Darren Kelly

After leaving school at 17 in his native Ireland and working in construction, repeated back injuries and surgery forced Darren to look for a different working future. A history of alcohol and drug addiction fed a desire to help others in a similar position, so he enrolled to study for a Certificate IV in Community Services.

Realising that he didn’t have the computer skills he needed, however, he sought out such training through Perth’s Read Write Now.

Working in a drug and alcohol detox centre after his course, Darren felt that he wanted to be able to do more to help his clients. So, he took the next step and enrolled in a Bachelor Degree in Counselling.

Early on in the course, Darren succeeded in passing two online reading and writing assessments that he would never have thought possible only a short time before.

From being unsure how to use technology, Darren – through persistence and seeking help – became a student able to complete complex essays and use technology with confidence. Darren has successfully passed every unit he has studied to date and is now in the final weeks of his three year degree.

And while he has decided he is ‘not really an academic kind of guy’, he may go on to do a Masters in the future. In the meantime, his scholarship will enable him to study some shorter, more targeted courses in areas such as mental health and working with young people.

As Darren says, the ‘world is my oyster right now’.