From TPP to PhD

Twelve years of study for one University of Southern Queensland student has culminated in the completion of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), the highest level research program offered by universities.

Starting her career as a hairdresser, Patricia (Nancey) Hoare enrolled in USQ's Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP) before completing a Bachelor of Science (Applied Psychology) degree with distinction and then completing an honours degree.

'I decided the next logical step from hairdressing was psychology,'Ms Hoare said.

'I didn't think I could do uni but decided I should look into it, so I rang USQ and talked with them about TPP. It sounded so perfect!'

'The course was absolutely fantastic. It was the pivotal thing that made me go on and gave me confidence. The content was really, really useful as well,' she said.

Ms Hoare was awarded the University Medal in 1999 for her outstanding performance in gaining a high distinction in all 24 subjects of her degree and later received an Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship to do a PhD.

'It was such an honour and a privilege to get a scholarship. It started a whole series of events in my career, she said.

Her dissertation titled: The unemployment experience – psychological factors influencing mental health, coping behaviours, and employment outcomes, involved surveying the unemployed and learning how unemployment affected people's mental health, how they cope, and what factors influence re-employment.

Ms Hoare looked at a stressing/coping model and found one of the key influences on mental health were personal resources and one of the major key influences on re-employment was age.

Coordinator of the TPP program David Bull said there are a number of students who enter the program go on to complete a PhD.

'It's really excellent to see students going on to achieve highly after TPP,' Mr Bull said.

'The program is open to anyone and everyone and that's why they feel they can do it. A lot of them had never dreamt they'd go to uni,' he said.

'USQ is the largest provider of distance education preparatory courses in Australia.'

Ms Hoare has been working with USQ throughout her time as a student, as a research assistant, marker, tutor and counsellor.

'I've been really well supported by USQ both academically and in my career,' she said.

'It really has fulfilled my life!'

Ms Hoare said it wasn't all smooth sailing studying and working simultaneously.

'I wanted to call it quits a few times,' she said.

'Some students get what they call the ‘PhD blues' that come along about half way through. But you keep going. Its all about hard work, determination and persistence.'

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559