After six years working in the corporate world, in everything from superannuation to real estate, Rhys hung up his suit and tie and put on his beloved training gear.
"Exercise science had always been an interest of mine, but after six years in corporate roles it was hard to turn down a full-time job.”
When he first left school, Rhys had tried a few different study routes.
“I wanted to do sports science and nutrition when I first left school,” he says.
For the next few years, Rhys worked in retail before completing a Certificate IV in real estate property management.
He stayed in that industry for nearly four years before moving into the corporate sector working for large superannuation and tax corporations.
“I was still interested in doing something around health and science and I was sick of working in the corporate world.”
Finding a new path
A phone call to the Woolyungah Indigenous Centre (WIC) at University of Wollongong (UOW), was the motivation Rhys needed to take a leap of faith.
“I was originally looking at doing physiotherapy and I talked to a number of other universities when I called WIC,” he says.
“They told me about UOW College and made me realise it was something that I wanted to do and could do.
“They told me that UOW College was a much better option for someone who had been out of study for a while, as a way to ease back into it.”
Rhys took the advice and enrolled in the College’s Diploma of Medical and Health Sciences and he hasn’t looked back.
Making the most of new opportunities
As well as embracing the learning aspect of the Diploma, Rhys took the opportunities UOW College offered in other aspects of his life.
He was awarded the Aunty Linda Cruse Scholarship, which is helping him finance his studies and now also works for WIC as a student ambassador.
“The scholarship has helped completely subsidise my Diploma. It’s definitely been a huge help,” Rhys says.
One of the best things about the UOW College was the smaller class sizes,” he says.
“When I first came to university straight from school, I found it hard, with all the self-imposed learning and huge classes.
“At UOW College, I like being able to ask questions when I need and being in a cohort of people that were also learning about what path they wanted to take was great. It made me realise there were a lot of people in the same situation as myself.”
“And with WIC, I am doing an outreach program as well as orientations for new students.
“This job is a lot more fulfilling than I expected. Previously, all my other jobs had been about how to make companies richer but, in this job, I am helping people figure out their future.
“Although it’s about promoting alternative pathways to university for Indigenous kids, I am also a good example for anyone that you can get into tertiary study a variety of ways.”
Looking ahead to the future
Rhys is scheduled to finish his diploma in February 2024 and plans to then move into the second year of an exercise science degree at the University of Wollongong.
And he is confident that the grounding he has received at UOW College will better equip him for the rigours of academic study.
Ultimately, Rhys says he would love to be working as an exercise scientist with a major sporting team, or at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
“As part of my scholarship application I had to write a small essay describing my ambitions and what I wanted to do,” he says.
“I said I wanted to finish my undergraduate degree and move into a Masters of Clinical Exercise Physiology.
“I know there are limited positions in this field, but I’ve now proven to myself what I am capable of.”
Learn more about the Pathways Programs available at UOW College.
Rhys Macleod
Diploma of Medical and Health Sciences