Juggling part-time study at university with motherhood and a full-time job was no easy feat for Debra Fisher, but after graduating from Charles Sturt University on Monday, the hard work finally paid off.
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Ms Fisher completed her degree in social work via distance education from her Newcastle home over five years, while also juggling her full time job along with being a wife, mother and new grandmother.
"It feels amazing to have finished today, because I was working full-time during that period, so it was a difficult and my whole family were so supportive," the 56-year-old said. “Being a mother you always feel like you’re neglecting your children, no matter how old they are and trying to balance my family-life with work and study was a big challenge.”
Working at Centerlink in the Department of Human Services, Ms Fisher now hopes to be employed as a social worker within the organisation, with a focus on mental health.
“I discovered that it was an area of great need and I’d love to help in that sector, she said.
Though Ms Fisher admits studying via distance education was challenging, she found other like-minded women in her town undertaking the same degree.
“Distance education is an isolating experience because you do a lot of self-teaching, but I was very lucky to find a group of women doing the same course as myself and we were able to meet, become friends and support each other through the process,” she said.
