Wrap up and thank you from the author

As the Spring semester comes to a close at UOW I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me and assisted me with the production of Student Life.

I hope this blog has been entertaining, covered different issues and has provided an insight into the life of a student at the University of Wollongong.

Thank you to everyone who participated in interviews for articles or comments on each topic and especially the subject of the student profile who shared his journey with rehabilitation and his personal struggle with depression and drug abuse.

This individual project has been enjoyable for me personally. I was surprised so many people were willing to discuss and help me with my research on each topic and I thank them for being so understanding and friendly.

To future students I wish you all luck with your endeavours and hope you enjoy life as a university student as much a I do. For further information on UOW please visit the University website here.

A second chance (Profile of a UOW student)

Blurred figures speed past the car window as fast as John Cooper* had ever experienced on November 24^th 2006 right before a late night accident altered his life forever.

Cooper had just finished his last exam in the HSC and was picked up by two good friends to celebrate at a local hang-out by the river with a group of year 12 graduates.

Cooper had been the responsible one in school who would always look out for his mates and given advice to those in need. He didn't drink much alcohol as he had always been more dedicated to sports.

John had been playing soccer since his father signed him up when he was old enough to join a team. He had already shown promise in sports growing up when playing with family. “Me and my older brothers would always play after school”.

John continued playing as fun turned to passion for the game as he grew. John captained his team in primary school 3 years in a row and continued his leadership role throughout high school. Being an athletic student he was always involved in sporting teams but soccer was always his priority.

Cooper had just turned 18 and despite his positive record, the joy of completing his school life was indulged with an alcohol fuelled state. “My friend driving wasn't blind drunk but I had had quite a bit to drink and I wasn't even watching the road at the time” said Cooper.

Their car slammed into a tree on the passengers side after the driver swerved to avoid a parked car. The driver and second passenger escaped with minor injuries and whiplash though John was not as lucky.

The force of the crash caused damage to his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). Cooper had to undertake a knee reconstruction and continued rehabilitation throughout the following year.

Unable to participate in sports and continue his aspirations of professional soccer, Cooper fell into depression. After refusing counselling he became mixed with an unfavourable crowd and distanced himself from his family.

Early January of 2008 Coopers family reached out to Mark, a former friend of Cooper, after they had not seen or heard from him for over a week. Cooper was located and luckily had not fallen into addiction over the New Year celebrations.

Thanks to the efforts of his original school friends Cooper grew closer to his family throughout the following months. “I had been avoiding my family and kind of rebelling against them but I had never really fought with them that much because I was never home. They just wanted me to be home so they could help me with the mess I had gotten myself into.”

Due to his knee reconstruction Cooper was unable to reignite his passion for sport however after talking with friends about their experiences with University he was convinced to apply.

In 2009 Cooper was accepted at the University of Wollongong and began a course in exercise science. His interest in sports lead him to study and pursue a career in rehabilitation. Cooper is due to graduate after the Fall session of 2012.

*Due to drug abuse the subject of profile has chosen to remain anonymous 

Mac Attack; The laptop trend at UOW

The renown apple logo glows slowly on the front of the devices that have become somewhat of a necessity as a student at University. That's what a stranger would think as they enter a lecture theatre at UOW to discover every second student owns a laptop and many with the popular Macbook Pro (pictured above).

The recent death of Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, has given an insight into the western worlds obsession with the company and their devices. Jobs died October 5 2011 after an eight year battle with pancreatic cancer.

While writing this article I am surrounded by 7 macbook pros in a room of 19 people. Mind you, I am writing from the UOW library where their are 3 other people on their iPhones and 6 people are sleeping. The remaining 3 people have pens in their hands and are writing on paper which seems to be bound... I hear they are called 'books'.

'I prefer Mac. I had a HP laptop but just bought the Macbook Pro. It's much lighter' said a UOW marketing student. 'It fits in my bag and it's good for typing up notes in lectures so I'm happy with it' said another.

The Macbook Pro has many positive factors for university students but how much is practicality and how much is the endless struggle to fit in or be similar. 'I've always wanted a Mac but after I saw all the people in lectures at Uni with them I asked for the Macbook Pro for my birthday' said a first year student.

Apart from aesthetics some say that the reason for the increase in Macintosh users is due to ease of use. Like the iPhone, the Macbook designs are very easy to use however Apple has been criticised for this and Macbooks are often labeled 'toys' by Microsoft fans and those in the business world.

In my opinion, laptops only surpass pen and paper during breaks at university. However the use of a laptop as entertainment can lead to a habit of procrastination when it comes time to study. 

Photo Diary: Recommended spots at UOW

Study is important'. As students we are told this all our lives by parents and teachers but sometimes it's nice to distance yourself from the classroom. The University of Wollongong campus provides alternative spaces for students to spend their time whether it be studying, eating or relaxing in between classes. 

These students chose to sit and catch up by the river running through the UOW campus. "It's nice on a sunny day next to the water" said Alyssa (above).


Those who sit close to the river should beware the ducks who live their as it is not rare to witness a student loosing their lunch after a duck invades their space.

For those who prefer a quite space inside, the new Building 24 has bright chairs and lounges for studying or even a quick nap.

Wooden decks located next to the Unibar provide a peaceful, flat space outside to work on assignments or read.

The Unicentre provide chairs, bean bags, TVs and video games to 'enhance the student experience'.

The lounges on the bottom floor of the library are always popular with students. A comfortable place to study, read and often sleep.

Below: This map locates the photos and places mentioned in this post.

Finding food for value at UOW

Today students scored free milk after locating a Moove truck that had parked behind the unibar distributing bottles to passers by and those that had cottoned on to the free samples after seeing others with the milk. 'We were going to ask someone but we just followed the flow of people with milk coming from this direction,' said one student while enjoying his free chocolate milk.

It's not everyday that students get free treats for lunch but some stores on campus offer satisfying meals for the budget-savvy student. Often 8:30am starts are reality for university students so the place to begin your day is at one of the coffee stops within campus. Rush is favoured by many students for their variety, cheap tea and 'latte art'. “ I can get tea with any cup size for $3” said a daily customer of Rush.

Fuel Silo provides students with 'make-your-own' sandwich stations and charges on weight of each purchase which is a bonus for those who just need a quick bite after a short class. For those who prefer food made for them the Unibar make a mean bowl of chips and gravy you can share with a friend and not break the bank.

Although if in a hurry, you can't go past the good old (or brand new rather) vending machines for cold drinks and quick snacks located under the McKinnon Building in the food court with no line up. With the weather heating up this week cold drinks on campus are a must!

All these venues at UOW can provide you with cheap solutions to meals however don't be afraid to pack your own lunch just like you did in school to save your dollars. There are plenty of peaceful areas on campus to relax and eat your lunch by the river. We're all students here, we won't judge!

I will be talking about nice spots at UOW to study or eat lunch in a post to come.  


Photo Credit: Emma Lucey

Truck overturned causes delay for students

Yesterday a semi trailer overturned on Mt Ousley Rd causing southbound gridlock traffic for over six hours.

The driver, a woman in her 40s, lost control of the vehicle causing a collision with another truck and hit the highway barrier after complications with brakes.

Both drivers were taken to hospital in a stable condition however the accident created traffic banked up to Darkes Forest till after 6:00pm and caused major delay for university students.

“I was able to get past just after midday but I was late for an assessment” said one third year student from the University of Wollongong. “We heard about the traffic on the radio and just went straight back home” said a group of students carpooling to UOW.

Carpooling is a popular option of transport for students of the University of Wollongong as many travel from northern suburbs such as Sydney or the Sutherland Shire and south such as Kiama. UOW offers free parking for those who carpool; an appealing incentive as it can cost up to $10 a day for students to park within the campus grounds.

Students travelling via the south coast train line have access to free council shuttle buses to and from the North Wollongong station and UOW campus. Travelling by train can avoid peak hour traffic however train tickets can become expensive for a full time student and the shuttle buses are often over-crowded. 


“Sometimes I have to wait for the second shuttle bus to arrive because not everyone can fit on the first morning bus from the station” said a UOW student waiting for the bus this morning.

The University urges students to leave their cars at home as there are limited parking spots available (see more information about parking at UOW here). Public transport can have its downfalls though can put a parents mind at ease and provide a safe option for young students not confident with the steep winding road of Mt Ousley Rd. 

Hidden gems at UOW

The University of Wollongong campus is a very big place and including parks and bushland covers 82 hectares of land. There are students who attend a full course that will spend at least 3 years at uni and will only ever see half the campus in their time. There are many hidden treasures and places to see that people miss out on by following their daily routines.

It was only thanks to exams ('It's not often we thank exams') that this student stubbled upon hidden gems in the Sciences building. By hidden gems I literally mean gemstones. In building 41 near the Sports Hub where end of semester exams are often held there is a vast collection of precious rocks and minerals lining the hallway. The collection ranges from fossils to shells, shaped semi-precious rocks and a large amethyst geode.

The collection was acquired by UOW after it was generously donated by Professor Howard Worner in 2000. Professor Worner was an Australian metallurgist who died in 2006 at the age of 93. Professor Worner was noted for his passion and his legacy will be continued with his rare and valuable mineral collection on display as a reminder along with a scholarship at UOW in his honour.

Another place of wonders that might go undetected from students is right across the road from the front entrance of the University in the Botanic Garden. The Sir Joseph Banks Glasshouse marks the Bicentenary of the landing of Captain Cook in Australia and houses plants along with hundreds of cacti and various desert plants since it was opened in 1970. “There are so many (plants). I never knew this was here!” said a UOW student who was also admiring the collection when passing by.

The gardens also have a herb garden, a rose collection and best of all provide a lovely walk as students take a short cut through the gardens from the distant free parking to the University.

International Week at University

Photos: A range of stalls during International Week

The university was taken for a global trip last Wednesday September 7 when stalls representing different countries were presented side by side as part of International Week on the University of Wollongong campus.

The campus was transformed into a sight reminiscent of a music festival on Wednesday as the sun was shining and students were treated to foreign food samples, djs playing tunes from different cultures, giant board games and even Turkish Water Pipes.

Lines formed as students experienced new food and one student stated ‘I’ve never tried this type of food before, so it’s new to me!’ International week aims to showcase the diversity of the universities students and increase involvement from the Illawarra community.

International Week is an exciting example of events that can be enjoyed by students while having a break from their studies. Activities are also held at night for those with full schedules during the day.

All events, which celebrated the contribution international students make to the University, were free to participate including a Global Film Night and International Trivia at the Unibar.

The Global Film night was highly praised, ‘The host was hilarious!’ said a student. “I’ve definitely been learning by accident tonight,’ said another student attending the International Trivia Night on Wednesday night where prizes were received by the winning team.

International Week is an annual event at UOW and is open to be experienced by students and members of the community.

Photo credit: Emma Lucey

Blog Launch Soon!

This blog, 'Student Life at UOW', will be launched in the next few weeks.

A blog that will cover activities and the facilities on campus that are available for a student to spend spare time and occupy themselves during breaks at the University Of Wollongong.

It will be particularly focused on how best to spend money or save money whilst on campus. The posts will aim to provide an insight into student life at UOW but also inform and help future students become familiar with the university. 

The blogger is a 20 year old student of UOW and will give an insider perspective to student life and what goes on at the UOW campus.