Swinburne Online is brimming with big personalities and success stories. But there’s one inspirational story in particular we’d like to share with you… Meet Justin Geange. He’s been on quite the journey, going from plumber to entertainer to mental healthcare professional.
Along the way, Justin’s had his fair share of ups and downs. So, we caught up with Justin to dig a little bit deeper into his experience at Swinburne Online and how he found studying a Bachelor of Social Science later in life.
A life full of twists, turns, and smiles
Since a young age, Justin’s lived with bipolar type 2. And he’ll tell you himself, that it’s been no walk in the park for him over the years. But that never stopped him from pursuing his passion… Entertaining people.
Anyone who knows him will tell you that – Justin loves putting a smile on people’s faces. And at this point in his life, he wanted to do it on a big stage. So he packed his bags and left his home in New Zealand for Brisbane in search of that.
And what better way to bring joy than by being THE mascot for the Brisbane Broncos? Justin even appeared on Australia’s Got Talent dressed as his alter ego – wowing the judges with his powerful voice. It was iconic.
Beyond the Broncos…
After two decades of bringing joy to a stadium full of fans, he decided to move into the construction industry. It was around this period that his mental health struggles returned. He says…
The flexibility of Swinburne Online was second to none. It ticked all the boxes in terms of what I could learn and how I could learn.
Justin’s Swinburne Online experience
Justin absolutely thrived at Swinburne Online. It was transformative! (his words not ours). And that was all down to our wonderful OLA’s (Online Learning Advisors), supportive community, and the like-minded students Justin met along the way. He says…
The lecturers, the other students, they actually made it a really empowering, positive learning moment for me.
But if we’re going to be really honest with you, most of our students have their ‘Oh frig, I’m actually doing this?!!’ moment. It’s natural. And Justin was no different. As an older student, he didn’t think he was cut out for the world of education. But he certainly was – and nailed it. So if you’re thinking of stepping back into higher education. Give it a go. Justin did it and succeeded. You can too!
What did Justin gain?
Skills. Knowledge. Direction. During his time at Swinburne Online, Justin found that the expertise he was gaining aligned perfectly with his ambition of helping people struggle with their mental health. He says…
The purpose of helping people through crisis has actually helped me have conversations that have kept people on the planet. It’s lifesaving stuff.
Ultimately, Justin – with a little help from Swinburne Online – opened doors to new opportunities, allowing him to find his true purpose. Today he continues to make a real, positive impact on the lives of construction workers.
If you feel inspired to reach your goals like Justin, browse our range of Bachelor of Social Science Degrees & Courses with Swinburne Online.
