Melissa is on track to a career in Criminal Justice
23 March 2009
Life after school is very busy for Melissa Colvin, a talented young woman who is legally blind. Not only is Melissa on the path to her dream career in Criminal Justice, after starting a Bachelor of Legal Studies at La Trobe University, but she has also moved out of home to live with her grandparents and maintains her passion for music by driving projects in her local area.
As a client of Vision Australia from an early age, Melissa has used many of our services. She received early intervention services and attended the Burwood school from pre-school kindergarten to Grade 2. With the support of her Visiting Teacher Tess Roussell, she successfully integrated into a mainstream school, and completed her studies with an impressive ENTER score of 76.6.
"As a Visiting Teacher, it's a very special pleasure to see students achieving their goals and following their dreams. We catch up on the phone and via email, says Tess".
Melissa has completed Orientation and Mobility training, Support Skills and Residential Training Programs, and adaptive technology training. She has also used the counselling and occupational therapy services, and is now waiting for the outcome to her application for the Vision Australia Further Education Bursary, a grant that assists tertiary students who are blind or have low vision to purchase assistive technology to help them in their studies.
Melissa is one of least three other Vision Australia clients who also successfully completed their VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) last year, with scores of eighty and above. Two students will pursue further studies at university, while one student is on a GAP year and travelling overseas.
Well done Melissa, and congratulations to all our fantastic VCE students!