When Louise Prater left school in Year 10, she didn’t think she would ever go to university.
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Now 32, the Cessnock woman has been accepted into the dietetics degree at the University of Newcastle, thanks to the Uni4You program.
A project of The University of Newcastle’s Family Action Centre, Uni4You provides support for people who are considering enrolling into a tertiary preparation program like Open Foundation.
Uni4You team leader Michele Oshan said the program aims to build strong families and capable communities.
“Uni4You is designed to encourage the dreams and hopes of people and their families to continue learning,” Ms Oshan said.
“The project provides friendly free support groups in your local area, along with child-minding and access to textbooks.
“It also offers advice and career information to people thinking about university pathway programs such as Open Foundation, Yapug or Newstep.”
A mother-of-three, Ms Prater said she used to think university was “an unobtainable thing”.
But when the Uni4You coordinator gave a talk to parents and caregivers at Cessnock East Public School in 2014, she seized the opportunity.
She completed the Open Foundation course in 2015 and gained entry into the dietetics degree, which she has postponed until next year.
Ms Prater has continued to study nutrition online this year, and was proud to receive a Mayoral Academic Scholarship from Cessnock City Council in May.
She is now an ambassador for Uni4You, providing support for the current intake in Cessnock.
“Louise was determined to follow her dreams,” Ms Oshan said.
“She is a good role model to people in the group.”
Current participant Angela Solway agreed: “I wouldn’t have done Uni4You if it wasn’t for Louise,” she said.
Ms Solway is hoping to study nursing or biomedical science after she completes the Open Foundation course.
Suzanne Cairns, of Cliftleigh, took part in Uni4You and is now doing Open Foundation with her son.
She said Uni4You provides a safety net for people.
“They give you the tools you need, and they want you to succeed,” she said.
More than 80 people – mostly from Cessnock and Raymond Terrace – have participated in the workshops and support sessions offered through Uni4You since 2013.
The Cessnock Uni4You group meets on Thursdays at Koe-Nara Community Centre (Cessnock Public School) and the Hope Valley Church Front Room.
For more information, call Michele Oshan on 4921 7737.
