Ali Drummond

Ali Drummond
Master of International Public Health student

What has been your experience as an Indigenous Australian postgraduate student at UQ? 
I found UQ pretty easy to access. All the basically links and the courses have been pretty much self explanatory. I think initially going back to Uni you are excited to not work so much but then you are inundated with all these readings but I found it quite smooth I guess having done undergraduate studies. You have much more responsibility in postgrad as opposed to undergrad where you have tutors chasing you up.

What support have you found useful?
I think other people in the class. I’ve made some good friends there are other nurses in class that I’ve made friends with and I’ve got a friend from Solomon’s and um one from Tahiti and both Indigenous to the islands, so um they are very much like island people. Just having them there, we can relate on so many levels so I find that comforting. Usually we get into groups together when we have group assignments and yeah that basically what I have at Uni. I find the lecturers quite supportive at Herston, open door policy it’s just great and they chase after you too when they think that you’ve slacken off a bit which is helpful. They investigate and ask if something’s up they don’t just automatically assume that your just bludging. And also I’ve got a supportive partner as well, that helps as well.

Do you have advice for other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students considering postgraduate study?
It’s definitely worth doing, you’ve already survived three or four years of your undergrad why don’t you take it a step further and do your postgrad. Definitely go out and get some experience first but postgrad just opens so many more opportunities you know, not just the skills but the networking you can have. I find it really empowering just doing postgraduate study.

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