Better regions top of mind for Thomas

Engineering student Thomas Murray has a strong desire to close the gap for regional Australians. Growing up in Tumut, Thomas achieved an ATAR of 96.85 and was awarded three scholarships in his first year of study – the CSU Accommodation Scholarship, the Snowy Valleys Council Scholarship and the Ron Camplin OAM Scholarship.

“Having lived in both the ACT and rural NSW, I have witnessed firsthand, the infrastructure and development gaps that currently exist between regional and urban Australian communities. My passions arise from a desire to make high-quality facilities, such as roadways, available to all. In particular, I am looking to use my skills attained at Charles Sturt University to improve  the safety and efficiency of regional communities through the production of forward-thinking, innovative infrastructure.”

His passion for regional development greatly influenced his choice to study at CSU. “Through its focus on the applications of engineering, as demonstrated through comprehensive workplace experience, CSU provides students with the expertise necessary to succeed within industry.

“The ability to live in a regional city also led me to study at CSU in Bathurst. My first preference has always been to reside in regional locations and studying at CSU provides a quality education within a regional setting.”

In future, Thomas hopes to work in civil engineering, an area of need in many regional locations. “My ambition is to live and work as a civil engineer in a regional or rural location, using my skills to improve the lives of people in these areas. The financial assistance provided by these scholarships allow me focus on my study, with less reliance on part-time employment to meet living and accommodation costs.

“I believe that receiving these scholarships enables the betterment of my education and will allow me to reach my full academic potential.”