• Mother-of-three awarded the Postgraduate University Medal and Chartered Accountants Australian and New Zealand Prize for Most Outstanding Postgraduate Student
• Mrs Elizabeth Brown graduated with a Master of Professional Accounting in December from Charles Sturt
• She is one of the University’s more than 9,390 graduates in 2021

Part-time work after having children led to Charles Sturt University graduate and medal winner Mrs Elizabeth Brown’s chosen career path.

Mrs Brown was recently awarded the Postgraduate University Medal for outstanding academic achievement, the highest honour that a student can receive and was awarded to only 32 December graduates.

The mother of three was also awarded the Chartered Accountants Australian and New Zealand Prize for Most Outstanding Postgraduate Accounting Student.

She is one of more than 3,890 graduates conferred in December and one of more than 9,300 graduates conferred in 2021 at Charles Sturt University. The University Medal was awarded to only 32 December graduates.

Mrs Brown grew up in Sydney and has since lived in Bowral, Alice Springs, Adelaide and now Wagga Wagga.

She returned to work after getting married and having children as a part-time bookkeeper and soon realised this is where she wanted to take her career when her children were older.

Mrs Brown previously completed a Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting and recently graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Master of Professional Accounting.

“My husband and children were very supportive and encouraging of me completing my studies,” she said.

“It feels great to have completed the course and I am excited to start my next chapter.”

Mrs Brown is not the first in her family to graduate from Charles Sturt. Her mother completed two master’s degrees at Charles Sturt in 1998 and 2003.

Despite graduation ceremonies being postponed until 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions, Mrs Brown said she will still take time to acknowledge this milestone and celebrate with family.

She is currently working in her chosen field as an accountant in Wagga Wagga and hopes to begin a chartered accounting course in 2022.

The university remains committed to hosting the rescheduled 2021 graduations in 2022. An update on the detail of these events will be issued at the end of January 2022.