Sarah Hurley

For Sarah Hurley, studying architecture has been about more than just a career change. It has been about finding something challenging, rewarding and worth pursuing.

“I was working in an administrative role that was boring and that was going nowhere,” she says. “I wanted to find work that I was challenged by and enjoyed.”

Now a part-time Bachelor of Design (Architecture) student, Sarah is balancing her studies alongside work and raising her three children. She has been working towards her degree over several years and is set to graduate at the end of this year.

“I’ve been working on my degree for a few years and will graduate at the end of this year,” she explains

Sarah says the structure of her degree allowed her to progress through her studies while balancing work and family commitments.

“My degree was offered as a combination of online and face-to-face courses,” she says. “I was able to get many online courses completed before reducing my work hours and going to campus.”

Throughout her degree, Sarah has taken every opportunity to get involved and build her skills, achieving strong academic results and gaining valuable experience. She was recognised for this with the 2025 College Commendation Award, which acknowledges students who consistently achieve high academic results.

She has also contributed to student learning as a PASS leader and gained real-world experience through studio and special projects. These experiences have allowed her to build confidence while connecting with others in the field.

“The special project I did last year was great experience and gave me an opportunity to meet a few key people from industry,” she says.

For Sarah, the hands-on nature of the degree and the support from teaching staff have been key to her experience.

“Super hands on, and supportive. Tutors from all architectural backgrounds, loads of experience to be shared,” she says.

Balancing study, work and family life requires organisation and perspective, something Sarah has developed throughout her degree.

“Make a list, start assessments early, get feedback at every tutor session,” she says. “Not every assessment will go perfectly, but it’s all part of building your skills and confidence.”

Looking ahead, Sarah plans to gain industry experience locally before continuing her studies. She sees this as the next step in building her career in architecture.

“I want to work in industry locally for a year then start my Masters degree,” she says.

For those considering architecture, she sees the degree as a strong foundation with a wide range of opportunities, particularly for students still exploring their interests.

“It’s a great foundation course if you’re not sure what kind of design you’re into… we also do construction courses and heaps of graphic design work,” she says.

Sarah Hurley

Balancing study, work and family life, Sarah is building a new career in architecture while developing practical skills and strong academic results.

The special project I did last year was great experience and gave me an opportunity to meet a few key people from industry.