House with No Steps Scholarship to assist Emma meet her challenges

Nov 27, 2003

Emma Collins admits to enjoying a good challenge, whether it involves overcoming barriers to pursue a career in environmental management or taking on new adventure sports like rock climbing.

No stranger to challenge, Emma was born with a condition called Optic Nerve Hyperplasia which has severely affected her vision and the ability to read from books, notes, signs and a computer screen. A basketball accident in high school also led to the loss of peripheral vision in her left eye.

The second-year University of Wollongong environmental science student was recently awarded a $1000 equity and merit scholarship from the House with No Steps to assist her with her studies.

Emma has used the scholarship money to buy two hand-held magnifiers for use in reading notes and maps as part of her environmental science degree.

She is also in the process of saving up an additional $3000 to purchase a Closed Circuit Television (CCT) scanner to hook up to a computer screen, which she says would greatly assist in research and also for accessing lecture notes on the web.

David Rae, from the Southern Region House with No Steps, said the 'Bev Lawson Memorial Scholarship', named after the late police assistant commissioner Bev Lawson was aimed at helping a university student to make the most of their abilities.

"This scholarship is important to us. It is a way of supporting a student to achieve their goals," David said.

"Bev was a graduate of the University, a member of the University Council and the chair of the Regional Board of the House with No Steps. She had a great commitment to education and life skills for all people, particularly those with disabilities.

"We are very keen to continue this scholarship and to assist people like Emma in the future," he said.

Emma has just completed the second year of a four-year environmental science degree. She is also keen to develop her rock climbing and bike riding skills.

She said she was looking forward to the challenges of completing her degree and pursuing a career in the areas of salinity management and remote sensing.

"I would also like to pursue a career in environmental education in the future," Emma said.