19-year-old Maddie R. from New South Wales wasn’t sure what she wanted to be when she grew up.

At 19, most of us don’t!

And despite her initial reservations around studying, Maddie’s now kicking goals in her CHC32015 - Certificate III in Community Services.

Uncertainty Around Study

At the start, Maddie had reservations about studying. She wasn’t ready to go from 0 to 100 with study commitments. 

But once she saw how we do things at Duke, she was sold.

“My employment consultant showed me how Duke was set up. I liked the way the modules were in text format. It seemed more self-paced and less intense than TAFE.”

Drawing on Lived Experience

Speaking with Maddy, it’s clear that helping others comes naturally to her, and that support is something close to her heart.

This is informed by her own lived experience.

“I was interested in doing some sort of support work or social work, and I felt community services was a good stepping stone towards that.”

“I’ve also got my own lived experience of disability and mental health which made me want to learn more about it and help others.”

What Maddy Loves About Duke

Teenagers have a reputation for always being on their phones, right?

Well, what if they’re using it for study… and not just playing Candy Crush?

That was an important part of the equation for Maddy, who loved the ability to study anywhere.

“I can study on my phone, and I can do it anywhere!” 

The conversational format is also a big plus.

“With the way that the course content is taught at Duke, I found that I actually learn and retain it better than other types of training.” 

She also loves how relatable the course content is, with case studies of people with lived experience sharing their own stories.

“That part made it super relatable and practical. It puts you in a real-life position and encourages you to think of your own answer if you were supporting someone.” 

And the excellent communication between her employment services provider and Duke didn’t go unnoticed, either.

“It felt nice that someone was in my corner, willing to advocate for me when, for example, I needed an extension – and that Duke was responsive to that.”

What’s Next for Maddie?

Maddie’s keeping her options open. She’s planning to continue her studies and complete a Cert IV in a similar field, and she’s also got her eye out for positions that appeal to her.

Her advice? 

“Make sure you plan a good schedule for studying. It makes it a lot easier when you set specific hours.”

Wise words, Maddie! Keep on learning!