"I’ve always wished to join the healthcare sector because I want to make changes in people’s lives. Having chosen audiology, I believe communication is important for us as human beings and I hope to help people to reconnect with others."
Jolly started the Master of Clinical Audiology in 2019 after completing the Bachelor of Speech, Hearing and Language Science in Sydney, and high school back home in Hong Kong.
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Why the Master of Clinical Audiology?
I’ve always wished to join the healthcare sector because I want to make changes in people’s lives. Having chosen audiology, I believe communication is important for us as human beings and I hope to help people to reconnect with others.
The fact that audiology is a people-oriented profession, we, as student audiologists get to meet clients from different backgrounds and also across the age groups in the very beginning of the course during clinical placements.
We started our clinical placement as early as the first semester, we also work at external clinics/hospitals from time to time and there are also overseas placement opportunities. Students are paired up randomly in each placement so that we get to know everyone – in this way, it’s easier to build connections with my colleagues and more importantly, we can learn from each other.
Audiology is a people-oriented profession in that we meet diverse clients every day; I have improved a lot in my communication skills. Although working in real-life situations can be stressful, I have been enjoying it still because I get to see various cases and obtain hands-on experiences.
Why the University of Melbourne?
The University of Melbourne is a very prestigious university and is particularly renowned for its Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. As an international student, I am not sure where I will end up developing my career path; what I know is, however, studying with the University of Melbourne will bring us endless opportunities around the world thanks to the outstanding academic and employer reputation.
University highlights
One of my goals was to get out of my comfort zone by participating in more activities. I have joined peer mentoring this year as I thought I would share my experience and give back. I am also looking to be part of the UMSU International Student Ambassadors to meet new friends and make the most out of my uni life.
Transition to university:
The transition from my hometown, Hong Kong, to Melbourne, Australia was fantastic. Studying abroad could sound intimidating, especially if it is your first time travelling alone. However, everyone has been very nice and helpful. There are also heaps of cultural events/festivals going on in the city – there is absolutely no excuse for getting bored!
I went to several seminars and the Grad Expo when I first started my postgraduate course and they were very informative in helping me to know more about the campus, different student support services and set expectations.
Advice for students
In terms of academic work, make sure to organise your schedule well and be on track. One important thing is: don’t be afraid to reach out to people, be that having discussions with classmates or asking professors questions. Also, create and seize opportunities for yourself and be open to try out different things!