As a child growing up in Malaysia, Lewis Ooi always knew he wanted to experience life in a western country. And, ultimately, it was a semester studying in the UK that put him on his path to studying his Master of Professional Accounting at the University of Tasmania.
Due to complete his Master’s degree in June 2024, Lewis was a science student all through high school. But while he had always dreamed of becoming a scientist, he hit a snag.
“I was good at physics and maths but not in chemistry,” he said. “I got an A in physics but my marks for chemistry were disappointing, so I realised it wasn’t really the future for me.
“After high school I told myself I wanted to be a professional like an accountant, lawyer or engineer. I liked numbers and I’m good in maths, so I decided to give accounting a try instead.”
Lewis admits he knew nothing about accounting at the time but, after studying two years of a diploma, he knew he had found something he loved and excelled at.
He continued on to study his Bachelor of Business with Honours at Malaysia’s Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, majoring in Accounting and Finance.
It was during his studies there that he got the opportunity to spend a semester studying at Coventry University in the UK. He was impressed with, and instantly fell in love with, the professional and lifestyle aspects of the culture he discovered there, especially the focus on work-life balance.
“The experience I had in the UK was a big turning point for me, it changed me a lot. Before that, I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do after uni.
“But that experience showed me that I wanted to stay in a western country, because I loved the culture, the way of living, the food and everything. I found that I could adapt to this culture and lifestyle very well, eved though I come from an Asian background.
“I grew up knowing that I had some relatives in the UK, New Zealand and Australia as well, including an uncle in Sydney. And when I was looking at further study options, my uncle said to me, why not come to Australia?”
After doing some research online, and deciding Tasmania was the part of Australia most likely to resemble the cooler English climate he had come to love, he enrolled to do his Master of Professional Accounting at the University of Tasmania in Launceston.
And his enthusiasm and motivation seem to know no bounds.
“I had to work a couple of jobs to support myself, this year I’m doing six jobs,” he laughed.
“I started out working in a restaurant, then became a uni ambassador for the University of Tasmania, then Student Representative for Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and because I can speak six languages I also got a job as an interpreter working mostly for the Tasmanian Government.”
Lewis is also the president of the Business and Economics Student Society of Tasmania, as well as the International Student Ambassador for Study Tasmania, a study body for the Tasmanian Government.
He has focused his postgraduate studies on accounting, saying it is a career path that offers a huge variety of job opportunities.
He said the industry connections and networking opportunities provided by the course were extremely valuable.
He did an internship with the University’s Tax Clinic, offering free taxation services and consultation for the public, guided by a Tax Mentor. He said it was a very rewarding experience, allowing him to gain practical accounting and tax experience.
And through the University’s Applied Employment Skills Package (AESP), he was introduced to the company that eventually offered him a full-time job.
“I am thankful that the firm offered such flexibility for me to fit my work hours around my final semester of study before going full-time after I graduate. I feel I am valued, and it means a lot to me,” he said.
“I want to stay in Tassie and I want to stay in accounting if I can. My goal now is to finish my degree, get my professional papers and qualify as a professional accountant or auditor.”
Internships and real-world experience are an integral part of your studies for a Master of Professional Accounting, so you can forge industry connections while you learn.