As semester one kicks off for 2025, first-year students are experiencing uni life for the first time – and some of them are even experiencing Tasmanian life for the first time.
Students like Violet Willmore, who is now settling into life as a resident at Christ College student accommodation.
Violet, from Haven in regional Victoria, relocated to Hobart specifically to study a Bachelor of Natural Environments and Conservation at the University of Tasmania.
“I’m the oldest of about 16 cousins in my family, and I’m the first person in my family to go to university,” she said.
“I do like leading by example!”
It will be Violet’s first time living away from home and, while she admitted to feeling a little daunted, she was also excited about making new friends and exploring all Tasmania has to offer.
And just last year, Violet wasn’t even sure if she wanted to go to university at all.
“Ever since I was in grade three or four, I wanted to be a ‘bird doctor’,” she said.
“When I was little I was very interested in dinosaurs, and when I watched this documentary and learned that birds evolved from dinosaurs, I was instantly in love with birds.
“So, I was planning on going to uni to be a vet and specialise in birds. But in year 12 I found out I was going to need to move to Melbourne to study it, and it seemed really difficult.”
Violet started looking at other options, with a focus on anything conservation-themed, eventually attending a careers expo at Horsham, Victoria.
“That was where I met someone from UTAS and had a long conversation with her about environmental science,” Violet said.
“She was so passionate and it all sounded so good that I thought: maybe I’ll study that instead, and I’ll still get to help birds in a different way!
“I applied on that same day.”
Violet applied through the Schools Recommendation Program and received an early offer of a place in the Bachelor of Natural Environments and Conservation course, based on her year 11 results and her school’s confidence in her scholastic abilities.
To make her first time living away from home easier, she applied to live in student accommodation at Christ College, meaning she is living close to the Sandy Bay campus along with hundreds of other residential students.
“There’s lots of other people around, so I can make friends and I won’t be lonely,” she said.
And – to smooth out the relocation experience even more – after entering an Instagram postcard competition for students moving to Tasmania from interstate, Violet also won the main prize of having her relocation flight to Tasmania paid for in full.
Originally reluctant to even move from Haven to Melbourne, Violet has now made a much bigger move in order to study in Tasmania, and she regrets nothing.
“Tassie is just really nice, I love the mountains, it’s all so green and pretty, and nothing like Melbourne.
“And my parents were very excited to have an excuse to come to Tassie to visit!”
And being able to study a course she’s passionate about, in a place of such unique natural beauty, was also a huge justification for making the move.
“I feel so drawn to my course, I’m really passionate about conservation and being mindful of the environment, wanting to make the world a bit better.
“And I’m really excited about meeting other likeminded people and all the new opportunities that will come with that.
“I haven’t even thought about a specific career at all. So, I don’t know what kind of job I might get at the other end of this, but I know it’s going to be fun.”
- The University of Tasmania has a full range of support and services available for students who need to relocate to study. From accommodation, to financial assistance and scholarships, we can help you on your study journey.