OnTrack for rewarding career

After spending the past two decades raising six children Stephanie Tarr believed going to university was beyond her reach because she was too old and did not have the educational background until she stumbled across a Murdoch University course which is helping her get OnTrack towards a challenging career.

Stephanie initially trained as a registered nurse when she left high school in the early 80s before marrying husband of 19 years Richard and raising her family, aged from 18 to nine.

She had studied nursing at the suggestion of her parents but she had always been interested in technical drawing and engineering – something never encouraged at high school.

She said she had thought about going to university for a long time.

“I was under the impression that I would never get into university due to my age, my family commitments and that it was so long since I had been at school, and the distance from me to the nearest university,” Stephanie said.

But, one day, when reading the local newspaper, she spotted an advertisement for Murdoch’s free OnTrack program, which provides an alternative entry path to university for those who may have a disrupted educational background.

“I cut out the ad from the paper and stuck it to the fridge, trying to get the courage to ring up,” she said.

“Applying to OnTrack was a leap of faith and one I am glad I made as it has changed my life for the better.”

The semester-long course was very extensive, requiring her to put in about 30 hours a week (including time on campus and study at home).

“The lecturers were brilliant teachers – they supported me and helped in any way they could,” she said.

Stephanie completed the course in 2008 and is now in her first year of studying Instrument and Control Engineering, a four-year degree.
Her ultimate aim is to work alongside her husband who works in construction on minesites.

Email for more information about the OnTrack course.