Nicholas' story

Growing up early

Nicholas’ early experience of education was impacted by a family breakdown and becoming part of the foster care system. Poor mental health and limited support led him to become disengaged with school – dropping out in Year 9.

Leaving home at 16 and becoming a father at 17, Nicholas went into the workforce as a labourer to provide for his newborn son. Despite finishing school early, Nicholas knew he had more to give. He applied for a call centre collections role where he began helping customers experiencing financial hardship.

Dreaming big and reaching out

Nicholas’ empathy and compassion allowed him to build a strong emotional intelligence while negotiating payment arrangements and debt waivers for customers going through challenging life circumstances. Because he witnessed the impact of a lack of understanding at an early age, he became passionate about financial literacy.

This gave him the drive and determination for his future career aspirations, along with his personal goals of providing stability for his son and purchasing his own home. Moving to NAB in 2020, Nicholas worked his way up through retail and business banking roles, winning awards and building respect for his achievements.

In 2022, he decided to take the leap back into education enrolling in Swinburne’s Diploma of Business – but it wasn’t easy. Battling low self-esteem and caring for a child with additional needs, Nicholas’ study suffered. This time, he reached out for help.

“Swinburne has been an incredible support to me. As soon as I put my hand up and admitted I was struggling, they were there. Without judgement, they supported me to re-enrol and empowered me to complete the course. I felt like they really invested in me as a human.”

From self-understanding to empowerment

By mid-2024 Nicholas was diagnosed with ADHD. This was an incredible turning point, validating his struggles and allowing him to challenge negative self-beliefs.

With the ongoing support and advocacy from the Swinburne accessibility team, Nicholas completed the diploma and progressed to a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting and Financial Planning, commencing July 2025.

Nicholas’ future career goals include using his business and financial literacy skills to empower others to fulfil their dreams and aspirations, either through a role in banking or as a self-employed business consultant.