Mackay students Des Dahms and Taliah Soar have overcome major setbacks to embrace fresh education and career prospects.

They were among students celebrating completion of their STEPS* preparatory program at CQUniversity Mackay Campus this week (Oct 14).

Des Dahms and Taliah Soar were among students celebrating completion of their STEPS program in Mackay

Des struggled with a bipolar affective disorder which left him "depressed and with no direction". He said he enrolled in STEPS to enrich his life and to change direction.

"I want to study at CQUni and study physics," Des said. "STEPS has given me a direction and drive that I was mising and helped me recover from a terrible illness."

Meanwhile, Taliah was a teenage mother who lived with domestic violence for 11 years.

"I was desperate for change, so I created it," she said.

"I wanted a life change and and I'm trying to set a good example for my children. STEPS has inspired me to continue studying and I have applied to do Environmental Science next year.

"This course has been a wonderful inspiring journey of education. The lecturers and other students are amazing people who have all had a hugely positive impact on my life."

* STEPS stands for Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies.

Extended Student Group: (LtoR) Erlinda Trevorrow, Suzanne Millar, Rachael Smith, Meg Jackson, Talia Soar and Anita Nason 
Accelerated 2 Student Group: (LtoR) Jessica Harris, Maria Morokutti and Leann Moore