She was in the parking lot when the phone rang – Ann Zhao could feel her heart pumping when she answered the call.
She’d just stopped with her family to get some refreshments on the drive back from Brisbane when a voice on the other end of the line told her she was successful – Deloitte was offering her a graduate auditor position.
“I was so proud of myself,” Ann says. “I actually got accepted.
“I still get that feeling when I talk about it – I have goosebumps.”
A job offer can be a defining memory for anyone. But for Ann, understanding her past goes some to contextualizing this memory.
Education can be like climbing a mountain
Born in a small village in the mountainous southwestern province of Sichuan, Ann’s parents spent much of their life working away in metropolitan areas to earn money to send back home – a common and defining feature of rural life in China for many families.
Ann says her parents wanted her to build a better life for herself.
Ann, who was raised primarily by her grandparents in her early years, understood this, working hard at school before graduating to enrol in Sichuan’s Xi Hua University – studying business, with an English-language focus.
“I wanted to study English because it would open up the world to me,” Ann says.
While she was studying, a life-changing event happened – she met her future husband.
An Aussie from the Sunshine Coast, he’d stopped in Chengdu during his travels through the China, meeting Ann in a meet-cute moment while they were both waiting for a taxi.
Ann showed him around the city, the pair developing a connection that would stretch across oceans and time.
Her future husband left to continue travelling soon after their encounter but the pair kept in contact for the remainder of Ann’s study.
“He travelled back and forth to China until I graduated,” Ann says.
New shores
When she graduated, Ann was granted a visa to visit Australia – after getting rejected twice prior during her studies – moving to live on the Sunshine Coast with her partner and his parents.
“I was very excited,” Ann says. “Growing up in a small village, moving to another country is something I never counted on happening.
“But I was scared too – when I landed in Australia, I had no plans.”
Despite her qualifications, Ann struggled to find work so when she saw a TAFE Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping, she took a chance, enrolling in the program.
Ann excelled, giving her the confidence to apply for a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) at UniSC.
By this time, she was living in Gympie with her husband and his family and their two kids.
“I really loved the support I received while studying my degree,” Ann says.
“My professors were always there for me – they were always happy to respond to questions and help with whatever I needed.
“I really loved the flexibility of studying too – I could do some of my work online or attend campus when I needed to. I had a great experience.”
Ann excelled in her degree so much that when the big four accounting firms started advertising for graduate positions, one of her professors suggested she should apply.
Because she was living in Gympie at the time, Ann was initially reluctant but changed her mind after being gently persuaded by Accounting senior lecturer Dr Ratna Paudyal.
“Graduate programs attract thousands of applicants for a limited number of places, so it’s not just technical ability that gets you noticed,” Dr Paudyal says.
“Students who show genuine curiosity, strong communication and adaptability have an edge.
“Employers are increasingly looking for people who can navigate complexity, learn quickly and contribute right away.”
Ann chose Deloitte.
As Dr Paudyal mentioned, application processes are extremely competitive, with applicants needing to navigate tests and interviews before successful candidates are offered a position.
“I really enjoy working here,” Ann says. “Everyone is willing to help – I feel like there is a lot of support from everybody.
“The graduate cohort is really tight too – there’s a really strong bond there.”
Parting thoughts
For anyone who’s considering university study, Ann has a piece of advice.
“Give it go – even if it’s exploring a pathway to uni,” she says.
“The amount of support that you get actually makes the journey so much worth it. I really encourage everyone to give it a shot.”
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