Every year in February and September, Murdoch University celebrates cohorts of inspiring graduates taking their places as Murdoch alumni.

The completion of your time at university is not only the end of a major chapter, but the start of the next exciting phase of your life. So, if you’re a student bound for university this year or are looking forward to your own university graduation in the coming months, here’s just a snippet of our current valedictorian’s experience and advice.

Olivia Rynvis
Growing up close to pristine beaches, Olivia developed an appreciation for the ocean and the marine life that inhabits it, which motivated her to study marine biology. Throughout her university journey, Olivia valued the opportunity to participate in extensive field research exercises and learn the practical skills required for a successful career.

“My time at Murdoch was both memorable and valued. My best experiences were those out in the field undertaking practical work including sampling, surveying, and field exercises,” she said.

Olivia is thankful for the like-minded, driven peers, she now calls friends, that were part of her success, along with her own personal drive and hard work.

“Meeting like-minded, driven peers, who shared with me the good and tough times, was a highlight from my three years of study.”

She now looks forward to making a positive difference towards the health of our marine environment and continuing to evolve her knowledge.  

“As a Murdoch graduate, I would love to go on and work throughout the state in both marine management and research positions, with an aim to continue learning, constantly evolving my knowledge and broadening my experience.”

Sue Elliot
Sue said she was inspired to pursue a degree in nursing after her daughter was in and out of hospital for complex health issues. She not only got to see first hand the dedication, care, and kindness that nurses show every day, but witnessed how spirited her daughter was after everything she had to endure.

She said she had an incredible experience at Murdoch University, resulting in discovering her true self and demonstrating to her four children that they can achieve anything.

I discovered I had a profound love of acquiring knowledge and enjoyed immersing myself in learning something new every day. Murdoch has given me life-long friendships, and I will always cherish and recall my time spent at Murdoch University with fondness.”

Sue is now looks forward to fulfilling her dream - improving the quality of life for people diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment.

“I hope to give back and help people through the most challenging time, not only in their lives but also in their family’s lives,” she said.

“I also wanted to prove that despite not completing high school and the passage of 20 years of working and raising a family, I was determined to overcome any obstacles to fulfil my dream of achieving success in my chosen field.”

Jake Chaloner
Wanting to learn more about languages, Jake decided to study Japanese, describing it as a good starting point to Japanese literature and aesthetics. The decision sparked his curiosity to further his knowledge across anthropology and sociology, which saw him take on Asian Studies units.

A former professional musician, Jake said he credits his academic success to approaching problems as openly and creatively as possible and signing up to become a Student Wellbeing and Equity Ambassador, where he helped co-facilitate workshops and drop-in spaces for students.

Jake now looks forward to chasing an academic career conducting fieldwork and working with communities.

Catherine Flockhart
Wanting to combine her love of learning with the joy she gets helping others find their passion, were Catherine’s reasons to study teaching.

“The ability to combine my love of learning with the joy I get helping others to find that same enjoyment made obtaining my Bachelor of Education a no-brainer.”

“The content covered throughout the course was first-rate, the practical components of the course provided extensive opportunity to develop my practice and develop relationships within schools, and the support available from Murdoch staff was phenomenal.”

The mature-aged student attributed her success to the support of her husband and children, Murdoch staff and all the friends she made along the way.

“I was extremely lucky to be awarded the opportunity to attend a leadership conference in Malaysia, complete a practical placement teaching in Thailand, and to complete an internship in my final year of study, all of which contributed to developing a rich range of knowledge and experience.”

In terms of next steps, Catherine said she wants to advocate for student focused teaching and learning practices across the education system, hoping to work overseas one day.

Jack Collins
Jack decided to pursue a double major in computer science and cyber security and forensics, after being inspired by his uncle, a fellow Murdoch  alumni and software engineer.

“I joined the university straight out of high-school and I honestly could not have asked for a better university experience. The course work has been challenging and engaging while exposing me to a wide range of fields within my broad majors of Computer Science, Cyber Security and Forensics.”

Jack said he had an excellent university experience which included challenging coursework, helpful staff and even the opportunity to complete an internship that led to a full-time role job.

“The Murdoch staff, particularly the lecturers and tutors I have had, have gone above and beyond their duties to assist with learning.”

He is now looking forward to a career helping to protect Australian and global organisations.