After completing Year 12 in 2018, Dahnea took a gap year to gain work experience and reflect on her future career path. In 2019, she began working at PinnacleHPC, where she gained valuable insights into the accounting profession, ultimately leading her to pursue a Bachelor of Accounting through Charles Sturt University. Balancing full-time work with part-time study, Dahnea made the strategic decision to step back from her job and transition to full-time study, allowing her to expedite the completion of her degree.

Dahnea completed her degree entirely online, a journey that began amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden shift to online learning brought about several obstacles, particularly during her initial exam session, which she found challenging to manage from home. Fortunately, Dahnea discovered the CUC Western Riverina, where she could book tutorial rooms for exams and utilise valuable resources for assignments. The Centre became a cornerstone of her academic success, offering a conducive study environment and supportive network of fellow students and staff, which mitigated the isolation associated with studying online.

Dahnea didn’t just focus on her studies; she also gave back to the CUC community by becoming a Student Ambassador. In this role, she actively participated in outreach initiatives, helping to make higher education more accessible to others in her community.

Dahnea is now working full-time as a graduate accountant at Kelly Partners, formerly PinnacleHPC, where she continues to apply the knowledge and skills developed during her academic and professional journey.