Sophie Conlon
As the first person to enrol in a Bachelor of Secondary Education at Mount Gambier’s University of South Australia campus, Petah Wood is making history.
The course was available to study at the campus for the first time this year and UniSA Mount Gambier regional manager Ian McKay said Ms Wood was one of five people to receive offers.
He said other students had not yet enrolled in courses, or had deferred for a year, and so currently it looked like she might be the only person to study the degree.
Finishing year 12 last year, Ms Wood said she was ready to get straight back into studying when lectures and tutorials began.
“I’m excited to do that again, really get back into the swing of things and get immersed into the program itself,” she said.
Ms Wood said she would have undertaken the degree whether or not it was available locally, but she would not have moved to Adelaide to complete the course.
“It was always what I was going to do, but I couldn’t move away,” she said.
“It was either Mount Gambier or online.”
Ms Wood said this was for several reasons, with major factors including affordability and staying close to her support network.
She received offers from several online universities but ultimately decided to study locally through UniSA.
“It was, in part, that Mount Gambier had honours and being the high achiever that I am I needed to have honours – I wasn’t going to do the degree without it,” she said.
Being able to connect with other students on campus was one more reason Ms Wood decided to study at UniSA, but being the only person enrolled in the degree she was a little bit worried about meeting people.
Despite this, she said she had already received help and support from university staff and was feeling confident in studying again.
“They’ve tried to combine me with primary [education students] and they’ve been really good with that support, but I am the only one so that does make it a bit difficult,” she said.
Mr McKay said Ms Wood would have courses both on campus and online.
“The major and sub-major subjects which form a significant part of a Bachelor of Secondary Education degree are being delivered online, so Petah will participate with students in Whyalla and Adelaide,” he said.
“Some of the core subjects cross over with the primary education degree and she will do some of her subjects in class with primary students here.”
He said no matter how many students enrolled in the course there was definitely merit in offering it locally in years to come.
“We are hoping the major and sub-major options increase and if that happens that will broaden the appeal of the degree,” he said.
“There is certainly a demand for secondary teachers in our region and if we can increase the number of students locally that can only be a good thing for our region.”
Ms Wood can already see an advantage in being a cohort of one in that she will receive a lot of one on one support from tutors.
“The advantage… is having those connections with the lecturers in person and getting that one-on-one time,” she said.
Mr McKay said this would certainly be the case.
“She will certainly be well supported, and she doesn’t seemed to be phased, which is great,” he said.
