From the moment his plane first touched down in Launceston, to walking into his first job as a graduate, Edwin Listyo found his experience at the University of Tasmania to be a streamlined and personalised experience.
Originally from Indonesia, Edwin came to Australia in 2015 to study his Bachelor of Applied Finance at Macquarie University in Sydney. After graduating, he intended to follow his bachelor’s degree with a Master of Professional Accounting, but wanted a change from the big city.
After being awarded a Tasmanian International Scholarship by the University of Tasmania, he relocated to Launceston in 2019 to commence his Master of Professional Accounting specialising in Marketing, living on campus at Leprena student accommodation.
And as soon as the plane landed, he felt immediately welcome.
I remember it was initially very daunting to move to Tasmania but University Living staff greeted me at the airport, picked me up, drove me to the uni, showed me around the campus and the Mowbray area near the university, where I would go to get my necessities. They were really nice!
“Living on campus was great, too. It was so easy to access all those social activities, as well as being nice and close to all my classes. If there was something happening and a friend said we should go to the campus, it was just outside the door.”
Edwin studied the first year of his MPA in Launceston at the University’s Newnham Campus, before relocating to Hobart for his second year to study his marketing specialisation at the Sandy Bay Campus.
Thanks to the University’s I-PREP program (an immersive work preparation program for international students) Edwin completed an internship with ANZ Bank in Launceston, which put him in good stead when it came to applying for a job as a graduate. Joining Edwin at ANZ was Ken Zheng, who was also completing his Master of Professional Accounting and was participating in the Tasmanian School of Business and Economic's Work Ready Program. Edwin then went on to do a corporate internship at Skretting Australia.
In December 2020, very soon after graduating with his MPA, Edwin successfully applied for a casual job with ANZ in Hobart. And by April the following year, he had a full-time job at ANZ in Launceston, as a banking consultant.
“I did the I-PREP program with ANZ in November 2019 and it really helped me with my interview when I eventually applied for a casual role there,” he said. “They still remembered me!"
During my I-PREP internship, I was exposed to various divisions, including business banking, agribusiness, retail banking – which includes telling – processing, a bit of everything. And it all applied to the full-time role I eventually got, so I feel like it was always meant to be.
Edwin said the Student Living staff did an amazing job of helping students feel at home in Tasmania, with multiple trips and excursions to famous local attractions, and even providing snacks for those living in student residences during exams.
Most of all he valued the learning and career opportunities that were open to students here.
“As long as you are eager and keen to learn and experience things, the University of Tasmania has the resources, tools and knowledge, and I would encourage everyone to utilise it as much as possible during their university time.”