Off-campus graduate

Lauren Hewitt
Elite Athlete

Bachelor of Science, Monash University

Studying science by off-campus learning allowed me to successfully combine my academic and elite athletic achievements. Without the OCL program it would have been extremely difficult to do the lab component of the science degree, while travelling overseas to compete for months at a time.

The support of the lecturers in this degree was amazing, understanding my commitment to my sport. They made the off campus course fun and rewarding and were always contactable. There were even instances when they were prepared to change assignment deadlines if they were during the middle of the Olympic games.

I enjoyed my time during the residential school laboratories, meeting new people, from all different areas of life. Even though it was a busy week working 9 to 5 in the lab, it really made the degree; getting the hands on experience.

I really enjoyed mixing up my degree to include some journalism subjects along with my major in biochemistry. My degree has given me a good analytical grounding and I feel the skills I have learnt along this journey have put me in good stead for a future career, maybe in scientific journalism, who knows! I was introduced to the CEO of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and found their work extremely interesting, this is something I would love to be involved with. I am currently working in Marketing (Sponsorship Consultant) part time at Medibank Private which allows me the flexibility to continue my busy training schedule. Maybe when I have achieved my fourth Olympics I might venture into the research field.