Louise Geal is studying for a life-changing career, and a scholarship is helping her make the transformation.
She’s found ways to support people her whole life, but at 61 years of age, Louise Geal is now getting the support she needs for a new career nurturing families.
The Bundaberg mum and former high school careers coordinator took leave from her job to begin uni for the first time in 2022, after leaving school in year 10.
Now in her third year in CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Social Work, Geal’s determination has earned a scholarship to help her studies. The CQUniCares Sister Anne-Marie Kinnane CatholicCare Legacy Scholarship provides recognition and financial assistance to a deserving third-year Bachelor of Social Work student residing and studying in the Bundaberg, Mackay or Rockhampton regions.
Geal says the two-year scholarship helped allow her to stay in full-time study, as she raced towards her new career.
“I’m not just studying for a challenge, or because I’m bored – I really want to work in Social Work, and time is running out!” she says.
“I ended up resigning from my job when I realised how happy I was doing the study, and how meaningful it is to the impact I can make. I’m so grateful for the scholarship – it means I can focus on studying full-time, without worrying how I’ll pay for books, or needing to juggle a job around placement and assignments.”
CatholicCare Central Queensland’s Chief Executive Officer Robert Sims believes Geal’s achievements deserve congratulations, adding that “the student scholarship we fund through the CQUniCares program is another meaningful way that CatholicCare is continuing the critical social work that Sister Anne-Marie started in our region”.
“Supporting families and young people is such an integral part of the work underpinning our mission, so it is important to us that we help to foster a quality workforce,” he says.
CatholicCare Central Queensland provides local community services, and the scholarship honours the life and achievements of Sister Anne-Marie Kinnane, who was a Sister of Mercy and co-founder of CatholicCare Central Queensland.
“We are so pleased to see Mrs Geal achieving her study goals and already making a difference in the lives of others. CatholicCare is very proud to be supporting Mrs Geal and we look forward to seeing her continue an already inspiring career.”
From high-school dropout to student mentor
Prior to study, Geal had built a two-decade-long career in student support, first volunteering as a learning aid, then supporting high school students to connect with employers, and secure work experience and careers.
“Sometimes I’d have between 30 and 40 kids out on work experience at a time, kids getting traineeships, finding them all sorts of opportunities and exploring transition from school to work,” says Geal.
“Then that extended to running a ‘path planning’ parent-to-parent course that supported families for goal setting and drawing up a life map.”
When her daughter started studying social work, Geal was inspired to goal-set for her own life map.
“I’d previously done Certificate IVs and had my Justice of the Peace license, and with my career experience, that was enough to get straight into the degree,” she says.
Social work makes a sustainable difference
With her first placemen – in a paid child safety role with Queensland’s Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services – completed, Geal says “it was incredible to be putting what I’ve learned into action and now I want to work there once I graduate.”
“It’s not easy work, but with my life experience behind me, it’s not as gut-wrenching – and with that experience and my social work values, I’m determined to make a difference to the young people and families I work with.”
