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Becoming an agent for change

"UTAS provided me with what I needed to work as a professional practitioner in the community."

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Originally from Borneo, Coby Liew moved to Tasmania to study a Bachelor of Social Work. He quickly fell in love with Tasmania’s beauty, clean and crispy air, beaches, adventurous outdoor activities, friendly people and communities, wonderful festivals and cultural celebrations. 

My advice, as an ex-international student, to new students is... 'learn' as much as you can, 'practice' as many times as possible, and 'travel' around Tasmania as frequently as you can. Get involved and participate in student groups and activities, and remember to enjoy your student life…

Coby studied Social Work in both Hobart and Launceston and completed a placement at Child Protection Services.

I learnt so much from the lecturers and my peers who were predominantly locals. This, to me, was fantastic because it helped me to understand issues from local perspectives which was very important especially when working with local communities.

“The social work program at the University of Tasmania has equipped me with necessary skills, valuable knowledge and practical experiences so that I could become an agent of positive change. Thanks to the learning and training I received in the program, I successfully landed a permanent full-time job at a Government TAFE in Melbourne, supporting international students with their welfare needs and counselling.”

Coby is now a Student Experience and Wellbeing Manager at a private international college in Melbourne, managing a team of professional staff as well as supporting international students from all around the world. 

As a UTAS graduate, I am very proud of my journey so far as a social worker and I feel privileged to be able to contribute and create positive changes in people's lives. The University has given me the opportunity to grow and learn from experienced professionals in the field.

Find out more about studying Social Work.