Senior high school students in the Moreton Bay Region wanting an early start to their local university journey can get face-to-face advice from USC Moreton Bay staff and students on Tuesday 17 March.

The University will host an information evening about its Headstart program for Year 11 and 12 students on campus at 1 Moreton Parade, Petrie from 4.30pm to 6pm.

USC Schools Relationship Officer Kirsty Jarrett, who is based at USC Moreton Bay, said the free event would include a tour of the newly opened campus and talks for school students and their parents.

“High school students can choose from more than 30 first-year subjects at USC Moreton Bay, which will give them credit towards their Queensland Certificate of Education while working towards a degree,” she said. “There is no tuition fee for the first subject.”

Eighteen-year-old Kiah Vescovi, who will be speaking on the night, is a Northpine Christian College graduate who is now in the second year of a USC Bachelor of Paramedic Science.

The Beachmere resident completed two Headstart courses at USC Sunshine Coast in 2017, when she was in Year 11.

“I studied the introductory subject Communication and Thought, which every USC student is required to complete, and that assisted me in writing essays and locating credible sources for reports,” she said.

“My second subject was about behavioural health and how the human mind develops. My tutor was so enthusiastic, it helped me understand the growth and psychology of people and other concepts I still reflect upon in my daily life.”

Kiah said Headstart showed her the level of independence students had at university.

“It’s called self-directed learning,” she said. “I learned how to manage my time wisely by creating weekly goals, and how to find resources if I needed help.”

Completing Headstart also put her ahead in subjects for her degree, which she was accepted into before finishing school after receiving a USC Early Offer Guarantee.

“I love my degree because I get to learn about the human body and practise with heaps of cool equipment,” she said.

“The Paramedic Science labs are awesome. I get to practise my clinical skills with manikins, a simulated ambulance, lifelike blood, needles and heaps more. Most of all, I have a passion for helping people and after my first placement working inside a real ambulance, I knew that this is where I want to be when I graduate.”

USC’s Headstart Information Evening will provide details on the application process, eligibility, costs, scholarships, available courses and university entry options. Register here.