How Eliza went from low ATAR to high achiever

Eliza Kandell fought back from a low score to find her career calling and success through VU's Bachelor of Youth Work.

"When I graduated from high school I was so far from the ATAR score I'd hoped for. I was lost and had no idea what to do with my future. I was very lucky that my best friend took it upon herself to research my next step even though I had given up. She discovered VU's Bachelor of Youth Work and thought it sounded perfect for me. As always she was right. By half way through semester one I realised that I was hooked and had found my passion.

Through VU I completed a placement at The Youth Junction Inc. Two months into my internship, I was offered a full-time position as a Youth Access and Justice Case Manager. Throughout 2017, I played a major role in developing and operating a new program funded by the Department of Justice and Regulation. In January of 2018 I took up the challenge of establishing and running the new The Youth Junction Inc. Broadmeadows office. It has been a huge success so far.

I always found VU to be an inclusive, diverse and a non-judgemental space to study and the University provided me with the opportunity for workplace learning through my placement. This was imperative; without it I wouldn't be where I am now."

Course studied

Bachelor of Youth Work

Browse all our youth work and education courses.