Daughter inspires mum’s educational journey

Gladstone-based student Louisa Nicholson never expected to go to university, until a moment watching her daughter graduate changed everything.

“I was watching her being conferred and she said ‘Mum, there's people here who are graduating who are your age, you can do this too’ and she actually inspired me to go and do STEPS,” Louisa said.

Louisa enrolled in CQUniversity’s Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) program as a mature-aged student, before progressing into a Bachelor of Psychological Science - setting the foundation for her current career ambitions.

Her path, however, has not been without challenges. Before completing her degree, Louisa experienced the loss of her mother, who had been unwell for some time.

“Mum taught herself to read and write, so she was so proud of me,” Louisa recalls. 

“She didn't see me end up getting my degree, she died just before I got it, but she was so proud of me, what I was doing.”

Louisa received a scholarship during her studies, which she credits as being both financially and emotionally transformative. 

The support allowed her to reduce her working hours and spend more time caring for her mother, including attending medical appointments together.

Now a strong advocate for scholarships, Louisa encourages students to explore the range of opportunities available. She shares information at every opportunity, highlighting that scholarships are accessible to a wide range of students - not just those with top academic results.

“Scholarships can support students in a range of ways, from helping with everyday living expenses such as rent and groceries, to assisting with the cost of uniforms and study materials,” she said. 

“They can also cover travel and accommodation for compulsory residential schools and provide important financial support for students experiencing hardship.”

Students can apply for more than one scholarship at a time, be awarded multiple scholarships simultaneously, and submit applications throughout their degree.

When it comes to writing an application, Louisa said the key was to approach it like an assignment and tell a clear, authentic story. 

“A scholarship application is essentially about telling your own story, with a focus on carefully addressing each of the required criteria,” she explained. 

By methodically working through every point and ensuring nothing is missed, Louisa said she treated the process as she would any assessment task - ultimately building a strong application that clearly demonstrated her experiences, strengths and potential.

Louisa’s academic interests have evolved over time. While she initially wanted to become a nurse, she later developed a passion for mental health, which guided her studies across psychology, health and business disciplines.

Today, Louisa is working as a mental health peer worker with Queensland Health, advocating for system change in the mental health sector while continuing to explore her post-graduate study options.

She hopes her story will inspire others to take the first step towards study – and to see scholarships as an achievable and worthwhile part of that journey.

For more information about scholarships, visit CQUniversity’s Scholarship page.