USQ
Anthropology student, Erin, lives,
‘I can put questions up at any time and get
studies and works in Mt Isa, 1500kms a response the next day, or I can listen to a
away from the nearest USQ campus and
lecture at 2am if I wish.’ According to Erin,
1700kms away from her family and friends.
the flexibility of USQ’s distance education
Having a full-time job in Mt Isa that she is
program ‘is a fantastic representation of
deeply passionate about, when Erin decided
today’s cosmopolitan society.’
to pursue a qualification, it was important to
Erin admits that before she started her degree,
her to find a university that would be flexible,
she was worried she would be studying alone
supportive, and allow her to study around her
and wouldn’t be able to ask questions.
other commitments.
“YOU GET TO KNOW PEOPLE DOING THE SAME COURSES AND DEGREE AS
YOU AND YOU HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM JUST LIKE YOU WOULD
IF YOU WERE IN A CLASSROOM SETTING.”
Erin believes finding the time and motivation
to study can be just that little bit harder for
off-campus students and confesses that she is
often easily distracted.
After she got into the swing of things,
however, she realised ‘USQ has a real sense of
community.’
‘You get to know people doing the same
‘I live in a small country town and it’s
courses and degree as you and you have
surrounded by absolutely breathtaking
relationships with them, just like you would
scenery, so it’s easy for me to get side-tracked. if you were in a classroom setting. Everyone
I can have great plans to study all day, but
is in the same boat via distance so we all
end up out at the lake tanning in the sun or
understand how each other are feeling!’
going fishing.’
By connecting online via social media, Erin
She says that having a passion for what you
feels like she is part of the USQ community.
want to study is the key.
She regularly participates in USQ’s Instagram
challenges, saying, ‘they are a great way to
‘The lecturers I have encountered at USQ
facilitate the social aspect of ‘going to uni’ for
are really fantastic. They are knowledgeable,
distance students, who don’t get the chance
have experienced so much and are willing
to physically be there.’
and excited to share that with you. It
makes you want to learn. Sometimes I find
‘The ability to be flexible and determined has
myself researching topics even though it’s
helped me get through the ups and downs
not assessable, they’ve just made it sound
of full time work and study. Keeping your
interesting.’
sense of humour and having a good laugh is
also a vital skill that has prepared me for the
Erin’s workplace functions 24/7, so she studies
challenges of balancing these aspects of my
whenever, and wherever, she can. This may
life!’
mean staying back at work, listening to lecture
podcasts on hour-long drives, or taking her
Having just finished the last semester of
books to study by the lake. She is fortunate
her undergraduate degree, Erin intends to
that because she is studying in the same field
commence postgraduate studies at USQ. She
she is employed in, she is able to closely relate
hopes to use her qualifications to perform
parts of her education to her work. Working
ethnographic fieldwork into the Indigenous
long hours, the 24/7 availability of USQ’s
Australian and Inuit cultures. Her dream job
StudyDesk makes off-campus study achievable would be hosting a television show about
for Erin.
culture, travel and history.