{"id":18530,"date":"2022-08-25T14:11:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-25T06:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/friends\/?p=18530"},"modified":"2025-07-24T12:36:55","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T04:36:55","slug":"curtin-staff-giving-program-invests-in-future-of-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/friends\/curtin-staff-giving-program-invests-in-future-of-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Curtin staff giving program invests in future of students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Curtin Law student Annabel Biscotto.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author | Carmelle Wilkinson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since she was four years old, Curtin Law and International Relations student Annabel Biscotto was fascinated with the world around her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inquisitive by nature, the youngster\u2019s inherent passion for education and love of learning was evident after her first day of kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While her new friends excitedly told their Mums about the cool paintings they had created or the lovely time they had in the playground, Annabel had questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Mum picked me up, I told her my day was good, but I wanted to know why I didn\u2019t learn to read and write,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been interested in learning and from a young age was eager to start my education journey,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a student I always tried my hardest at school and doing well meant a great deal to me. Which is why it was so frustrating when I struggled at times to sit still and focus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annabel said the frustration continued throughout her primary and secondary schooling, and it wasn\u2019t until she was 20 that she was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The diagnosis lifted years of confusion off her shoulders and finally gave Annabel clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always knew there was sort of something there, but I couldn\u2019t quite put my finger on it,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEducation has always been important to me, and I\u2019ve known that my whole life, but I could never understand why I haven\u2019t been able to sit down and study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFinding out I had ADHD so late in life not only helped me understand the challenges I had experienced it also helped my family know how to best to support me.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming from a small and close-knit Italian-Australian family, Annabel said her grandparents migrated from Italy in the late 1950s to begin a new life in Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Annabel with her Nonna and brother Ben making gnocchi after school.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey made many sacrifices for their children to have a prosperous life here in this wonderful country and I am fortunate enough to reap the benefits as their grandchild,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI enjoy spending time with my Nonna and it reminds me of how lucky I am to have grown up in a supportive family and have had the opportunity to pursue an education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy family has shown me the importance of acceptance and welcoming all with open arms and I seek to embody this concept through my service to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlthough I initially had dreams of working for the Australian Embassy in Italy, my passion has always been helping others seek justice and following graduation I\u2019d love to work as a criminal lawyer<\/em>.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, Annabel attended the Australian Law Association Conference in Brisbane, an opportunity that was made possible with support from Curtin\u2019s staff giving program \u2013 Give to Change<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to the generosity of staff, the program provides financial support to students working towards their career goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annabel said without the funding she would not have been able to attend the conference, let alone be nominated as the Association\u2019s new President.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a great opportunity to go over to Brisbane and meet delegates from law schools around Australia,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt really tested my leadership skills and inspired me to nominate for the executive role of President on the Association for the next 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am truly grateful for the support of Curtin staff in my journey and helping me continue to chase my passion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annabel said her recently published paper<\/a> on Mental Health and Wellbeing, elevates law student voices on the importance of mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe publication was originally written for law students to assist them with burn out, but it could definitely translate to other degrees,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt discusses the importance of maintaining healthy relationships with family and friends and getting enough sleep and exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is something I am extremely passionate about, and I hope this publication opens the lines of communication for other students who may also be in a similar position to me and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the legal profession.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Curtin Mechanical Engineering and Finance student Patrick Catambay at Curtin Bentley Campus.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motivated to learn, grow and make a meaningful difference for others, Curtin Mechanical Engineering and Finance student Patrick Catambay will attend the inaugural Green Summit in Bangkok later this year thanks to financial support from Give to Change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Held over four days in December, the Summit will attract Green Ambassadors from around the world to champion climate action at a global level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEnvironmental sustainability, technology and action forms a huge part of what I\u2019m interested in, and I am sincerely grateful to be given the opportunity to attend this Summit which is so close to my heart,\u2019\u2019<\/em> <\/strong>he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally from the Philippines, Patrick moved to Australia with his family when he was young and spent much of his childhood in Karratha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surrounded by the red dirt and wide open spaces of the regional mining town, Patrick enjoyed an adventurous childhood, playing sport and exploring the picturesque coastline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of 36 in his Year 12 cohort, Patrick valued education, and made the most of his experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGrowing up in a household that emphasised education I always enjoyed studying and was serious about doing well. My Dad is a mechanical engineer and Mum was a civil engineer before she stopped to raise my siblings and I, so you could say it\u2019s in the family,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy Dad grew up in the rice fields in the Philippines and worked extremely hard to get an education and create a better life for our family. He\u2019s been a great role model in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Patrick spent much of his childhood in Karratha where his Dad worked as a Mechanical Engineer. (L-R) Patrick\u2019s sister Retchell, brother Kevin, Mum Merle, Dad Julian, (Patrick) and eldest brother Dexter.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patrick said the Green Summit was as opportunity for him to contribute and interact with others who are equally as passionate about the future of our planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy generation is probably the last and most likely to be able to contribute and steer us out of whatever we are headed towards, and I would like to be a part of that change,\u2019\u2019 <\/em><\/strong>he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFollowing graduation, the perfect job for me would be working as a mechanical engineer while supporting my family and helping save the world. That would be the dream.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curtin staff member Chanelle Gibbs<\/a> said the university\u2019s Give to Change program aligned with her values and supported a cause she was passionate about \u2013 education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Curtin Student Experience Coordinator Chanelle Gibbs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUndertaking university study at any life stage is challenging on its own, without the addition of inequality factors such as finances or cultural circumstances, which can make further education out of reach or unnecessarily difficult for many people,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEducation is so powerful in boosting opportunities for those who are given the chance to wholly participate in and complete their studies.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEmpowering those from different backgrounds has a positive cascading influence on future generations, not only increases employment and financial opportunities, but it is of great benefit in solving complex problems, as there are many points of view collaborating to come up with the solutions, this can only be good for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would like to find out more about Curtin\u2019s staff giving program please click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author | Carmelle Wilkinson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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