We interviewed our student and friend Matthew Dinali to share a little of his journey in Australia and also tell us about his process of studying Psychology in Australia. Mateus finished journalism school in Brazil and felt that he needed to have new experiences even before entering the job market. Encouraged by his mother, Mateus chose to do an exchange in Australia because it was a country that allowed him to study and work on a student visa, and so in 2015 he arrived in Sydney.
His initial goal was to do 6 months of English and then return to his home country, but that's not quite how it turned out. 6 years later, and he's still living in Australia, he has a degree in Psychology, works in his field and volunteers in Mental Health.
In this post we're going to tell you about the whole process through a brief interview we did with him.
How did you change from journalism to psychology?
After his English course, Mateus started a digital media course to complement his journalism career in Brazil. However, he felt that it wasn't really what he wanted to do and so, after a few meetings and telephone contact with the Good Day EducationMateus began to research which areas of his life made him happy. In the process, he came up with various ideas, such as courses in communication, art, dance and psychology,
disability and even aged care, after all, Mateus loved human contact with people. So disability stuck in his mind, because he would have this human contact, as well as the possibility of doing an internship in the area as part of the course and getting a job straight away.
It's important to stress the importance of long-term planning, setting goals and following them through with a lot of resilience. Distractions will come and you can't get sidetracked, so focus on your goals! One of the key moments came during the first Certificate III class in Disability, where the teacher talked about the concept of active listening. There, Mateus realized that he had made the right decision about the course he had chosen.
Job offers in the area soon followed. But the process didn't end there. Then came Certificate IV in Disability, where he had the opportunity to learn about more specific issues such as Down's syndrome and autism. The teachers with a background in Counselling (a more humanistic aspect of mental health) were key players in Mateus' study journey, as they inspired him to realize that he wanted to help people through therapy.
Was English a barrier to studying in Australia?
Mateus also told us a little about the process of studying for a degree in English. The first tip is: value your path, value your vocational course, there you will be in contact with all the areas you need to develop your English, such as listening when you listen to your teacher lecturing, writing when you hand in your work, reading when you read your course and speaking when you communicate in class. Make the most of every
These courses will give you a foundation that you'll need for college. Make an effort every moment of your day, speak English even if it's wrong, you're learning.
What's the difference between doing psychology in Australia or Brazil?
Mateus explained to us that in Brazil the course is usually full time, which makes it a challenge to study and work at the same time. In Australia, on the other hand, you don't have to study every day, which gives you more freedom to work and combine other life activities. The Bachelor of Psychology lasts 3 years here in Australia, and after the course it is necessary to do the Honors, which is a completion of the course for a period of 1 year, being the gateway to the Master's degree. Training as a psychologist in Australia is completed with the Master's degree, which lasts 2 years, where the student decides their area of expertise, such as clinical, organizational, educational, psychotherapy and even sports psychology.
How does the course work?
According to Mateus, the course at the university where he studied is divided into three quarters during the year. During a year, you have to complete 8 subjects. In this case, the student can define which and how many subjects they want to take in each trimester. An example would be 2 subjects in the first trimester, followed by 3 subjects in the second and third trimesters, thus concluding the year. This makes it easier to reconcile your work, study and leisure life schedule.
Psychology courses usually have a class called a Lecture, which lasts an average of 3 hours and where the content of the subject is presented. This class can be followed online or in person, which gives the course greater flexibility. The tutorial, on the other hand, is a face-to-face class that lasts on average between 1 and 1.5 hours and includes a review of the subject, exercises and general discussions.
How does the evaluation work?
The assessment system in Australia is very interesting, as there are various ways of assessing students. Based on the assumption that not everyone learns in the same way, assessment must also follow this method. Students receive percentage marks for different activities, such as participating in other students' master's research, long and short assignments, tests with consultation, making it easier for those who have more difficulty with memorization and general exams at the end of the term. With this, your grade is divided into
various forms of evaluation, according to Mateus.
A relevant point to mention is that the educational institutions have a support center for students called Student Learning Support with the aim of helping students do their work, with tutorials and professionals trained to help people from all over the world adapt to the institution's teaching system. In addition, Mateus highlights the contact with Australian culture with teachers and students, which has enriched his daily experience even more.
Is it possible to cover your living costs working in your field?
Another incredible tip that Mateus mentions is: "Get rid of the idea that something is very difficult and impossible. This is the first step to failure, believe in your potential and go for your goals in a structured and realistic way." While studying Disability, Mateus was offered a job in his field. He comments
which was a transition process where he worked as a waiter and gradually made the transition to his area of work, reducing the days he worked as a waiter and gradually increasing the number of days he worked in the Disability area, maintaining a network in both areas and managing his financial life. Work in something that makes you happy and brings you into contact with what you want for your future. Learning English in practice and communicating with other people makes all the difference.
What is counseling?
Counselling is a branch that goes into the more humanistic area of mental health here in Australia. In this case, the counsellor is trained to apply the therapies they learn on the course, through practical lessons, says Mateus, who was inspired by many of his teachers who are counsellors. Psychologists, on the other hand, are trained to assist people, diagnose, carry out assessments and psychological tests. The psychology course itself focuses a lot on research, unlike the counselling course, which is more focused on the practice of therapy.
What is Double Degree?
Students will have 8 subjects to complete during the year. Each course will have its "core units", which are compulsory subjects, as well as electives from other courses. In Mateus' case, he chose to do the Double Degree in Psychology and Counselling. Therefore, he took the compulsory Psychology and Counselling subjects, thus putting together a course with subjects focused on both courses. When he finished, he received the double certification of Psychologist and Counsellor, giving him the opportunity to now work as a Counsellor (in which he doesn't need honours and a master's degree to work) and then complete his studies in Psychology.
Today, Mateus has finished his compulsory internship in the area of Counselling at a rehabilitation center for drug addicts and alcoholics, and it was so interesting that he decided to volunteer to continue working in the area and expand his professional experience.
If you want to know more about Mateus' story, see this post we did with him at the Instagram and this LIVE about "How to become a psychologist in Australia".
Like Matthew, you too can achieve your personal and professional goals in Australia. Plan your education, think long-term, focus on your studies and avoid distractions!
We're here to help you, count on us!
Get in touch today to plan your future in Australia.
