Student Highlights
Making the unobtainable, obtainable

Torres Strait Islander and mother of two, Zabowie entered university as a non-school leaver through the Yapug program at the age of 32.

After completing her HSC in 2006, Zabowie was offered an Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES) traineeship through ANZ in Singleton, and worked in the finance industry until having her first child.

“I worked small jobs here and there until I had my second child. I decided that my family was complete, so I started thinking about pursuing a career again. However, finance wasn’t something I was interested in going back to,” she said.

Instead, Zabowie felt drawn to human psychology and the science of the mind. But the idea of taking on a tertiary degree felt impossible.

“I realised around 28 years of age, psychology was something I was very interested in, however going to university was something that I thought I could never achieve. I believed I wasn’t smart enough to obtain tertiary level education and I left that career idea on the back burner, an unobtainable goal, so I thought,” she said.

It wasn't until a close relative was diagnosed and hospitalised with schizophrenia that Zabowie’s passion was reignited.

“I went on the University of Newcastle website and read about their pathway programs. This led me to read about the Wollotuka Institute and the Yapug program that they offered for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” she said.

“I contacted Hannah Pipe who explained the Yapug program to me over the phone. I was sold, the program sounded like it would help me to get to where I wanted to be. Still doubtful though whether I could go to university, I decided to take the plunge anyways. And in 2021, I was enrolled into the Yapug program.”

Reflecting on the highlights of Yapug, Zabowie holds dear the relationships with her cohort and academics, as well as expanding her knowledge through study.

Feeling prepared for her undergraduate degree, Zabowie was able to transition into a Bachelor of Psychological Science with ease.

“ I was prepared for the workload and could manage it quite well. I could do any assessment from giving presentations, to report writing to writing essays, as this was all embedded in the Yapug program curriculum where they taught me how to do all of it,” she said.

Through Wollotuka, Zabowie was able to find the sense of belonging she had been searching for.

“Yapug not only helped me learn and develop my academic skills and how to study and meet the demands of tertiary level education, but they also helped me personally to build my self-worth, to build on my cultural identity, they gave me a place of belonging, a place where I felt safe, a place where I could feel confident and supported,” she said.

Since completing Yapug – and being awarded the Yapug Prize for her excellent results – Zabowie has started a Bachelor of Psychological Science. She is passionate about achieving her goals and becoming a fully qualified clinical psychologist.

“I truly believe I am in the right degree, and it feels amazing knowing that I am working towards achieving my newfound dream, especially when I previously thought it was an unobtainable goal,” she said.

Now working as a permanent part-time research assistant in the School of Medicine and Public Health, Zabowie is working towards understanding the human brain and making connections within the industry.

“The program isn’t just about learning academic skills and helping you get into your degree, the program also helps you learn about yourself, your culture and helps shape and build your character, helping you to become a better version of yourself,” she said.

`

Zabowie Mills

Feeling like university was an unobtainable goal, Zabowie had almost given up on her dream of becoming a clinical psychologist. Then she discovered Yapug.

Yapug not only helped me learn and develop my academic skills and how to study and meet the demands of tertiary level education, but they also helped me personally to build my self-worth, to build on my cultural identity, they gave me a place of belonging, a place where I felt safe, a place where I could feel confident and supported.