Local talent studying at the Cassowary Coast University Centre (CCUC) has been recognised on the national stage, with mother of two Katherine (Kate) Mitterer named University Student of the Year by the Financial Advice Association of Australia and UniSuper.
Studying a Bachelor of Business with the University of South Australia (now Adelaide University) at the CCUC in Innisfail, Kate’s path to this award started somewhere unexpected – she didn’t finish high school, and at 22 she dreamed of buying her family home when her parents decided to sell. She wasn’t in a financial position to do so, and it pushed her on an unforgettable journey.
By 27, Kate was working through credit card debt which led to teaching herself to budget and save. When her partner, a third-generation Cassowary Coast local, helped her land a job in the mines, her income changed overnight. They soon bought their home, renovated it themselves, and paid it off before their first baby arrived, building the life they wanted right here in the region. During pregnancy, Kate realised all those years of self-taught financial literacy could help others and decided to go to university.
“I was studying from home before the centre opened, yet it was very lonely”, Kate said. “Then I found the CCUC and things changed in a big way. I’ve got people around me now who are all doing amazing things – other students, local support from staff like Justin and Jade. We help each other out. I’ve made friends there. That connection – it’s had a huge impact on my mental health. Some days are tough with two little kids, but I walk into that space and I remember why I’m doing this.”
The CCUC is where Kate studies while staying close to her family and community. With her son now in kindy and daughter in daycare, Kate studies at the Centre most days, working toward her degree with plans to run financial literacy workshops for other students and community members.
“My kids see me study, they see me work hard, and they’re learning that you can change your path whenever you decide to,” Kate said. “I want other locals to have what we’ve built – that security, that freedom to make choices.”
VPG Regional Uni Centre Coordinator Justin Brennan said Kate’s award reflects the calibre of students at the Centre and the strength of community-based regional education.
“This award is huge – not just for Kate, but for what it says about regional students and what we’re building here,” Mr Brennan said. “She’s done the work, built relationships, shown up for herself and for others. This is a proud moment for the Cassowary Coast – proof we’re growing our own professionals who know this region, care about it, and lead on a national level.”
“With the new year underway, we want students to know this space is here,” Mr Brennan said. “No matter where you’re starting from – Year 12 school leavers, mature-aged students, career-changers – come in and find your people. Kate’s story shows what can happen when that support is around you.”
The CCUC supports over 100 students studying across Australian universities and vocational institutions and is open to any regional student studying post-secondary courses at no cost. The Centre provides facilities, high-speed internet, and academic and wellbeing support in a collaborative campus-like environment.
The CCUC is an initiative of Vocational Partnerships Group, backed by Cassowary Coast Regional Council and the Australian Government through the Regional University Study Hubs Program.