UQ Ipswich graduates share their thoughts about the Ipswich campus and its cutting-edge programs and facilities.

- Graeme Kan (Bachelor of Business)

- Toni Risson (Bachelor of Arts)

- Fiona Dziopa (Bachelor of Nursing)

- Anthony Vandermolen (Bachelor of Education (Middle Years of Schooling))

- Megan Bauer (Graduate Diploma Information Technology)

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Gloria McGreevy (Bachelor of Electronic Commerce 2001)
"I am very thankful to Ernst and Young for giving me this opportunity, but I don't think it would have been possible without the skills and knowledge I acquired at UQ Ipswich. The campus' flexible learning delivery and interactive approach really appealed to me and as I look back over the past few years, I know I made the right decision in transferring from Commerce to Electronic Commerce. I am proud to be one of UQ Ipswich's first graduates and am very honoured to be student valedictorian 2001."

Garth Lake (Bachelor of Information Environments 2001)
"During my degree I started doing contract Web development work in second year, as one of three students recommended for a rush job on a site to market the Queensland Army Reserve. We got the site up in two weeks, using interactive games and other extras we'd learned as part of our course.

"Since then I've never been out of work ? I've had more than I could handle. I was self-employed for about five months after graduation. I was tired of juggling so many projects so I took a full-time job as a technical support officer with the Main Roads Department, Toowoomba. This includes IT support, Network administration. I still do contract website development work in my own time.

"UQ Ipswich has fantastic facilities ? the best of the best. The course is very hands-on with lots of teamwork and we were taught by experts, including gun designers visiting from overseas who gave us an insight to what's going on worldwide."

Joanne Sawyer (Bachelor of Contemporary Studies 2001)
"I have nothing but praise for the contemporary studies program, my lecturers and the wealth of computer, Library and other facilities at UQ Ipswich. The program teaches so much about the past, present and future, and it really opened my eyes to the ways of the world. It gave me analytical skills, a depth of understanding and a non-judgemental way of looking at things, and now I'm bringing this to my teaching at TAFE.

"Full-time study as a mature-age student often meant putting the rest of my life on hold, and burnout was a real possibility. I survived with lots of support from my lecturers and from my children, who were absolutely stoked when I graduated.

"I worked in a meat factory until my second child was born, and I hated every single day of it. I dreaded going to work and I was exhausted when I got home. Now I'm having so much fun I can't believe I get paid for it. There's no better feeling than knowing your kids are proud of you; and to love what you're doing, and get such great satisfaction from it, is totally amazing."

Just graduated from UQ Ipswich and would like to share your thoughts through our online Graduate Testimonals? Contact Jessica Freiberg on telephone 3381 1068 with your ideas.