When Uni Hub Coordinator and Peter Underwood Centre staff member Gemma Burns opened her inbox this week, the subject line simply read: GOOD NEWS.
What followed was the kind of message every educator hopes to receive.
The email was from Elham Wunimi Osman, a former Newstead College student with a long-held dream of becoming a pharmacist.
“I got my permanent residency, so I applied for the Diploma of Pharmacy at the University of Tasmania and I got the offer. I started my course yesterday.”
For Elham, the moment was years in the making.
A dream that began in Ghana has now found its next chapter in Lutruwita/Tasmania.
From childhood, Elham had wanted to study Pharmacy. When she arrived in Tasmania while her father completed a PhD in Mathematics, she set her sights on enrolling in the Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Tasmania.
However, as an international student on a study visa, she was not eligible to enrol in the program.
Rather than abandon her goal, Elham worked closely with Gemma through the Uni Hub at Newstead College, an initiative of the Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment. Together, they explored alternative pathways and options. Elham even completed a Year 13 to further strengthen her academic preparation.
Despite her efforts, visa restrictions meant university was temporarily out of reach. With the support of Gemma, Elham pivoted. She enrolled at TasTAFE and completed her Enrolled Nursing qualification. Soon after, she secured employment in aged care, where she now works as a carer and in lifestyle support.
During her time at TasTAFE, Elham was also recognised with its UENO Award for international students demonstrating exceptional commitment to their studies and involvement in campus and community life.
The dream of Pharmacy, however, never faded.
Earlier this year, Elham received confirmation of her permanent residency. Within days, she submitted her application to the University of Tasmania. An offer followed.
In her email to Gemma, she wrote: “I just wanted to say thank you for all the support, advice and encouragement you have given me during my stay in Newstead College. I am forever grateful for everything. Not only that, you showed me that when you are patient you can achieve whatever you want in life. Thank you so much Gemma. I don't know what I would have done without your support.”
For the Peter Underwood Centre, Elham’s journey is a powerful example of what sustained, relational support can make possible.
Pathways are not always linear. For many students, particularly those navigating visa settings, financial pressures or complex eligibility rules, the journey into higher education can include delays and detours. What matters is that aspiration is not lost along the way.
Through initiatives such as the Uni Hub at Newstead College, the Peter Underwood Centre supports students to explore options, strengthen capability and remain connected to their post school goals, even when timelines shift.
As Gemma reflected simply on this outcome: “Best story ever.”
And perhaps that is what equity looks like. Not a straight line, but a supported one.