Deb Power started her career as an accountant and became a commercial manager in the mining industry. After leaving the industry in 2006 to have her youngest daughter she decided to embark on studies in the health field.

Having put health and fitness on the backburner during her career, this decision was largely motivated by her own cancer journey and by her grandmother, who is now 100 and follows a healthy eating and daily exercise regime.

Deb Power

Now a mother of two, Deb decided on a change of pace and enrolled full-time to study a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences at CQUniversity.

More recently, the Bachelor of Medical Science (Nutrition)* became available and she is well advanced on that degree too, meaning she will eventually graduate with two awards. LINK for more on this new degree

Now is the time when intending students are considering changing their preferences for university study. Those who would like to reconsider their next step can talk to CQUniversity about programs and study options thanks to information sessions on Tuesday December 4  (online) or Monday December 17 from 3pm until 7pm on-campus or online. Details are via www.cqu.edu.au/calendar  or 13CQUni (13 27 86).

Discipline Leader for Nutrition Dr Susan Williams says the new specialised degree path within Medical Science is important for community health. It's available via Rockhampton Campus or through distance education, with work-integrated learning a key component.

"This is an important career path to improve the health of our communities, now and in the future," Dr Williams says.

Thanks to a very patient husband, Deb successfully juggles family life with her study and part-time work with the Walk 2.0 Project** at CQUniversity's Rockhampton Campus.

"You are never too old to start something new. It's great that it's possible to study Medical Science by distance education, as people can fit their study around family and work commitments. The Nutrition specialisation provides a good balance of science and socio-cultural studies. This better prepares students to understand that poor eating and exercise behaviours have a variety of drivers", she says.

Longer-term, Deb is keen to conduct higher degree research into diet and exercise interventions to tackle Type 2 Diabetes and to further understand parental influences on family health habits and health outcomes.

** Walk 2.0 is an innovative health program funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). It is jointly run by the University of Western Sydney and CQUniversity with the support of Queensland Health. Details are via http://www.walk.org.au/