Written by Natalie Mullins
Four international experiences weren’t something I imagined when I first started studying online at Charles Sturt, but somehow, each opportunity has led to the next, and you may be wondering how it all happened.
It began in Timor-Leste in 2023 with a New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Grant, followed by Cambodia in 2024, also supported by an NCP Mobility Grant. I then spent 10 months in Malaysia as an NCP Scholar, and now I am in Vietnam with the support of the Crawford Fund.
My first two trips to Timor-Leste and Cambodia were with the same Charles Sturt supervisor. I was fortunate enough to build a connection with someone I really looked up to. Knowing my interests and that I have never been very good at saying no to international opportunities, this supervisor suggested I investigate her team’s project in Vietnam, with the possibility of completing my Honours research there. I was invited to attend the project’s symposium in Vietnam, where I met the research team and explored the possibilities for my own project.
I returned to Australia at the beginning of the year knowing I wanted to return, but unsure how I would make it happen. Thankfully, through discussions with my supervisory team, I was introduced to the Crawford Fund Student Awards, which support students wanting to incorporate an international component into their studies. With the support of my supervisors, I submitted an application. While awaiting the outcome of my application, I picked up as many shifts as possible, balancing near-full-time work with my Honours studies and the preparation required for the overseas experiment. When I heard that I had received the award, a weight was lifted from my shoulders.
As an online student, seeking these opportunities isn’t necessarily easy. I’m not walking past a noticeboard on campus or having a conversation with a classmate or lecturer who happens to mention an opportunity. Instead, I’ve had to seek opportunities out, build relationships with my lecturers and supervisors, and be willing to ask questions. Sometimes, despite how daunting it is, you just have to say yes, even if you aren’t sure how you are going to make it happen.
Looking back, I never planned for these four international experiences. Each one has happened because of a combination of saying yes, staying curious, and having people around me who encouraged me to pursue opportunities I might not otherwise have considered.
One unexpected challenge has been not really knowing what comes next.
For the past few years, I’ve always returned home with the next thing lined up, meaning I could go straight into saving and preparing for the next opportunity. This time is different. I’ll come home, submit my thesis, enjoy a few events I’ve been looking forward to, and then… see what happens.
Surprisingly, I am quite happy with that.
The past few years have been full of studying, working, travelling, and saying yes to incredible opportunities. As exciting as it has all been, it has also been exhausting. I think a proper rest is well overdue, and I have no doubt that whatever opportunity comes next will be worth the wait and uncertainty.
Hopefully, one day, I’ll be able to build a career in research and share my passion and experiences with future students. Whether that means an international postgraduate program, a graduate role or eventually a PhD, exactly how I get there is still unknown. And I think that’s part of the adventure.
I know that for many people, the idea of studying or undertaking research overseas feels scary. In reality, no matter how many times you do it, those nerves never really disappear. Every experience means adapting to new people, a new language, different food, unfamiliar routines, and a completely different way of life, all while trying to keep up with your studies.
But if there is one thing I have learned through these four international experiences, it’s that the discomfort of stepping outside your comfort zone is almost always outweighed by the people you meet, the lessons you learn, and the memories you bring home.
I wouldn’t change it for the world.
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