Taking a chance to live the dream

Georgina Peter always wanted to make a difference and be a role model for her community; she is now living that dream. 

“I am a proud Torres Strait Islander woman and mature age student,” she said. “I was working as an Indigenous Coordinator at Victoria Primary School when I decided it was time for a career change and to do that, I needed to upgrade my skills.

“I heard about ACU through family and friends who loved studying here and shared with me the great opportunities and support ACU provides for students.”

Finding your passion

Georgina was part of the Away from Base (AFB) program which allows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to live and work in their local community while studying online and attending four residential study blocks a year.

“I completed my associate degree in Business Administration (Indigenous) online and that just awakened my passion for business. So I applied for the AFB program and got accepted into the Bachelor of Commerce,” said Georgina.

“I choose to study commerce because I was always passionate about helping Indigenous communities to manage finances. Our people were never great with budgeting. Also, in my previous career as an administrator I had always enjoyed working with accountants.

“The other reason ACU was a great decision was the flexibility. The study schedule was suitable for me with my other commitments outside of university life.”

University support

Strong industry ties, a focus on practical learning, and a commitment to helping students develop as a whole person were the highlights of Georgina’s degree.

“Studying at ACU created opportunities to be successful and lifetime experiences, I felt supported by the teaching staff, student mentors and tutors in every possible way throughout my studies. It was a privilege to get along with everyone at ACU including the team from the Indigenous Higher Education Unit,” Georgina said.   

Live your dreams

With her degree firmly in her grasp and a clear goal to become a financial planner, Georgina is ready to embark on the next stage of her career. But getting to this point wasn’t all smooth sailing.

“I worked hard to complete this degree and it was an intense time as the end approached. I stayed focused mentally, spiritually and physically knowing there would be obstacles to overcome along the way. I needed to challenge myself and use my potential to the best of my ability, understanding there is a path to a better future,” she said.

“There were times when I thought I would not make it, and at one stage, I thought of giving it all up because I could not do it anymore. But I persevered through it all, and it was definitely worth the sacrifice. I believe I will make a positive difference with the work I do as a professional and especially as an Indigenous woman. 

"My passion is to help people secure their financial futures. It is crucial to be a role model, setting a standard for Indigenous communities and others because I believe in empowering people.

“Currently I am a business owner, as founder and managing director of Indigenous Financial Planning Consultant. In 2020, I am embarking on a new journey working for the Australian Government as an Indigenous finance graduate. This is my dream job.”  

Away from Base is a national program which is a practical option for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Government funding is available to support travel, accommodation and meal costs for students participating in the residential block.

Ready to make the leap into study? Learn more.