Berkdeniz Cavusoglu
Cav arrived in Australia in 1999, aged 5, as a refugee from Turkey. As a young child and without English speaking skills, he and his mother initially spent time detained in Port Hedland Detention Centre before being settled in Perth. Cav admits that he didn’t do very well in school, for many reasons, but more so related to his circumstance than his aptitude or love for learning.
After time spent ‘proudly’ volunteering for the West Australian State Emergency Service and Rural Fire Service during his teens, Cav decided to join the Australian Army, determined to provide a more stable financial and living situation for himself and his mother. Starting his army training at 18 and relocating to New South Wales to the Singleton School of Infantry in the process, life was starting to feel more stable for Cav. But, after four years in the army, he was medically discharged due to injury. After years of trying to find his new identity and direction in life, Cav eventually enrolled in Open Foundation at the University of Newcastle.
Cav was drawn to humanities and social science subjects, but soon discovered the Excellence through Equity Pathway to Medicine – a scheme that provides up to six places in the University of Newcastle’s Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (Joint Medical Program) for high achieving Open Foundation students. With this goal in mind, Cav earned one of the six places to commence studies in 2023, as well as a scholarship in the highly competitive and prestigious Ma & Morley Program.
As he now works to complete his degree in Medicine, Cav notes that one of the central impacts that starting a pathway into University had was to help him realise that you should “never be afraid to change your path” – to reach for the life that you really want.
Photo by: Billy Callaghan
Berkdeniz Cavusoglu
Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine
Arriving in Australia as a refugee, Cav soon developed a passion for helping others seeing him join the Australian Army at 18, and now our Joint Medical Program.
Never be afraid to change your path.
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.