Further Education Bursary Winners 2008
Vision Australia is proud to help students who are blind or have low vision, who display a passion for their chosen fields of learning with adaptive equipment and training.
Vision Australia's Further Education Bursaries are awarded to people who, for financial reasons, would not be able to participate in further education.
This year 26 Vision Australia clients from Victoria, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and, for the first time, the Northern Territory are receiving bursaries.
Adaptive technology can eliminate barriers to education and enhance access to information. It enables students to read course material, conduct research and secure employment.
What is adaptive technology?
Adaptive technology is software and hardware that enables people who are blind or have
low vision to access reading material in a format of their choice, whether this is audio, large print, braille or electronic information.
This technology is essential for accessing computer software in areas such as word processing, spreadsheets and presentations. It also enables access to the internet and email applications, as well as taking notes in class. These adaptive technologies include computers with speech output, electronic braille displays and devices for electronically scanning printed material.
2008 Winners
Aja Whelan- Northern Territory
"Choose a job you love and never work a day in your life" is Aja Whelan's inspiration for studying Creative Arts and Industries (Music) at Charles Darwin University. Music and sound has played a central role in Aja's life. She performed with her school choir at the Darwin Eisteddfod and has studied Modern Singing. Aja has received a Community Recognition Award for her volunteer work with Riding for the Disabled and won three gold medals at two national archery events. Aja has yet to decide the path she will follow on completing her degree, but is considering teaching, composing, performing or working as a sound technician or piano tuner.
Alice Dynon - Queensland
Originally from Melbourne, Alice moved to Brisbane earlier this year to study Massage Therapy Practice (Certificate IV) at the Australian College of Natural Medicine. Alice has less than 10% vision in one eye and is blind in the other due to Bests Disease, congenital cataracts, aphakia, nystagmus and glaucoma. While she was supported through secondary school by a Vision Australia Visiting Teacher, who provided large print versions of all her text books, Alice requires adaptive technology in order to study independently at a tertiary level. Her previous studies in remedial massage and myotherapy, senior first aid and aromatherapy motivated Alice to further her health studies.
Allison Gilmour - ACT and NSW
Allison enjoyed a 20-year career in hairdressing, but was forced to consider retraining when her sight deteriorated. Since leaving the salon, Allison has learned to type and use a variety of computer software packages, opening the door to further study. Allison is now travelling four hours a day to study Massage (Certificate IV) at TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute, so the adaptive technology provided by this bursary is essential given her time constraints and the course's scientific content. On attaining her diploma in two years time Allison hopes to establish her own massage clinic.
Anthony Pereira - ACT and NSW
Anthony migrated to Australia in 2000. Although he had worked in the automobile industry in Pakistan, his inability to drive made finding employment in the field difficult in Australia. After various casual positions, Anthony decided to return to study. He persevered and completed a Remedial Massage Certificate IV - an intensive course that many of his sighted peers dropped out of. He is now studying Social Work at the University of Sydney and we have no doubt that he will fulfill his goal of contributing to the community.
Cettina Filippone - Victoria
Even as a small child, Cettina dreamed of becoming a librarian. When she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, she began to feel that her career choice was unrealistic. Yet when Cettina was referred to Vision Australia, she was told that anything was possible with the right support, training and equipment. Currently enrolled in Library/Information Studies at Victoria University, Cettina is working towards making her dream a reality. She is also writing children's stories and a book about her southern Italian heritage.
Christine Casey - Queensland
Christine is currently in her second year of a Bachelor of Music at the University of Southern Queensland. The 19-year-old is very active in her local community, teaching Sunday School classes, singing for the elderly and serving as a representative on her university's disability advisory committee. On completion of her music degree, Christine hopes to gain a teaching qualification. She loves working with children and one day hopes to improve the educational opportunities for young Solomon Islanders who are blind.
Cynthia Molan - Queensland
The Alexandra Hills mother of two is studying a Diploma of Community Welfare at the Metropolitan South Institute TAFE. Cynthia is blind in one eye and has limited vision in the other due to recurring optic neuritis. She has completed a clerical traineeship and a Certificate IV in Community Health Services, despite having no access to adaptive technology. Up until now, Cynthia has relied on the assistance of friends and family to read her course work aloud. She is casually employed as a Recreation Club Coordinator for a disability service, but is determined to work in the disability sector full-time on completion of her studies.
Glen Sparke - ACT and NSW
Since 1991, Glen has spent much of his working life at Graincorp. When drought started to dry up work opportunities and Glen's deteriorating vision began to exclude him from tasks such as operating heavy machinery, he decided it was time to retrain. Glenn started a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000 while working casually, but his failing vision and constant headaches proved too great a barrier at the time and he withdrew from his studies in 2003. Now Glen is back at the University of Newcastle, studying Politics. With the benefit of adaptive technology he is confident of his ability to complete his degree and motivated to continue on his new path in life.
Heather Gamble - Victoria
Mum of two Heather was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy at the same time that she lost her husband. Her mother passed away 11 weeks later - by this time Heather's eyesight had dramatically deteriorated. Being unable to drive in a rural area limited her social and employment opportunities. But not to be deterred, Heather is studying Psychology through Open Universities Australia. She is now confident that, with the assistance of adaptive technology, she will be able to independently move forward into the next stage of her life.
Jenny Sao - ACT and NSW
Jenny arrived from Cambodia at age 13 with no schooling behind her. She spent one year at an intensive learning school, focusing on English and braille. She went on to complete her secondary schooling at Chester Hill High School, an introductory computer course at Lidcombe TAFE, and a Certificate IV (Community and Home Care- Welfare) at Campbelltown TAFE. She is currently studying Access to Work and Training at TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute. Jenny is committed to working with young people and hopes to draw on her experiences of living in a women's refuge and with blindness to create a better future for others.
Jenny Tran - Victoria
Jenny was diagnosed with aniridia when she was in primary school. This congenital condition affects iris and retina development, which means that she has to be very close to the text in order to see it. As a result, Jenny relied heavily on a monocular and her school friends' help to keep up to speed in the classroom. Yet she overcame these challenges to complete her VCE and go on to study Information Technology at Victoria University. Given the nature of her course, the adaptive technology this bursary provided is essential to assuring Jenny's success at university and beyond.
Jessica Saville - ACT and NSW
Adaptive technology is crucial to Jessica, who is studying Information Technology Support (Certificate IV) via TAFE NSW Open Training and Education. Jessica, who has dominant optic atrophy, is studying from home, so the laptop with magnification software, pocket viewer and printer scanner that this bursary has provided will enable her to study more effectively. We wish Jessica the best of luck with her course and for the future.
Kathleen Cuzzumu - Victoria
Kathleen worked hard through high school to overcome the obstacles presented by low vision. Because she has bilateral corneal dystrophy it took her longer to read certain colours on the whiteboard and standard print in textbooks. Despite these challenges, Kathleen is determined to become a journalist and is currently studying Professional Writing and Editing (Certificate IV) at Victoria University. She is confident that with the assistance of adaptive technology she will be able to complete her course and follow her chosen career path.
Lachlan Saville - ACT and NSW
Lachlan completed his HSC in 2006 and has since studied French Certificate I through TAFE's distance education program. He is now progressing through an Open Education bridging course at Macquarie University and is hoping to commence an Arts degree. Lachlan's aims to work in a Government Department and to learn more languages. This highly motivated student is now nearer his goals thanks to the adaptive technology so generously provided by Vision Australia supporters.
Linda Nancarrow - Victoria
Linda recently returned to tertiary study after a 20 year break. She is now studying a Graduate Diploma in Regional Planning and a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration at La Trobe University. Having experienced several trying years on her drought-affected farm in Yarrberb, Linda would like to gain further qualifications that will assist her return to paid employment. This bursary has allowed her to buy adaptive technology that will enable her to study more effectively.
Lisa Horne - Queensland
The North Ipswich student, who lost her sight following a car accident in 1986, has been passionate about health and natural healing for the past 20 years. Lisa has already attained diplomas in Health and Fitness and Sports Training as well as Ceramics, a Certificate in National Parks and Conservation Techniques and completed a herbalism course. She is currently studying Health Science (Naturopathy) at the Australian College of Natural Medicine and hopes to practise in Brisbane on completing her course.
Michelle Johnson - Northern Territory
Twenty-two-year-old Michelle, who has been totally blind since birth, is committed to helping other people to overcome their disabilities. Having completed a Tertiary Enabling Program at Charles Darwin University, she is moving closer to realising her goal by studying Welfare Studies at the same institution. Michelle has worked as a volunteer with Salvation Army and the Braille Reading and Writing Association in Brisbane, where she proofread, collated and bound the monthly magazine. She says her aim to demonstrate to people with disabilities that anything is possible.
Peggy Soo - Victoria
Having completed her VCE in 2006, Peggy deferred her university offer to take up a one-year work placement at the Royal National Institute for the Blind in Britain. Now back home in Melbourne, she is studying a Bachelor of Applied Science (Disability) at RMIT. Peggy is extremely community-minded, having served on the General Committee of Young Blind Citizens Victoria. On completion of her degree she hopes to work to improve the lives of people who have a disability.
Raj Tamang - Victoria
Raj has low vision due to nystagmus, which means that reading standard text for extended periods can be tiring and cause severe headaches. Although he did well in his VCE, Raj believes he missed out on a lot of experiences and opportunities at school because he was not aware of the many forms of adaptive technology available. This bursary has enabled him to buy the necessary technology to study Accountancy at RMIT on a level playing field.
Rana Elmir - ACT and NSW
Rana is studying Arts at ACU National and Social Work at the Australian National University in order to fulfill her dream of helping other people with disabilities to overcome barriers in their lives. Rana herself has experienced considerable challenges since being diagnosed with cone and rod dystrophy seven years ago. When she started university she would have to photocopy all the relevant information onto A3 paper in order to read it, which means carrying huge amounts of paper around campus. While she quickly grasped the use of adaptive technology, being a full-time student this expensive equipment has been out of reach until now - so it is with great pleasure that we award Rana this bursary.
Rebecca Godfrey - ACT and NSW
Earlier this year Rebecca made the move from Cootamundra to the nation's capital to study Community Welfare Work at the Canberra Institute of Technology. When Rebecca's sight began to deteriorate at age 13, she found herself relying on a tape recorder to access the curriculum. The next year her school bought her a laptop with speech output, unleashing Rebecca's potential. Rebecca believes her vision impairment has taught her things no tertiary course could - such as empathy and tolerance. As someone who loves working with people, she is studying a diploma in a bid to fast-track her way through a degree and to make a difference in the community sooner.
Richard Cornish - ACT and NSW
Richard is studying Business - Marketing at the TAFE NSW Hunter Institute with the view to work in sports administration. At the age of 20, he has already gained experience in this field, having founded the Newcastle Central Coast AFL Umpires Association in 2005. He is now the Association's Secretary and Cub Scout leader of the 1st Kariong Scout Group. When Richard's vision started to deteriorate in 2005 due to glaucoma he embraced adaptive technology to assist him with his studies, using a school laptop to magnification software to complete projects and exams. This bursary will enable him to continue to reap the benefits of such marvellous technology.
Timothy Crowe - Victoria
Timothy is from a farming background, growing up on a property in Donald in the state's drought-affected north-west. Last year he was diagnosed with a rare genetic degenerative eye condition called Leber's Syndrome. His sight has since deteriorated. Being part of the way through an Agricultural Science degree at the University of Melbourne, Tim was concerned that his vision loss would affect his ability to read. This bursary has enabled Tim to resume his studies and ultimately contribute to our farming future.
Trudy Ryall - Victoria
Trudy was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa almost five years ago when she was a volunteer carer of Australian Customs puppies. Her interest in dogs led her to study Companion Animal Services (Certificate III) at North Melbourne Institute of TAFE. Trudy also has severe hearing loss, and is an advocate for the deafblindness community. She has served on the Able Australia Deafblind Advocacy Committee, the Moonee Valley Council Disability Committee and the WCIG Management Advisory Committee, working to improve employment services for people with disabilities. Trudy would like to eventually like to train dogs to assist people who have disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of life.
William O'Neil - ACT and NSW
William has shown incredible commitment to his Community Welfare studies, which he is pursuing at TAFE NSW Hunter Institute while supporting a young family. Prior to receiving this bursary, he had to rely on his memory to complete workplace assessments while his course mates took notes. Yet he overcame the challenges of working with limited access to technology to successfully manage a heavy workload. All the while William has raised awareness about blindness and low vision on campus, proving that he has what it takes to excel in his chosen field.
Yuka Uchida - ACT and NSW
During her last two years at school, Yuka's sight diminished dramatically due to retinitis pigmentosa. Despite this, the conscientious student managed to keep up with her classmates in all subjects through sheer determination and proficiency in the use of adaptive technology supplied by her school. Thanks to this bursary, Yuka now takes lecture notes using her own laptop, which is loaded with speech output software. This technology is enabling Yuka to take on her double degree independently and with confidence.
Related information
This page last updated: 03 September 2008