Alleviating homesickness through VU

Maria Nomelin
I would highly recommend VU to anyone who is looking to advance their career – it’s an institution that provides all the resources you need to succeed.

Maria Nomelin (Colombia)
Master of Counselling

As a psychologist and former international student, Maria Nomelin knows firsthand the signs and symptoms of homesickness.

After graduating from her Master of Counselling at Victoria University (VU) in 2019, Maria began providing online counselling services to young people, building on an intervention program that she implemented during her degree targeting homesickness in international students.

“These experiences were essential to put into practice what I learned in the classroom and helped me to improve my ability to work independently and as part of a team in different settings,” Maria, originally from Bogotá, Colombia, says.

“I found that VU has an excellent academic reputation, campuses with great facilities around Melbourne, and provides a positive environment for students from different backgrounds, which makes it easier for students to adjust to living away from home,” she says.

Having completed a Bachelor of Psychology with honours in Colombia and working as a psychologist for almost three years in clinical settings, Maria chose VU for her postgraduate studies because the course is “well structured, offers a comprehensive group of subjects and a balance between theory and practical learning”.

“Additionally, the program is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association which I think is fundamental for graduates to be competitive in the workforce.

“I also had the opportunity to access VU’s support services such as counselling, learning hubs, and professional mentoring.”

During her studies Maria completed an internship as a student counsellor at Brighton Secondary College, equipping her with extra skills and experience in diverse therapeutic approaches, which she now applies in her current role as Youth Support Worker at Uniting – one of Australia’s largest not-for-profit human services organisations.

“My experience as a psychologist in Colombia, as well as my recent studies in counselling, were strong points on my job application at Uniting.

“I would highly recommend VU to anyone who is looking to advance their career – it’s an institution that provides all the resources you need to succeed.”

Course studied

Master of Counselling