Celebrating the Graduating Class of 2020!

Friday 30 April 2021

Geraldton Universities Centre celebrates the Graduating Class of 2020

Talking Points:

• 45 students graduating from courses supported by the Geraldton Universities Centre (GUC) in undergraduate Nursing, Education, Engineering, Business, Accounting, Environmental Science, Psychological Science, and Social Work, and post graduate Master of Professional Psychology.

“The benefit of having the GUC campus readily available, making higher education achievable to the regional population – pumping out local legends, making a difference and achieving massive results,” was the closing remark from USQ Bachelor of Nursing Graduate Jilly O’Brien.  Jilly, along with fellow CQU Bachelor of Psychological Science graduate Kirsty Harper, delivered the graduand addresses at last night’s GUC formal graduation ceremony.

Family and friends, along with the broader GUC community, joined together for the celebration, which saw 45 students formally graduate across nine discipline areas at the Queens Park Theatre.

This year the GUC celebrates its 20^th anniversary and the graduating class of 2020 join an alumnus of 424 students who have graduated through the GUC since 2006.

GUC Chair Jody Bevan acknowledged the significant contribution that the GUC has made over the last 20 years to grow our local professional workforce.

“The 45 graduates we celebrate this evening are working in our hospitals and mental health services, our schools, social work services and broader service industries….and join their fellow GUC graduates who are making a vital contribution to our local workforce needs.”

In CQU’s graduand address, Bachelor of Psychological Science Graduate Kirsty Harper spoke of wanting to find a career where she was able to help people and psychology was the perfect fit for her.

“When you are completing a psychology degree you are not just learning about the different types of mental illnesses there are and the different treatments. You learn about every aspect of the brain, what it does. You learn about different aspects of human behaviour such as how we learn, different types of personality. It is truly such a fascinating area to study and be a part of.”

Kirsty’s academic journey has not ended, with her honours year to complete, followed by a Master’s degree and a one-year internship to complete her registration as a psychologist, promising her Mum and Dad that she will move out of their garage in three years’ time!

Bachelor of Nursing Graduate Jilly O’Brien spoke of the challenges of balancing work, study, and life in general, but of the many rewards along the way.

“We are all hero’s here tonight. We are the brave ones who decided to make a change and challenge ourselves in a way that we may not have thought imaginable – In a career that will only bring us rewards.”

End

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Graduates per program