Things don’t always go to plan, but unexpected paths can lead to rewarding opportunities.

That’s true for Tim Harte, who went from being an aspiring ballet dancer to a PhD researcher and global disability advocate.

Tim is the third profile in our lifelong learning series, following inspiring stories from thunderstorm asthma sensor inventor Dr Kira Hughes and professional netballer Jo Weston.

An unexpected change in direction

Up until the age of 19, Tim was training as an aspiring ballet dancer:

‘I had been in the dance world since I was three and that was my whole identity.

The onset of a medical condition changed those plans:

‘I was having dizziness from low blood pressure and neurological conditions. Initially I was in denial thinking, “this is just a pause, this isn’t something that’s permanent”. It took me about five years to come to terms with “this is a passion that clearly isn’t going to continue”.

It wasn’t an easy journey, and it took resilience to come out on the other side with a positive approach.’

Finding a new path

Tim found a new direction through a long-held interest in science and took an alternate pathway by enrolling in a Diploma of Science through Deakin College.

‘I completed the diploma part time, but because of Deakin’s trimester system, it wasn’t double the amount of time, which was great. I graduated with the top marks for that graduating cohort in my diploma and went into second year of Deakin Bachelor of Science to start a new journey.’

Tim’s PhD research

Now studying a PhD focused on sustainable energy storage materials, Tim says research rarely goes exactly as planned:

‘Part of the journey of research is understanding that nothing is set in stone. My whole plan for the first year of my PhD didn’t work. I was lucky that there were a couple of side projects that did.’

His research focuses on structural energy storage, where materials can act as both part of a structure and an energy storage system:

‘It’s not as a separate battery in the door – the battery is the door.’

Disability advocacy

As a disability advocate, Tim believes representation matters, particularly in leadership and decision-making roles:

‘If you have people with disability in your team, business, workplace and research, you’re more likely to be making products and services that are relevant to the whole of society. Better decisions, better products, better for everyone.

I think it’s important that we have people from the disability community who can show the broader community we are capable, that we really can do anything.’

Tim has advocated for the disability community across governance, research and disability policy. He’s served as a board member of Physical Disability Australia, spoken at the United Nations on the rights of people with disability and was nominated for the 2026 Young Australian of the Year award.

Stories of Wonder

Find out more about Tim’s learning journey, as well as many others, in the Stories of Wonder series:

‘Stories of Wonder’ is a multimedia series celebrating the impact Deakin students, alumni, researchers and staff are making in the world, hosted by Deakin alumni Don Hennequin.

Keep an eye out for future lifelong learning stories published here on the Deakin Life blog.

Related links

If Tim’s story inspired you, learn about the Deakin support and services that helped him.

• If disability, health or mental health affects your studies the Disability Resource Centre (DRC) can support you.
• Deakin offers a range of entry pathways to help you reach your dream course.
• Our flexible study options empower you to learn when, where and how it suits you.
• Consider undertaking an honours degree or find the right research degree or PhD for you.