The chance to study in Australia was an alluring opportunity that Delmay Shem from Vanuatu could not let pass by.

She had completed her undergraduate study at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji a few years before and recently had been working in her home city of Port Vila, when an advertisement for the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) scholarships took her eye.

Delmay Shem enjoys studying at CQUniversity Rockhampton where the staff are friendly and helpful.She already had been thinking about postgraduate studies and when AusAID was offering full scholarships for postgraduate students she was quick to apply.

It wasn't long before she was on a plane headed for Australia to study a Master in Professional Accounting.

She arrived in Rockhampton in Central Queensland February last year, and is due to complete her program in October this year.

Although her husband remained back home in Port Vila working, she was lucky enough to bring her three children with her to enjoy the Aussie experience.

The children aged 14, 12 and 6 have been attending school close by the university.

"I thought it would be a challenge for them to fit in, but they have quickly adapted," Delmay said.

After the children were used to speaking in English all the time, Delmay said it had been easy to adapt to the Australian way of life.

She was also glad she was able to come to a regional area, rather than a large metropolitan city.

"I have really enjoyed being in Rockhampton and would encourage others to come here. The people have been really friendly and helpful. I don't know how I would have coped in a large city."

The weather in Central Queensland was more like home for Delmay. "I don't like the cold, so I enjoy the warm weather here in Rockhampton."

Delmay said CQUniversity lecturers had been very helpful, making themselves available at any time for her to seek advice.

CQUniversity has a number of undergraduate and postgraduate programs available to AusAID students at four locations in Central Queensland in Australia.

For more information about AusAID placements at CQUniversity phone +61 7 4923 2420 and quote the keyword ‘AusAID'. Alternatively you can email international-enquiries@cqu.edu.au .