made.
“I thought people would think I was silly for going back to uni,” she said.
“I had this trepidation that people would think ‘what am I doing here because I’m so old’, but it actually didn’t make a difference.”
Ms Smith said the fear of being too old should not stop people from chasing their dreams.
“I didn’t want to get to the end and think ‘I wish I had tried that’,” she said.
“Don’t think, just give it a go. I don’t have any regrets.”
After spending years in different industries, from doing the odd office job, trying out a TAFE course, teaching kids to swim, and raising her family, Ms Smith started working in aged care ten years ago.
Spending some time in the industry she said she wanted to be able to do more, and she could do that by studying to become a nurse.
“When I started in the aged care industry I really loved it and watching the other nurses working, it was really inspiring,” she said.
“The job requires so much caring and empathy and I just felt that it was for me.”
The mother of three had her entire family come out to support her at her graduation on Tuesday.
“My kids are very proud and it’s not even about them being proud but showing them to always have a go,” she said.
Ms Smith said when you study something you love the work feels so much easier and is now going on to study a Masters Degree in Nursing, which she will start in May.
“I’m really excited just to keep learning and I think if you can keep learning there’s always something out there,” she said.
Ms Smith will complete her masters part-time over the next three years while she works as a Registered Nurse at Crows Nest Aged Care.
Scroll through our graduation gallery here with more photos to come:
Full list: Best Australian universities for every subject
Australian universities have been ranked in a new global list. See which university performs the best in each subject.
‘Accelerated research’: Hi-tech tool slashing plant scientists’ workload
In 20 minutes this hi-tech tool can collect the same amount of data that would otherwise take a team of researchers all day, freeing them up to analyse and test their theories.
‘Verged into anti-Semitism’: Abbott blasts student activists
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has weighed in on the rights of pro-Palestine student protesters on university grounds.
150 jobs UniSQ to go with plans for surplus by end of 2025
Staff at the University of Southern Queensland have been told at least 150 of their colleagues will be let go as the organisation works to plug a multi-million dollar budget black hole.
‘Rare’ Neptune-sized planet discovered by UniSQ student
Astronomers led by a UniSQ student have discovered a ‘rare’ Neptune-sized planet outside the Solar System, where a year lasts for just 21 hours.
Job losses revealed as uni grapples with back-to-back deficits
After back-to-back deficits, a regional Queensland university has started laying off workers. Dozens of support staff have already been let go, and academics and teachers could be next in the firing line.