A degree in Health Promotion has given USC graduate Ashleigh Jensen of Buderim an unexpected career boost in the insurance industry.

In little over a year since graduating, Ashleigh, 27, has risen quickly through the ranks at Youi, which has its new global head office next door to the University’s main campus at Sippy Downs.

Ashleigh started as a sales advisor in May last year before moving on to work as an operations assistant and, more recently, into a newly created role of corporate communications specialist.

“My focus is on customer communications and building engagement across Youi’s external digital channels,” she said. “Being a new role, I’m lucky to be able to tailor sections of what I do.”

Ashleigh said Youi, which will celebrate its 10th birthday in November, currently had more than 100 new roles available across its operations.

She said USC’s Bachelor of Health Promotion had provided her with a holistic view of health, which she was able to incorporate into her work.

“Health is more than just the food that we eat,” the former Maroochydore High student said. “It’s about asking how happy people are in the workplace and at home, and supporting people to live a healthy lifestyle.

“There is a physical component but it’s all about focusing on the overall environment.”

Ashleigh said she was applying this approach to her current role by encouraging Youi employees to love going to work.

She has been heavily involved in driving engagement by tailoring rewards to staff lifestyles, such as tickets to Coast attractions for employees with families.

“My degree and studying public health frameworks and what motivates people to change their behaviour has definitely been applicable to my various roles at Youi,” she said.

USC Associate Lecturer in Public Health Kara Lilly congratulated Ashleigh on her career success to date.

“One of the great things about a degree in Health Promotion are the skills that are transferable to so many different jobs, workplaces and contexts,” Ms Lilly said.

Ashleigh was a 2015 Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network bursary nominee. When she’s not participating in one of Youi’s boxing, yoga or meditation classes, she can often be found at the beach or attending a Rhee Taekwondo class.

For more details about applying to study at USC in 2019, go to www.usc.edu.au/learn