2025 Adult Learners Week Scholarship Winners
Meet the three outstanding adult learners who are this year’s Adult Learners Week Scholarship recipients.
Teegan O’Farrell, Northern Territory
When Teegan commenced studying at STEPS Palmerston, she lacked confidence and was very quiet and shy. Over time, however, she started to build confidence and to participate in classroom activities and form friendships.
Teegan’s story is one of courage, growth, and ambition. Her connection to the program has not only helped her develop valuable skills but has also inspired those around her. She participates in all activities and supports her peers in the classroom, often helping others with computer tasks while staying on top of her own learning goals. Her strong work ethic, time management, and motivation to build a better future for herself and her family make her a truly exceptional adult learner.
Over time, her trainer watched Teegan transform. She started participating in coffee making lessons, cooking and art and craft sessions. These sessions were more than fun; they were powerful confidence builders. It was like watching someone rediscover their voice. Now, Teegan is one of the most active and supportive students in our SEE classroom at Palmerston. She’s confident, focused, and speaks with purpose. Her classmates look up to her, and she’s showing strengths as a leader.
Ilya Myshkin, Tasmania
Ilya, 26, grew up in rural Russia, with his early schooling including a little English grammar and reading but minimal spoken English. At 17, Ilya moved, without su
pport, to St Petersburg to study nursing. The breakout of war between Russia and Ukraine, however, led to Ilya spending a year working in Kazakhstan before moving to Burnie, Tasmania.
Ilya heard about the Burnie Library’s English Conversation Groups from a flat-mate and began attending straight away. Six months later, he began 1:1 tutoring through Libraries Tasmania’s Adult Literacy Support Service, with a focus on improving his written skills. He still attends weekly sessions with his tutor, as well as continuing his ongoing studies at TasTAFE in Aged Care.
Ilya is a resilient learner who has faced many challenges, including leaving his family and war-torn country of birth. He has never given up and has remained focused on learning English at a functional level. Ilya attends all learning sessions possible at the library (including sessions for Harmony Week and NAIDOC Week). He regularly arrives at his tutoring sessions with a list of questions for his tutor from his additional study undertaken at home. His dedication to improve his life through adult learning is inspirational.
Krystel Batiste, Victoria
Krystel has had a more complex life than most people her age. She was removed from her family as a small child and grew up in out of home care. In her early teens, she began engaging in high-risk behaviours which included her own substance use. Giving birth to her first child at 19, Krystel’s battles with poor mental health, substance abuse disorder and unstable housing resulted in her daughter being removed from her care. This was the catalyst for Krystel getting sober, stable and working towards a brighter future for herself and her daughter.
Krystel was referred to the Reconnect Program at the Diamond Valley Learning Centre in May 2024. She came to the program with the goal of becoming a nurse, a goal that started after being hospitalised as a teenager and receiving care from a wonderful team of nurses.
Krystel is an outstanding adult learner because of her extraordinary resilience, determination, and commitment to personal growth. Despite facing significant adversity from a young age Krystel has shown remarkable strength in turning her life around. Now over two years sober with a young son and her daughter returning to her care, Krystel is actively engaged in learning, parenting, and rebuilding her life with purpose.
In March 2025, Krystel commenced studying the Certificate III Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) at DVLC and is on track to soon complete her qualification. The Certificate III will allow her to gain employment as a skilled carer in the short term and provide her with good foundations for future nursing studies.
