A Woorim resident passionate about the power of education to assist communities locally and globally has graduated with a USC Master of International Development.

Tiarnah Hamlin, 23, is already adding the skills and knowledge from her latest two-year degree to her previous four-year USC Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Arts to help others.

“I am the first person in my family to attend university and I am grateful for their endless support during my time at USC,” she said.

The manager and educator at an out-of-school-hours care provider can now draw on her postgraduate learning in areas such as community engagement, participatory education practices and effective leadership.

She is also working voluntarily to implement a community fundraiser in Maroochydore for a project to empower refugees in Tijuana, Mexico.

“My six years at USC have shown me the value of networking with people in my field and enabled me to take my skills directly to the community,” she said.

“The most influential experience of my Master degree was an internship in the Philippines last year, working for the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“I also gained a lot from a student project where I took on the role of community engagement officer for a farming cooperative pilot project in the Mary Valley.”

Tiarnah said it was wonderful to see theory put into action to empower community change.