Taking the option of a professional internship while completing an Accounting degree at USC Gympie has led to a home town job for recent Gympie graduate Jodie Tydings.

The former stay-at-home mother is now an Asset Officer with Gympie Regional Council, where she gained almost 100 hours of hands-on accounting experience while studying.

“As an intern, I went about my work as if every day was a job interview and worked hard to demonstrate I could be an asset to the team,” said Ms Tydings, 35, who graduated from USC with Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting).

“Thankfully this paid off and I was working at the council within two weeks of finishing my final exam.”

Securing a job in Gympie was icing on the cake for Ms Tydings, who did not want to commute for work or move away from her extended family.

The degree was a long-term goal of the former Gympie State High School student, who left school after Year 10 and is the first in her family to attend university.

“I was a stay-at-home mum for 11 years, so I put off the idea of further study until USC opened the Gympie campus and introduced a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting),” Ms Tydings said.

“Being a single mum of two, travel for all classes just wasn't an option and I knew that external learning would not be a good fit for me as I needed the on-campus classes to help motivate me.”

To qualify for entry, she first completed a Certificate Three in Business Administration.

“I also did USC’s academic skills course and the introductory Communication and Thought subject was great for teaching the writing skills needed.

“The staff at the USC Gympie campus were wonderful, and always happy to help from the moment I stepped in the front door to enquire about entry options.”

She said the USC degree had prepared her well for her position as an Asset Officer, which she was finding challenging and exciting.

“I feel confident in the knowledge I gained throughout my degree that when a new task is given to me I have the accounting understanding to successfully complete it.”

People who are interested in studying at USC can go to www.usc.edu.au/learn

— Clare McKay