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My Australia Awards Story: Adventure of a lifetime
What are your most memorable experiences living and studying in Australia?
Living in Australia, I got to experience four different seasons. I especially love seeing the trees change from season to season. I love how diverse Australia is, and this has greatly impacted my studies as it opened my mind to different perspectives about experiences of people from across the globe. Moreover, people are so kind to everyone that it inspired me to pay it forward through volunteering at events within Canberra.
What makes Australia a good place for postgraduate education?
The Australian education system is world-class. They encourage students to be critical thinkers. Further, the facility in the university allows students to thrive in their respective fields. Another valuable aspect that Australian universities have is ensuring the wellbeing of students by providing accessible support mechanisms.
As Filipino scholar, what are you most proud of?
There was an instance when a person from a different country talked to me and correctly guessed that I was a Filipino. When I asked him how he knew, he told me that I was kind, polite, and helpful. He said that a defining characteristic of all the Filipinos he met is our willingness to help those in need (and always with a smile!). That moment made me so proud to be known as a Filipino.
Give one word to describe your Australia Awards journey.
Adventure!
Or to quote Coldplay, "Adventure of a Lifetime".
Empowered by your Australian education, how do you plan to make a difference in your field, community, or organisation in the Philippines?
I intend to apply my learnings, observations on best practices and lived experiences in Australia to how we do things in the Philippines. After all, if Australia already did that (best practices), we can too!
Patricia Villamin completed her Master of Public Administration from the Australian National University in 2024. She is currently a Supervising Budget and Management Specialist at the Department of Budget and Management.
