One small step, a lifetime of change

By Isis Symes

When Wendy Augutis first stepped onto CQUniversity’s Bundaberg campus over 20 years ago, she carried more than nerves. 

She carried uncertainty, responsibility - and hope.

Wendy was raising three young children (Scott, Luke and Geoff), navigating personal upheaval and stepping into a world she never imagined would be hers. 

University, at that point, felt less like a destination and more like a distant possibility.

“I left school at the age of 15 so because of that, I did STEPS (Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies),” Wendy explained.

“I started STEPS in 2002 and university was very new to me. I didn’t know anything about referencing, assignment-writing or even senior maths - Karen Seary (Associate Dean of the School of Access Education) supported me in making my transition into university studies,” she said.

“Everything was alien. It was like I’d come from another planet.” 

For Wendy, starting university was a decision that would quietly change the trajectory of her life - and her family’s.

Born in Belgium, Wendy migrated to Australia at the age of eight, arriving without a word of English. 

Like many migrant children of her era, she was dropped into a classroom and expected to “work it out.” 

Decades later, the memory still resonates - particularly now, as a grandmother herself.

“When my granddaughter turned eight, I realised that was me,” she says. 

“I just wanted to give that little girl a hug,” she said while holding back tears. 

STEPS became not just an academic bridge, but an emotional one. 

Wendy credits early support - particularly from Karen - as instrumental in helping her persist during a time marked by financial strain, family breakdown and self-doubt.

“I remember going into Karen’s office and just crying,” Wendy recalled. 

“She listened. She told me it was normal. That support made all the difference.” 

What followed was a remarkable academic journey: a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (2003–2006), a Bachelor of Nursing (completed in 2016), and a Master of Research completed in 2023 - all through CQUniversity.

Along the way, Wendy’s determination also quietly shaped those around her. 

In 2024, Wendy watched her youngest son Geoff graduate with a PhD where he crossed the stage at the same university where her own journey began.

“It was one of my proudest moments,” she said. 

“Not just because of the PhD, but because of everything it represented.” 

Now more than two decades since setting foot at CQU, Wendy walks those same campus paths as an Associate Lecturer in Nursing and Midwifery - an outcome she still describes as something she “has to pinch herself” to believe. 

Today, Wendy brings her lived experience into the classroom, meeting students with empathy, realism and encouragement.

“I understand how overwhelming it can feel,” she explained. 

“But I also know what people are capable of when they trust themselves.” 

At 64, Wendy is still building. 

Alongside teaching and research, she has trained as a yoga instructor, teaches weekly classes, and remains deeply curious about the world around her.

“I don’t think learning ever stops,” she said. 

“It’s about staying open, staying curious and becoming the best version of yourself.” 

For those considering STEPS or returning to study later in life, Wendy offers simple advice earned through experience: “Trust yourself. Trust the journey. Don’t let people - or fear - limit you. Sometimes you just have to step forward and let it unfold.” 

For Wendy Augutis, that first step into CQUniversity wasn’t just the start of a degree. 

It was the beginning of a life she once couldn’t imagine - and now she helps others believe it is possible.