The Murray River Study Hub has seen our first career success story emerge in Daniella Romeo. This Loxton-based high achiever has landed an impressive full-time trainee position at Madden Accountants, in just her second year of university.
In her first year of studying a double degree (Accounting and Business) online through the hub, Daniella was looking for work experience during the holidays. Daniella spoke to the MRSH student advisor who recommended she contact Loxton’s Madden Accountants firm to see if there were any opportunities available.
Daniella outside the Madden Accountants office.
The MRSH student advisor then identified an accounting position vacant with the firm, and encouraged Daniella to apply.
Daniella initially thought this was out of her reach, but through the support of the hub and the team of student advisors, Daniella was encouraged to give it a shot. For Daniella, the extra support gave her the confidence she needed to approach Loxton’s Madden Accountants with her resume in hand.
Cut to now (July 2021) Daniella is now working full time, in her hometown of Loxton and still managing her flexible online uni study as well.
When Daniella first got the news over the phone about her dream job, she was shocked. She tells us she was even left speechless by the offer, claiming she “didn’t expect to be in second year and have such a secure career opportunity”.
Daniella is able to juggle her work and study during the week where she is able to work on her study during the firm’s quieter periods. This type of flexibility is usually something you can only dream about during your studies.
An “incredibly practical” aspect of Daniella’s new working life is the convenience of studying at working simultaneously. Working full time in the profession of her studies has created a cycle of prosperity. Being a part of the field has made her studies easier, and her studies have made her job easier. She’s really on cloud nine, and understandably so.
Daniella’s success story has caught the attention of not only people in Loxton, but the wider Riverland community and is a great example of what can be achieved through studying locally and maintaining local connections in your chosen industry. In a recent interview with Daniella, she mentioned that her friends and acquaintances from across the region often ask her how she landed her job, and what advice she had on early entry into her dream job .
Daniella largely credits her new career opportunity to the support from the MRSH program, flexible university study and the student advisors who encouraged her to go for the job in the first place.
“Without the support and encouragement of the student advisers I would still be working afternoon shifts at the local sports store, because I never would have gone for it on my own,” Daniella said.
“Having the connections from both the Murray River Study Hub and the Loxton community made a huge difference.
“This type of opportunity, provided by local connections, would’ve been far more difficult if I was in the city. The competition in the industry would’ve pushed everything I have now, out of reach.”
In terms of what’s next for Daniella, she’s still blown away at how she’ll ever top this achievement. She’s dedicated to staying in Loxton and being a local, revealing she “can’t imagine herself leaving anytime soon”.
In the distant future, she’s hopeful that if she does her Masters, the MRSH would continue to facilitate her and support her through it.
“The MRSH program is about supporting regional students to access higher education for their future career, in their hometown, which reduces costs and other challenges faced by other regions students. With the MRSH, students can maintain their support networks around them,” Vanessa Leigh Program Manager said on Wednesday.
“For a regional student to find work in their chosen career while studying helps to support locals to stay local and businesses to secure workers and the MRSH is thrilled to be able to help Daniella secure this job.”
Daniella says that “everything fell into place” thanks to the hub, and while she’s too modest to admit it, she’s really proven taken the accounting world by storm.
Daniella wanted to use this opportunity to remind people living in the Riverland or Murraylands, of how many professional job opportunities are out there within their own towns and regional cities, and how much local uni students can benefit from staying local.
Want to know more about the Murray River Study Hub, and how our local student advisors can support your next career? visit our website, or get in touch.
