Only later, when I started learning more about domestic violence, attending counselling sessions, joining (and then facilitating) a group for women recovering from DV, I found the explanation to the feeling that I had.
When one is in an abusive relationship, it feels like you are in a box — constantly told you are worthless, that you are nothing without your partner; you are scared, threatened. I felt ashamed to tell anyone about that as I felt guilty for getting myself and my child into this situation. It hurts inside and your chest feels like it is about to blow out. It is not just physical abuse; it is also financial and emotional abuse.
After each assault you are being reassured that this would not happen again, but then it does. Then you are getting reassured again, but you start feeling that there is nowhere to go because you are useless, you do not have any friends, and look, I honestly thought that no one would believe me. I was told that this was what I deserved and I started to believe it. When I wanted to commence my study, I was told that it was a waste of time and that I won't be able to do it anyway as I am useless.
When I got accepted, I started to succeed in my studies. I received support from my lecturer, started networking with other students, had my little shelter at CDU campus, and I began to feel like myself again. The confident and bright Yuliia, who had her own business in Ukraine and who came to Australia to build a family and live a simple happy life. CDU also provides access to counselling, and that was very helpful. And when I heard "You make CDU", I just thought that I do, I make everything happen in my life. Studying is a very powerful process. It empowers you and gives you confidence. You get micro challenges with each assessment, which build up your resilience and make you grow academically, professionally, and personally.
In your CDU profile, you speak about your experience of feeling stuck in an abusive relationship and that studying at CDU helped you overcome this situation – can you please explain that?
CDU provided me with the skills that made me job-ready
I had a great experience with my initial course at CDU, and had a great lecturer who also advised which other studies could help me to advance in my HR career. So, I did some research, assessed my skills and went for a Diploma in Business. I originally wanted to do Business Admin, but then I met with a lecturer who asked me where I would like to direct my career and provided further advice as well as reasoning why, so I could make an informed decision.
I was also doing a lot of volunteering and community work at the time and I really enjoyed having a meaningful career and a purpose. That is why I also commenced Cert IV in Community Services which broadened my knowledge.
How Studying Empowered Yuliia to Take Back Control and Land Her Dream Job After Moving to Australia
Content warning: this article discusses domestic violence.
When Yuliia Shchedrovska moved to Australia from Ukraine, she left behind her business to start a family and live a simpler life.
At first, that’s not what she got.
“Firstly, my family life turned out to be nothing like I expected,” she says. Yuliia tells The Latch that her husband was abusive, which not only impacted her confidence significantly but, as she explains, “living in constant fear is exhausting and damaging, and you do not have enough resources to develop yourself”.
Yuliia says that she didn’t know much about the job market in Australia before relocating and that Google was no help. Her English proficiency also provided its own challenges. “I always had a rather good level of English, given I even worked as an interpreter in Ukraine,” she says. “However, when I started studying, I quickly realised that it was not enough for my academic work. It was not pleasant to hear such feedback, and it was very demotivating at times, but I have learnt to be grateful when someone points to your weaknesses. Often it is the only way to find out they are there and this is the perfect chance to improve yourself.”
Enrolling to study at Charles Darwin University (CDU) was a crucial part of Yuliia building back her confidence and overcoming these challenges. She explains that her lecturer was particularly supportive, even going so far as to recommend books that would help her improve her English skills. This, practising essay writing, and asking friends for regular feedback were particularly helpful.
What made you decide to take on further education, and why did you choose CDU?
You’ve mentioned that being a role model for your daughter is important to you – tell us about what it meant to you (and her) to return to study and set this example?
For my last birthday I received a card that said: "leave no dream undreamt". She may be too young to comprehend this completely now, but this is my wish for her and I am trying to walk the talk. I am showing her the simple things like how it’s important to study and to always be curious, crave knowledge and improvement.
It is important to be independent, and it is possible to have a dream job and to be paid for doing something you love. I show her the importance of discipline, as I can miss a movie night if there is an assessment to complete. I will take a healthy lunch for work and will go for a walk in the evening. We treat ourselves for hard work, and take weekend trips together, buy new books and go out for dumplings on Monday. She sees it because she lives it with me. We share our achievements and difficulties.
My path is not always easy, but it is the path that I choose for myself and no one else makes this decision for me. I choose to be happy. And it all started with a dream of working in this place with great purpose and meaning. It seemed so distant at the time that I could not dare even to share it with anyone. And today it is my reality.
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“Education is addictive, because it allows you to become a better version of yourself and see progress."
“This experience did not just improve my English, but also made me appreciate feedback,” Yuliia says. “I still get frustrated at times (no one enjoys hearing negative things about themselves), but if feedback is reasonable, if it is aiming to make me shine and not to shame me, it is a great tool for continuous improvement.”
When asked why she chose to study at CDU specifically, Yuliia explains that it was a combination of great resources, a top quality education, and feeling supported. “When COVID struck, and I lost my casual job in hospitality, CDU's weekly food hampers and a COVID response grant helped me to keep going,” Yuliia says.
Ahead, Yuliia tells us her story — from Ukraine to Australia and how she’s overcome so many challenges, all while raising her young daughter.
"I can confidently say that I am so proud of myself today. My journey is constantly evolving but the seeds for that were planted by my lecturers in CDU.”
Can you tell us about your work, the course you completed at CDU, and how it led you to your current career?
This is a story with some twists and turns. Today, I am exactly where I wanted to be when I started studying Certificate IV in Human Resource Management at Charles Darwin University. I’m currently a HR Officer, but back in 2018, I was working as an all-rounder in a little coffee shop in Darwin, right next to the place where I am currently working. I absolutely loved the job, but I felt like I was capable of more and could do more.
A lot of our customers were employees of the organisation where I work today, so I couldn’t help but become interested in what they were doing. But looking back at myself realistically, I had no relevant experience in Australia and had a very unsupportive husband, to say the least.
Back then, living with domestic violence, I no longer had confidence in myself. I did once compare the feeling with Alice in Wonderland, when you struggle to move or breathe because you are trapped so tight by the walls and all you need is that magic potion. And Cert IV in HR was exactly it, my magic potion.
I was having my lunch one day and noticed a flyer on the table that said CDU is currently enrolling for this qualification. It was just like a lamp lit up in my head.
I did not get any support for my decision at home. I heard all the reasons "why not" to do it, but I was lucky enough to speak with my future lecturer who reassured me that I could. On Christmas Day of 2018, I submitted my application and got accepted.
I absolutely loved the course, and, as I was the only student who was not already working in HR, I got plenty of guidance from my lecturer of how I could develop myself in the profession. I think that the high standard of the assessments that they set for me during the study period is now reflected in the high standard that I have for my work results.
To get my first job in HR was not easy, but I volunteered a lot, practised my skills whenever I had a chance, networked, and enrolled into a mentoring program. That was just about the time when I wanted to give up on my dream, but after the very first sessions with my mentor, I re-gained the confidence in my ability.
I received an offer for a HR Assistant job in a not-for-profit organisation then in November last year I saw that the position of HR Officer in my dream place had become vacant. My heart almost jumped out of my chest as this was the job. My dream job. I applied and was offered the role, all because I did not just wish for it several years ago, but made the first step towards it to set myself on the path.
How did you find the experience of balancing studying with caring for your young daughter?
It is difficult and it does come with sacrifice. But it is about priorities and what really matters. Everything that I do today will create the groundwork for my tomorrow and some opportunities may never return. I think I set a good example for my daughter as she is a young woman. Often spending time together was not ideal, as I had an assessment to complete in between casual jobs, and she was just sitting by my side playing. It does make you doubt — are you a good enough mum? — but yes, [I am] good enough. And now she knows that there is time to work and there is time to play. CDU was very supportive as I could be flexible with most of my studies and could review my study plan, if needed.
I was very motivated, and studying at an older age makes it both more difficult and easier. I had the required determination, but my sacrifice was coming at a great cost; time with my daughter. My solution was to have time just for ourselves, so it was quality time, even if it was not much. I set myself a goal of seven to eight hours of sleep and tried to stick to it, plus the basics like regular exercise and eating healthy. This does seem like something everyone would tell you to do, but the reality is you can only be productive and achieve results when you are well. Never sacrifice your health.