Faculty of Science and Technology
Deakin University
Paul Northey Paul Northey may have completed his masters in 1998, but he is still reaping the rewards of his commitment to study nearly ten years later. Paul has been employed by Barwon Water for 14 years, and thanks to postgraduate study he has not remained in the same position for any longer than four years. ‘It has certainly broadened by knowledge and made my options more flexible,’ says Paul, who completed a Masters of Environmental Engineering via distance education through Deakin University in 1998. ‘I have had a variety of positions that I would not have been given without the masters.’ Paul completed his masters before the advent of on-line delivery, so he had to cope with pages of notes arriving at the beginning of each term. ‘It requires self discipline because you are studying in isolation,’ he says. ‘You don’t have someone telling you what to do or the advantage of shared learning. But I found it pretty good.’ After graduating from Monash University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Paul was initially employed by the Rural Water Commission as an engineer. He also took a civil engineering position with Barwon Water in 1994 before the masters degree began to have a positive effect - before it was even completed. ‘While I was doing the course I became Environment Coordinator,’ Paul says. ‘The course allowed me to move from being a civil engineer to an environmental role. It broadened my knowledge in areas like water treatment processes, as well as my overall knowledge.’ One of the greatest advantages of studying at Deakin, Paul says, was having the option of choosing subjects from different campuses. ‘I could do subjects like environmental planning and environmental legislation through the Burwood campus when they were not offered at Geelong with the engineering ones. I found that was an added advantage.’ Formerly from Melbourne, Paul says Deakin students studying in Geelong have plenty to look forward to. ‘One reason I have stayed where I am is that Geelong is a really good place to live. We have all the services of Melbourne but with a coastal lifestyle.’ After adding an MBA to his qualifications, Paul now looks forward to climbing even further up the career ladder, courtesy of his commitment to study.
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