At 36, Steve Foukkare wasn't sure he was smart enough to go to university. At 50, he graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology. What happened in between is a story of resilience, sacrifice, and a deep belief in the power of learning to change a life.
A Long Road to Learning
Steve Foukkare has lived in Sydney his whole life. Now 52, married with three children aged 23, 11 and 9, he has spent more than a decade working as an aged care community case manager. But his path to that career was anything but straightforward.
In his early thirties, Steve navigated a divorce and took on 50/50 shared custody of his son. It was during that period of upheaval that something clarified for him. "I had always wanted to go to university," he says, "but I did not think I was smart enough to complete a degree. I thought I would fail my first subject." The desire to grow, both professionally and personally, outweighed the fear. In 2010, he enrolled at UNE, drawn by its reputation as "the premium long distance university with a proven track record."
A Pivot That Changed Everything
Steve started in a Primary School Education degree, unsure of exactly how he wanted to help his community. His results quickly settled one question: he finished first year with three Distinctions and one High Distinction. After a teaching placement, though, he knew the classroom wasn't right for him. He approached UNE's Psychology Department about transferring and arrived at that conversation with eight strong grades behind him. The department welcomed him, and credit points carried over from Education helped smooth the transition.
Studies progressed well until 2014, when Steve met his now-wife and stepped away from his degree for six years to focus on their growing family. He returned to UNE in 2020 and graduated in 2024, at the age of 50.
4am Alarms and Family Sacrifices
Ask Steve what his greatest achievement is and he doesn't hesitate: finishing the degree at all. "The discipline it took to wake up at 4am month after month to get three hours of studying done before family and work commitments started, plus the countless weekends over many years, was a true testament to how motivated I was."
After his younger children arrived, his grades dipped from a Distinction average to Credits. He reframes it plainly: "Simply passing all subjects was an enormous achievement. It took great self-determination and discipline." His wife quietly made it possible, taking the kids out on weekends so he had space to study. It is a debt he holds close, and one of the reasons he has paused further study for now.
The Community That Carried Him Through
Steve's defining memory of his studies is not a grade or a lecture, but the people. "The online community that developed in every subject helped me with daily conversations about the challenges I was facing. Without the online community, I could not have completed my degree." For a distance student balancing work, kids and study, those Moodle connections were as real as any campus friendship.
He also recalls, with equal fondness and exasperation, his statistics units. "I still don't fully understand advanced statistics. I had many robust discussions with Professor Will Coventry, who did his best to break them down for me. I am still surprised I passed!"
Psychology in Practice
Today, Steve draws on his degree every day. "My Psychology degree has helped me understand the complex needs of my clients on a deeper level, helping me deliver person-centred care from a holistic perspective. It has made me a much better, more compassionate case manager."
He has also become a student of Stoicism, finding in the works of Marcus Aurelius and author Ryan Holiday a framework that mirrors the lessons his own life has taught him. "We are all only on Earth for a very short time. I ultimately want to be a good human, be of service to my family and community, and leave the world a better place."
Steve is considering a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy down the track, but for now family comes first. His advice to anyone considering a similar path is simple: "Studying my Psychology degree, and the love it has given me for learning, was the greatest gift I have given myself. I am forever grateful to UNE for the opportunity."
