Student Story – Lauren Bittner

Qualification 
Master of Mental Health  –  La Trobe University

What has been your learning journey to date? 
I’ve had so many career journeys so far! I entered tertiary education as a mature age student 12 years ago and commenced a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Charles Sturt University in Albury. I did this full time whilst raising my daughter, caring for my elderly mother who was living independently at the time and our family also ran a small business. Never say you can’t do something as you never know your strength when you are focussed, determined and motivated! I completed my undergrad within the expected timeframe and then worked for 5 years prior to moving into mental health and enrolling in the Master of Mental Health. I also see myself as a role model for others and embracing life as a learning journey. Part of my current work involves cognitive assessments so I know how important it is to keep those brain cells active.

Why did you choose your degree and what do you enjoy the most about it? 
I wanted to build on my undergraduate degree of Occupational Therapy and move into the specialised area of mental health with confidence and the support of additional knowledge and formalised learning. I chose a Master in Mental Health at La Trobe University because it was appropriate to the public mental health setting and the subjects of the course ticked most of the boxes I needed. The most enjoyable part of the course was the fact it was directly applicable to my workplace so I was able to draw on case studies and real world situations in my assignments. I was also able to discuss conditions, theories etc with my more experienced colleagues to delve deeper into topics. I really appreciate practical and applied learning. There was also the added benefit of this course being entirely online, so I could fit it in around my full time work.

How important is having the CUC in your local town to you and why? 
The CUC was an absolute gem of a find and we are so lucky to have this space locally to study in. Having a quiet space away from the mayhem, job lists and interruptions of home was so appreciated. It was also beneficial to have a climate controlled and distraction free space – with the addition of a functioning printer and reliable internet into the mix. These study areas are easily accessible when you are close to a university campus, but so many of us are studying online (my Masters was wholly online) or some distance away from the campuses and library facilities – which was the case for my undergraduate degree.