Community Development Report: My First Impressions of Murdoch Uni

This report provides a student's reflective account of their initial experiences and expectations upon enrolling in a master's program at Murdoch University, Perth Campus. The author, an international student from Bhutan, expresses both excitement and apprehension about adapting to a new culture and environment. The report details the student's positive anticipation regarding accommodation options, the university's academic reputation, and opportunities for personal and professional development through extracurricular programs. It highlights the campus's diverse facilities and the chance to interact with students from various backgrounds. However, the report also acknowledges potential challenges, such as the city's isolation, limited support for diverse food options, high living costs, and the absence of a pre-existing social network. The student emphasizes the importance of careful financial planning and proactive engagement in campus activities to foster cultural integration and ensure a successful academic experience.

Running Head: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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There is a mixed feeling of excitement and dread as I enrolled myself into a master's
program at Murdoch University, Perth Campus. I am a resident of Bhutan and there is great
anticipation within me to move into Australia and come back to university as a postgraduate
student. It is quite natural for me to have a nervousness as I am going to enter into a foreign
country and plan a 2 year staying and studying program amongst the new culture. After going
through many sources I found helpful information to sustain my living in a foreign country
and I feel am quite ready for it. First of all, I am not worried about accommodation facilities
as there are whole of options for me to fit into my budget. I am acquainted with the fact that
Murdoch University is a reputed university in Australia and numerous expert academics have
contributed towards university’s research discoveries. After interacting with students
pursuing post gradation at Murdoch University, Perth Campus I noticed that learning
program is integrated with work-related experience which is a crucial segment for student
development and groom students for a successful career. From the various available
extracurricular programs, I am looking forward to a worthy personal development program
which would help me to excel in my communication and presentation skills. Fortunately, I
also found that the campus at Perth features specialised educational as well as recreational
facilities along with its native bush land (Bird, 2015). The campus is vibrant and
accommodates fully operational moot court, engineering plant, support services, media
facilities, hospital and farm.
The campus at Perth is huge and covers 227 hectares of native Australian bush land
which includes a wide range of flora and fauna around the campus. Also, it is quite popular
for incorporating students from different parts of the world (Stratton, 2016). This means I will
be entering into a diversified culture where I will be able to learn about people from a
different ethnic background and also get an ultimate Australian experience. All these have
made me equally excited to become a member of the culture. As I belong to a third world
country all these features are totally new for me, as a result, I am equally nervous to let
myself fit into a new environment. The experience is bound to be unique and different from
what I had in my graduate program. The outdoor experience at Murdoch, Perth Campus is
also been reviewed as spectacular by the residential students of the campus for which I am
looking forward to a rich and memorable experience. However, there are many disadvantages
associated with a place that is going to pose a challenge for me. Perth has been popular for
the most isolated city around the globe which is both a curse and blessing at the same time.
Perth campus has a little support for arranging food for a diverse population and therefore

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have to adjust with the seasonal availability (Stratton, 2016). Perth is known for brilliant
beaches, friendly people, and great healthcare but also lacks affordable transportation and
accommodation in and around the city (Geagea, Vernon & MacCallum, 2019). I have to be
very careful about how and where I spent my budget as the cost of living for me is really
high.
Being a resident of Bhutan country my only challenge will be managing my finances
and my activities around the campus and only invest my time and money which will help me
to progress in my career. Moreover, I have no known individual residing in Perth and
therefore at the beginning, it will be challenging for me to adjust with the new environment
and meet new apprentices at the campus. Expecting my course at the next semester will not
be intense and I would be able to accommodate my time by joining common interest clubs
and sports team by which I mean to explore a diversified social life. Progressively I believe
that by the end of the semester I can acquaint myself to the culture and community at Perth
campus. However with the expensive comfort food availability, rising prices of travel cost
and less budget friendly accommodation I have to be equally careful to map out my activities
as per the budget and save myself form any mishaps during my course period at the
university campus.

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References
Bird, D. (2015). Murdoch university and Western Australian screen academy: A guide to
studying film in Perth. Screen Education, (76), 94.
Geagea, A., Vernon, L., & MacCallum, J. (2019). Creative arts outreach initiatives in
schools: effects on university expectations and discussions about university with
important socialisers. Higher Education Research & Development, 38(2), 250-265.
Stratton, J. (2016). Perth Cultural Studies: A brief and partial intellectual history. Thesis
eleven, 137(1), 83-105.