Student Profiles

Bachelor of Property and Real Estate, Burwood campus

Currently: Assistant Valuer, CB Richard Ellis

On-line units and e-live lectures are allowing Estelle Fraser to work full-time as an Assistant Valuer while she completes Deakin's Bachelor of Property and Real Estate. 'If I am held up at work, the lecture is recorded, I can sit in a cafe and do it without having to rush,' she says. 'I can stop the recording and write notes and I don't have to do it in the designated time slot.'

Estelle says she has always had a keen interest in commercial property so she began full-time work in the Melbourne office of global property company CB Richard Ellis soon after leaving school. 'Working for a property company while doing the degree provides you with valuable industry contacts and experience,' she says. She started in the asset services department of CB Richard Ellis but has since notched up further valuable experience in areas including private client asset services and valuation and advisory services.

Combining all this work and study will pay dividends for Estelle who completed her degree mid way through 2011. She came to Deakin in 2008 with a Certificate IV in Property which earned her some valuable credits towards the degree. The Deakin course was relatively new at the time but Estelle was immediately happy with its content and delivery.

'One of the appealing things - whilst working full time in the industry, was the flexibility,' she says. 'Deakin's online learning system is really good - the discussion boards, being able to talk to fellow students and having a lecturer moderate your work. They usually get back to you within a day.'

The subject content was right on the mark too, Estelle adds. 'As well as property subjects, we studied law, accounting and economics, they are particularly important. Within the property subjects, we got to explore other areas like property law and property economics throughout the semester.' Estelle has also been pleased with the variety of experiences provided by lecturers. 'We have had guest speakers talking about how we could further our careers and field trips to construction sites,' she says. 'If there is something we want to learn about they will structure the lecture to cover it. They are very accommodating.'

In March 2009, Estelle was approached by the Victor Smorgon Group to undertake work within their property team. Employed as a Property Manager, Estelle was responsible for the strategic management of a range of retail and industrial assets. Estelle has now returned to CB Richard Ellis as an Assistant Valuer to pursue her goal of becoming a Certified Practicing Valuer.

'The Deakin degree is an Australian Property Institute (API) accredited degree, which enables graduates to gain a Certified Practising Valuer (CPV) accreditation,' Estelle explains. 'Professional experience is required to become certified.'

In the mean time, she also benefits from the contact with other property and real estate students, whilst representing Deakin University as a Young Property Professional (YPP) board member. 'It is good to have industry peers. We are quite a close knit group.'