Two former BSSC students – now La Trobe University Bendigo graduates – Ashleigh Trounson and Austin Wiltshire have both achieved their Bachelor of Paramedic Practice/Bachelor of Public Health Promotion… but that’s not all they have in common. The pair have also been in a relationship since their first year of uni.
Ashleigh said because they were both within the same field of study they were able to support each other through their academic journey.
“While we were studying it was always good to have somebody there to help back-up the various things we were learning and to have each other for motivation and encouragement,” Ashleigh said.
Austin said one of the greatest benefits of being within the same field was that, as a couple, they were able to understand the traumatic aspects they endured during training.
Austin and Ashleigh started dating towards the end of their first year of uni, despite having known each other for years at Crusoe College and then BSSC in 2012/13.
Before we started dating we were friends but didn’t really know each other that well, until we started studying together and working on group assignments,” Austin said.
Now they have graduated, the couple are both eager to work as paramedics for Ambulance Victoria within the Loddon Mallee region.