Thread: Scariest email of my Life so far

Well done. Those voices in our heads often go the negative hey!

Question... what’s the realistic expectation you will clear the HECS before retirement? I’m all for study at mature age, just wondering how they measure when it will be paid back?

Good for you. Best of luck for the future, you deserve it.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Well done. Those voices in our heads often go the negative hey!

Question... what’s the realistic expectation you will clear the HECS before retirement? I’m all for study at mature age, just wondering how they measure when it will be paid back?

Hello Tombie,

Thanks for your reply - yes self-talk ... the trouble is that it was not without other voices from some others in academia also commenting on. Anyway. I can give good advice about supervision. What to look out for.

HECS - put it this way. I was able to pay off my mortgage last week. Apart from a slight addiction to old motor vehicles I am pretty frugal.

I figured if I landed an APS Level 6 job and if I saved 50 percent of the wage. I would only have to work about three years. Then goodbye HECS. This would also represent the last bit of money I owe any sod. Currently every single job I have applied for in Australia and overseas has recently been accompanied by an email saying, "the recruitment process for this vacancy has been suspended until further notice".

I was encouraged by my former colleagues at the Local Area Coordinator for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to apply to become a NDIS Registered Service Provider as a Supports Coordinator specialising in Autism. As a sub-manager I taught all our staff about Autism and Access Request Forms - the gateway form to the NDIS. Apparently there is a lack of people who provide services who know much about Autism. In my previous role I assisted local business navigate their way through successfully becoming NDIS Registered Providers. I have also been approached by people within our rural district to become an NDIS provider - for they find the situation about Autism knowledgeable people even more scarce.

I have also had my conference papers chosen to be delivered at International Autism conferences. I would liie to crack into the Professional Development for school teachers circuit. So apart from self-isolating by tinkering with old Land Rovers. Once I recover from last night's email - the one that I only opened this morning... I will start the ball rolling with the NDIS Registered Provider application. As I used to describe to local people starting out as independent service providers - the registration process is like eating an elephant. It is also a process of attrition. Plus a great cure for insomnia. I hope no NDIS registration people are reading this....

In my boat - I had to leave my chosen vocation because dust and dirt associated with Parks and Gardens did not benefit my maintaining my eyesight. I had to retrain. I finished my undergraduate degree. I applied for jobs all round Australia. I missed out on Graduate Entry with a Federal Government department by one place. It was also the first time that nobody declined their offer in that department's history. So I went back and did my Honours year. I applied for jobs all round Australia. I also applied for my PhD scholarship. The approval for the PhD scholarship came in first.

I had never intended to go to university. So if someone said to me before I started uni that I would undertake a PhD, I would have laughed in their face.

I describe myself as an "Accidental Academic". I still relate to myself more as a tradie than I do an academic. My research is applied. It is not theoretically based - I developed a procedure that I have trialled and had examined by people with Autism and their family members. I asked them to look at my stuff and for them to tear it apart. My work has been supported as being beneficial to them. If it was not practically based and able to succeed I would have torn everything up and started from square one again. I am not a theoretician. I am an applied researcher. I am also insane and do not know how to give in.

Does this sound attractive enough to pursue your studies Tombie? :0) I can say that there is no time in your life that if you secure a scholarship, that someone - if everything goes right with your supervision - gives you three years to do nothing but research as subject area that you are passionate about. I have been able to meet some of the finest people and have them share their lives with me. I have been able to attend international conferences and deliver papers that I have had audiences ranging from five people to having people take up all the seat and have standing room only filling up corridors. My first ever trip and having the need to get a passport was driven by my studies.

I can even give "how not to advice" and "things to look out for otherwise you will be totally screwed" tips all from the benefit of personal first-hand experience. Not forgetting a list of "If your university does not offer this - and this ...do not wait too long - bolt and go to another damn university"
advice.

Umm - Probably too much information - aye Tombie... Flash to a Dave Allen sketch of cobweb covered skeletons of people who were bored to death...

Oopsy - Just checked the highest level of APS 6 ... make that two years with 50 percent going to the ATO. That was Gross not Nett. Hmm make that 2.5 years then.

Kind regards
Lionel

Fantastic, thats great news. No doubt it will be a busy 6 weeks, but best wishes with it. I have no doubt that your work will meet their expectations and your research will benefit the communities collective knowledge. Let us know how you go and I'd actually love to hear about it one day.

With great excitment, one of my friends after a long amount of time, a number of crisis, a crashed hard drive and also grave fears that the research want going to work also recenty gained her Ph.D. Hers was on predicting sheep genetics. You're on the final run home!

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Fantastic, thats great news. No doubt it will be a busy 6 weeks, but best wishes with it. I have no doubt that your work will meet their expectations and your research will benefit the communities collective knowledge. Let us know how you go and I'd actually love to hear about it one day.

With great excitment, one of my friends after a long amount of time, a number of crisis, a crashed hard drive and also grave fears that the research want going to work also recenty gained her Ph.D. Hers was on predicting sheep genetics. You're on the final run home!

Hello Slunnie,

Sheep genetics. After failing to secure a trade after leaving school. I did a technician level Associate Diploma in Farm Management Horticulture. I specialised in Amenity Horticulture - Parks and Gardens. Well before that, I was a member of the Goulburn and District Hydatid Eradication Committee when I was 15. Goulburn is sheep country and especially around Yass. I worked as a wool store presser in the Goulburn Wool Classing facility. Sheep will still struggle to live with half their guts ripped out. I have seen cattle with out a single mark on them and no signs of disease just give up and die. Sheep are under-rated animals.

Please express my congratulations to your friend!

Kind regards
Lionel

Hello Again Tombie,

I just remembered that I have been asked about going back to study by mature aged people before. I do not claim to give sage advice at all.

I ask them how old they are?
I then ask how long do you think you will live for?
How long will it take you if you only do one or two units a semester to finish your degree?
I then ask how many years of regret will you have if you do not study?
Ask yourself how much different your life could have been if you did spend that time to study?
Think about laying on your bed about to take your last gasp of breath. Will it be spent with the words ... "if only!"

I then leave it up to them to provide their own answers in private. It is no business of mine.

Did I say that sometimes I can be a total [insert your appropriate word here]

Kind regards
Lionel

Thanks Lionel,

Again congratulations on your success with your studies.
And thanks for answering those other questions - I did take the time to read it

I did a similar analysis looking at further Engineering/Business studies. Jobs potentially gained and income vs debt was immediately a big negative. What I make doing what I do already, take in losses whilst studying and cost of courses... nope.

I enjoy learning, not so much a fan of formal environments though

As you have realised, they don't call a PhD - 'Permanent Head Damange' for nothing! The very best of luck with it Lionel.