Our community, your university
We're celebrating 25 years on the Coast and 50 years in the region. Meet our Central Coast graduates making a difference...
Celebrating Student Success
Transforming the lives of Central Coast residents through the delivery of world-class teaching, learning and research is a key focus of the University of Newcastle - Central Coast. In 2014 we celebrated our 25th anniversary of the commencement of teaching, at the Ourimbah Campus.
Explore the personal and professional journeys of 25 students who completed their university course or program at the Central Coast Campus.
Joanne McCarthy
Accidental journalist wins top media award
Winning Australian journalism's top award for her reports into alleged child sexual abuse would not have been possible for Joanne McCarthy, without the research and analytical skills she learned as part of her university degree.
Tim Silverwood
Education is the key to cleaner oceans
Central Coast environmentalist Tim Silverwood, believes education is the key to reversing the threat plastics and other garbage poses to the health and sustainability of our precious marine environments.
Jo Heighway
Success is more than a numbers game
Jo Heighway was honoured to be named the Australian Young Business Women of the Year in 2011, after launching her auditing business seven years earlier, from her Central Coast lounge room. Today, the entrepreneurial mum is driven to grow her online firm to be the largest of its kind in Australia.
Tim Knight
Using science to give Mariners a winning edge
Central Coast PhD student Tim Knight has kicked a winning career goal, in his role as the Head of Sport Science with 2013 A League champions, the Central Coast Mariners Football Club.
Bonnie Denness
Helping to build Australia's prosperity
University medallist Bonnie Denness is working alongside Ministers and senior public servants, as one of a handful of graduates employed by the Commonwealth Treasury.
Dr Diane Bull
Caring for the people who care
After more than 30 years immersed in the practice, scholarship and teaching of psychology, Australian of the Year nominee, Dr Diane Bull is most proud of the close relationships she has nurtured with her colleagues and students.
Karen Minto
Using people skills to facilitate better outcomes for the Central Coast
As a young girl, Karen Minto wanted to work in a career where she could help to solve problems. Today, the State government senior officer is making use of her skills and knowledge to help drive solutions and better outcomes for the Central Coast.
Tim Lynar
Researching ways to limit waste and energy use in IT
Finding ways to limit the energy consumption of information technology innovations is at the heart of Timothy Lynar's work with IBM Research.
Kazuma Honda
Fostering a sense of belonging for better health outcomes
Encouraging a sense of belonging in nursing students is at the heart of Kazuma Honda's work as a clinical professional, and of his research as a Prime Minister's Endeavour Awards scholar.
Jane McWilliam
Embracing the transformative power of change
Embracing change and driving herself to rise to new challenges, has defined the career of human resources professional, Jane McWilliam who has spent more than 30 years working in the local electricity industry.
Ibtihal Samarayi
Creative use of management skills
Ginny Gallegos likes to 'think outside the box'. Using the business knowledge and skills she gained from her university studies, Ginny is helping to manage and grow an international award-winning Central Coast creative agency. Ibtihal
Ginny Gallegos
Creative use of management skills
Ginny Gallegos likes to 'think outside the box'. Using the business knowledge and skills she gained from her university studies, Ginny is helping to manage and grow an international award-winning Central Coast creative agency.
Ben Wiggins
Giving children the right tools to succeed in life
Ben Wiggins is driven to be a positive influence in the lives of the young children that he teaches, providing them with the foundations in learning that will last a lifetime.
Erin Taylor
Driven to improve oral health for Indigenous kids
Erin Taylor is the first in her family to complete a university qualification. Now the Oral Health Therapist wants to use her skills to establish a charity to improve the dental health of Indigenous children.
Kylie Nowalinski
Inspiring a love of learning
Fostering a life-long love of literature and learning in her students, is the focus of University of Newcastle medallist Kylie Nowalinski, who is helping to grow the minds of secondary students on the Central Coast.
Karen Dimmock
Age is no barrier to studying your passion
Age is no barrier to pursuing a passion. This has been the motto of Central Coast grandmother Karen Dimmock, who came to university studies at a time in life when others may begin to think of slowing down.
Belinda Thompson
Harnessing the power of exercise to change lives
Belinda Thompson has seized the opportunity to gain a tertiary education later in life, and is now researching ways to use exercise to improve lower back pain as part of her PhD studies.
Mandi Palmer
Whetting appetites with science
Working behind the scenes for some of the world's biggest food companies, Mandi Palmer has combined her love of food science and nutrition to create a dynamic career that has her creating products to help feed the world.
Ron McGregor
Education is the key to better work-life balance
University study has given Central Coast marketing and event management expert Ron McGregor greater freedom when it comes to balancing the demands of his growing business and his desire to spend more time with
Carli Westmore
Education pathways lead to dream career in health
CJ Westmore is testament to the adage that with hard work and commitment you can achieve any goal. After finishing up her schooling early without year 12 high school qualifications, CJ found her future at university, and is now working in her dream job as a doctor.
Jennifer Mankelow
Better health begins with good oral health
Helping adults and children to find a better quality of life, by taking care of their oral health, is the professional focus of Golden Scaler Award winner Jennifer Mankelow.
Vincent Candrawinata
Passionate about improving the value of our food
The apple juice of tomorrow may be better for us, and generate more profits for producers thanks to the work of Vincent Candrawinata and researchers who are part of a ground-breaking Central Coast research partnership.
Annie Vanderwyk
Ensuring need for change is not lost in translation
Helping to overcome cultural differences, to facilitate better outcomes for Aboriginal people and whole communities, is the focus of Annie Vanderwyk's ground-breaking work with the Australian Red Cross.
Eleanore Turvey
Building a career in caring, one step at a time
Caring for the foot and lower limb health of the community, while focussing on the development of the next generation of podiatrists, is at the heart of Eleanore Turvey's work as a clinical professional.
Jaculin Perceval
Fear is no barrier to single mum's success
Jaculin Perceval overcame a phobia of needles, to graduate as one of the top nursing students in her university cohort. But for the single mother, her greatest achievement is how her success has inspired her children
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.