Sydney to Armidale: How going bush is bringing big rewards for university students
'There is a community of people like me in college,' says Nguyen. 'There was already an established community of queer students doing a variety of courses. They all had a really beautiful culture; very neuro-diverse-friendly, very queer-friendly. They accepted me as their own; I felt safe and protected,' he adds.
Friends attending university in Sydney report travelling an hour each way and heading straight home after class. Hong and Nguyen, who both live at Mary White College at UNE, speak of an environment where medical students from senior to junior ranks readily cross paths and share experiences. 'It's really wonderful and rare,' says Nguyen.
Underscoring their sense of belonging and eagerness to contribute to college life, Hong is a residential leader at Mary White and Nguyen an academic mentor, connecting senior and junior students with twice-weekly gatherings that combine study and social interaction.
'You break that bubble and get people talking to each other,' says Nguyen.
Collegiality and support fire imagination
Regional Universities Network CEO Alec Webb says the more personalised experience of rural tertiary studies is a powerful drawcard.
Having worked in both regional and metropolitan university settings, he believes there is no comparison when it comes to connection.
'What immediately struck me as different, at a regional university the executives are known and seen,' says Webb. 'You go to the coffee cart at UNE and the vice-chancellor is in line getting his cup of coffee and having a chat with students. That just doesn't happen in Melbourne or Sydney.'
Webb points to government-endorsed data from regular Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) surveys. These surveys indicate that graduates from regional universities not only report higher satisfaction rates than their metro counterparts, but also higher starting salaries as they enter the workforce.
Webb points to the flow-on effect of students staying in the regions to work, 'which is a vital aspect of providing the workforce for regional Australia.'
Hong is a strong advocate for regional healthcare. She has experienced first-hand how hard it can be to see a doctor in regional Australia, either for illness or for vaccinations needed to take part in placements. During the latter, she has been inspired by the rapport between rural GPs and their patients.
It's left her determined to help make a difference.
'I think I'll be practising regionally,' says Hong. 'I'm going to look into rural generalism where you are a GP with specialties on the side like paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology or a bit of surgery.
'I really like Wagga. Tamworth is great. I've seen Taree which is fantastic, too. I'm keen to see where this adventure takes me.'
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Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney to Armidale: How going bush is bringing big rewards for university students
His experience echoes Hong's, of being part of a close-knit university community. The initial nerves he felt about making a major geographic change, particularly as a migrant and queer person, soon dissipated amidst a wave of support. 'There is a community of people like me in college,' says Nguyen. 'There was already an established community of queer students doing a variety of courses. They all had a really beautiful culture; very neuro-diverse-friendly, very queer-friendly. They accepted me as their own; I felt safe and protected,' he adds. Friends attending university in Sydney report travelling an hour each way and heading straight home after class. Hong and Nguyen, who both live at Mary White College at UNE, speak of an environment where medical students from senior to junior ranks readily cross paths and share experiences. 'It's really wonderful and rare,' says Nguyen. Underscoring their sense of belonging and eagerness to contribute to college life, Hong is a residential leader at Mary White and Nguyen an academic mentor, connecting senior and junior students with twice-weekly gatherings that combine study and social interaction. 'You break that bubble and get people talking to each other,' says Nguyen. Collegiality and support fire imagination Regional Universities Network CEO Alec Webb says the more personalised experience of rural tertiary studies is a powerful drawcard. Having worked in both regional and metropolitan university settings, he believes there is no comparison when it comes to connection. 'What immediately struck me as different, at a regional university the executives are known and seen,' says Webb. 'You go to the coffee cart at UNE and the vice-chancellor is in line getting his cup of coffee and having a chat with students. That just doesn't happen in Melbourne or Sydney.' Webb points to government-endorsed data from regular Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) surveys. These surveys indicate that graduates from regional universities not only report higher satisfaction rates than their metro counterparts, but also higher starting salaries as they enter the workforce. Webb points to the flow-on effect of students staying in the regions to work, 'which is a vital aspect of providing the workforce for regional Australia.' Hong is a strong advocate for regional healthcare. She has experienced first-hand how hard it can be to see a doctor in regional Australia, either for illness or for vaccinations needed to take part in placements. During the latter, she has been inspired by the rapport between rural GPs and their patients. It's left her determined to help make a difference. 'I think I'll be practising regionally,' says Hong. 'I'm going to look into rural generalism where you are a GP with specialties on the side like paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology or a bit of surgery. 'I really like Wagga. Tamworth is great. I've seen Taree which is fantastic, too. I'm keen to see where this adventure takes me.'
The Age
5 days ago
- The Age
Sydney to Armidale: How going bush is bringing big rewards for university students
His experience echoes Hong's, of being part of a close-knit university community. The initial nerves he felt about making a major geographic change, particularly as a migrant and queer person, soon dissipated amidst a wave of support. 'There is a community of people like me in college,' says Nguyen. 'There was already an established community of queer students doing a variety of courses. They all had a really beautiful culture; very neuro-diverse-friendly, very queer-friendly. They accepted me as their own; I felt safe and protected,' he adds. Friends attending university in Sydney report travelling an hour each way and heading straight home after class. Hong and Nguyen, who both live at Mary White College at UNE, speak of an environment where medical students from senior to junior ranks readily cross paths and share experiences. 'It's really wonderful and rare,' says Nguyen. Underscoring their sense of belonging and eagerness to contribute to college life, Hong is a residential leader at Mary White and Nguyen an academic mentor, connecting senior and junior students with twice-weekly gatherings that combine study and social interaction. 'You break that bubble and get people talking to each other,' says Nguyen. Collegiality and support fire imagination Regional Universities Network CEO Alec Webb says the more personalised experience of rural tertiary studies is a powerful drawcard. Having worked in both regional and metropolitan university settings, he believes there is no comparison when it comes to connection. 'What immediately struck me as different, at a regional university the executives are known and seen,' says Webb. 'You go to the coffee cart at UNE and the vice-chancellor is in line getting his cup of coffee and having a chat with students. That just doesn't happen in Melbourne or Sydney.' Webb points to government-endorsed data from regular Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) surveys. These surveys indicate that graduates from regional universities not only report higher satisfaction rates than their metro counterparts, but also higher starting salaries as they enter the workforce. Webb points to the flow-on effect of students staying in the regions to work, 'which is a vital aspect of providing the workforce for regional Australia.' Hong is a strong advocate for regional healthcare. She has experienced first-hand how hard it can be to see a doctor in regional Australia, either for illness or for vaccinations needed to take part in placements. During the latter, she has been inspired by the rapport between rural GPs and their patients. It's left her determined to help make a difference. 'I think I'll be practising regionally,' says Hong. 'I'm going to look into rural generalism where you are a GP with specialties on the side like paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology or a bit of surgery. 'I really like Wagga. Tamworth is great. I've seen Taree which is fantastic, too. I'm keen to see where this adventure takes me.'
Perth Now
26-04-2025
- Perth Now
Healthy, wealthy and wise to food sustainability
Consumers who are savvy about nutrition - even more so than those driven by sustainability concerns - are vital to the battle to reduce food waste. Nutrition-conscious Australians have many excess-reducing habits and, as a result, simply waste less food, according to a University of Adelaide national survey of more than a thousand shoppers. "People who prioritise healthy eating tend to plan meals and avoid over-purchasing," says study lead author Trang Thi Thu Nguyen. "The idea that sustainability-conscious consumers would also waste less food seems logical," she said. "After all, they actively seek out ethical and environmentally friendly products. "However, those who prioritise sustainability often focus on choosing environmentally friendly products but do not necessarily translate that concern into waste-reducing behaviours." Australians waste about 7.68 million tonnes of food each year, according to the university's Centre for Global Food and Resources. That's the equivalent of 265 kilograms of waste into the kitchen bin per household annually or, to put it another way, 7.7 million meals every day. The cost to the economy lies somewhere north of $36 billion a year and costs each family an average of $2500. In short, we're wasting roughly twice as much food as we think we are. A recent poll conducted by the End Food Waste Australia Cooperative Research Centre found more than three quarters of households are at least now planning to incorporate regular leftover nights into their weekly meal plans, compared to the half that used to. Their intentions to use simple tips such as checking recommended serving sizes has also jumped from 42 per cent to 65 per cent. The signs are encouraging that the centre's Great Unwaste project is helping people reframe food waste reduction as something achievable rather than overwhelming," according to BehaviourWorks Australia's Dr Mark Boulet. "One of the strongest predictors of behaviour change, intended action, has skyrocketed," he said. "By focusing on realistic and flexible solutions, more Australians are seeing the benefits of wasting less and saving more." Dr Nguyen agrees but says a shift in approach is required to properly reduce the environmental and economic burden. "Rather than focusing on sustainability as a standalone concept, future food waste reduction campaigns should emphasise the link between nutrition and food waste," she said. "People are often more motivated by personal health benefits than by abstract environmental concerns, so framing waste reduction as part of a healthy lifestyle could be more persuasive." By encouraging meal planning, mindful shopping and proper food storage as part of a balanced diet, its hoped significant strides can be made. "Not only will this help households reduce the thousands of dollars lost to food waste each year, which is crucial in a cost-of-living crisis, it will also promote healthier eating habits," Dr Nguyen said. "Ultimately, the key to a more sustainable food system might not be just about choosing the right products, it's about how we manage, prepare and consume them."
