Building a career in Australia: Sherina's story of study, opportunity and success

Moving to a new country to study can be daunting. For international alumna Sherina, it was also the first step towards building a successful career in Australia's education sector.

Born and raised in Bali, Indonesia, Sherina arrived in Queensland after high school with a desire to challenge herself, gain an international education, and create new opportunities for her future.

She began her Australian study journey at TAFE Queensland in 2018, completing an English language course before progressing to a Dual Diploma in Business and Marketing Communication (BSB50120 / BSB50620). Studying full-time on campus allowed her to build confidence, make new connections, and adapt to life in Australia.

"I wanted to become more independent and gain international education and work experience," Sherina said.

"Coming to Australia allowed me to meet people from different backgrounds, expand my professional network and experience a different way of learning and working."

Sherina chose TAFE Queensland because of its practical learning approach, affordable tuition fees, convenient location, and smaller class sizes.

Throughout her studies, teachers connected classroom theory with real-world business and marketing scenarios, helping students understand how concepts are applied in professional settings.

"Rather than simply learning concepts from a textbook, we were encouraged to think about how we would apply them in a real workplace," she said.

"That helped me understand not just what I was learning, but why it was relevant."

One of the most valuable experiences during her studies was completing an internship, which gave her hands-on industry exposure and helped bridge the gap between study and employment.

"The internship allowed me to apply what I had learnt in a real workplace environment," Sherina said.

"It gave me confidence in transitioning from being a student into the Australian workforce."

Following her studies at TAFE Queensland, Sherina continued her education through a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Strategic Communication and Public Relations. She says the knowledge and practical skills she developed at TAFE Queensland made the transition to university much smoother.

Today, Sherina works in the higher education sector in Brisbane, where she combines her interests in communication, marketing, student engagement and education.

Looking back, she sees TAFE Queensland as the foundation that helped shape both her education and professional journey in Australia.

"TAFE Queensland gave me both the knowledge and practical experience I needed to take my next steps," she said.

"It was really the starting point of my education and career journey in Australia."

For Sherina, studying in Brisbane offered more than just a qualification. It also provided a welcoming community and support network during her transition to life in Australia.

She credits her classmates, teachers, and the TAFE Queensland International team with helping her settle into Australian life and build lasting connections.

"Some of the first friendships and connections I made in Australia were through TAFE," she said.

"I'm still grateful for those early experiences."

She also enjoyed Brisbane's warm climate, multicultural community, and balance between city opportunities and a relaxed lifestyle.

Sherina encourages anyone considering studying abroad to embrace the opportunity.

"Don't be afraid to take that first step," she said.

"TAFE Queensland offers a supportive and practical learning environment. You're not just learning theory, you're given opportunities to understand how that knowledge applies in the real world.

"For me, TAFE was more than just a qualification. It was the beginning of a journey that opened doors to further study, career opportunities and life in Australia."