LUMEN Summer 2020 - Flipbook - Page 43
STUDENT
EMERGENCY
FUND
The Student Emergency Fund was
established to ensure our students are
supported when they need it most.
We believe that no student should be
disadvantaged and unable to continue their
studies and pursue their dreams because of
unplanned and unforeseen life events.
When Jake was 17, he found himself
homeless because of domestic violence.
He struggled through his first year of
university, concentrating on how to
survive, not how to learn.
Living independently and working multiple
part-time jobs, Jake had little time to
actually study. Not surprisingly, his first
year of university didn’t go to plan and on
top of that, he discovered his initial degree
(Engineering) wasn’t the right path and his
passion was Medicine.
The support I received from
the University has been really
beneficial in getting me to where I
am now, which is on a career path
and study I am really enjoying.
I hope to be a doctor one day and
give back to others in need.
CRICOS 00123M
At the start of 2019 I was fortunate to receive
a hardship grant from the University, which
allowed me to get a computer. It's amazing
to be able to study when I need, rather than
waiting to use the facilities at university or a
mate's laptop.
Things were looking up, Jake was studying
for the University Clinical Aptitude Test
(UCAT), hoping to be accepted into the
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of
Surgery (MBBS). Then COVID hit. He lost
his jobs and found himself homeless again.
At the start of 2020, Jake was accepted into
the MBBS.
While my hard work and focus had paid off,
and I should have been excited, I didn’t have a
home. There was no way I was going to be able
to enrol and keep up with the requirements of
the MBBS without a place to live.
In desperation I approached the University
again. They helped me with accommodation,
money to buy pots and pans and a voucher for
Food Bank. It meant I could cook for myself,
focus on my studies and have a place to live –
a home.
With so many students experiencing
financial stress each year, we need the
help of our community today. Your gift,
no matter how big or small, will directly
support our students in their time of need.
To support students in crisis
please visit ua.edu.au/give/sef
or phone +61 8 8313 5800 and
make your gift today.
ALUMNI MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2020
41
