A city built for study and family life

Before arriving in Australia, Wahyu had certain expectations about what living in the capital city of Australia might feel like, but instead of a busy, crowded environment like that of major cities back home, he found something much calmer.

“Canberra is not what I thought of as a capital city, like Jakarta,” he says. “The landscapes and natural atmospheres in Canberra are stunning, which brings back my childhood memories. I grew up with such a wonderful mountain-like view.”

That sense of familiarity has helped Canberra quickly feel like home.

“For me, Canberra is a great destination for family life and study,” he says. “It has lots of spots for family time. Also, Canberra is just calm for study.”

Canberra’s abundance of festivals and community events have also added to the experience.

“Canberra, in addition to being a great place for families with its stunning nature, is a city of festivity,” he says. “Various festivals, such as the Kite Festival in September, provide another layer of family experiences.”

Finding the right place to grow

Wahyu began his PhD at UC in 2023, drawn by the opportunity to work alongside experts in STEM education.

“The main reason for taking my PhD at UC was to collaborate with and learn from an established team of researchers,” he says.

In particular, UC’s STEM Education Research Centre (SERC) stood out because of its strong focus on improving mathematics learning and teacher quality.

“The centre developed a STEM learning model in Australia, which promotes spatial reasoning and improves students’ achievement,” he says.

Wahyu was also encouraged by the fact that SERC had existing projects already established back home.

“The SERC team also had several projects in Indonesia to improve the quality of mathematics teachers and learning,” he explains. “UC, and the research centre specifically, has all that I need for my PhD research.”

A challenging journey with rewarding moments

Like many PhD students, Wahyu is realistic about the demands of research.

“It seems that no one agrees that a PhD is an easy journey,” he says. “What I do enjoy about this journey is the process that makes me better understand what I have been doing. Now, I could say, ‘I should [or should not] have done this and that’ for my study.”

That willingness to reflect and grow has shaped Wahyu’s time at UC.

As an Australia Awards scholar, he says he has also benefited from support beyond the classroom.

“It is an honour to be an awardee of the Australia Awards,” he says. “This scholarship affords me an opportunity to grow through all of its programs, from pre to post-study.”

One of the most valuable parts of that experience was the pre-departure program, which helped prepare students for university life in Australia.

“We were equipped with the required knowledge and skills to study in Australian universities, such as academic writing,” he says. “We were also facilitated to make plans for networking in Australia and future contributions to our country.”

Big achievements and everyday support

Although the journey has been challenging, there have also been some unforgettable moments.

“Academically, I have an unbelievable moment,” he says.

In 2025, Wahyu won the faculty heats of UC’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, across the Faculty of Education, Arts and Design, Business, Law, and Government, before moving on to compete in the whole-university finals.

“In the finals, I was crowned the People’s Choice award,” he says. “It was just unbelievable.”

Outside of those major achievements, Wahyu says UC’s support services have also made a real difference to his day-to-day life.

“I think UC does a great thing to support international students, such as mental health support,” he says.

Another initiative that has stood out is the UC Food Pantry, where students can access free fruit and vegetables, as well as pantry items, an initiative that “means a lot” to both international and domestic students who might be struggling with cost of living.

Looking ahead, his focus remains firmly on Indonesia, and on the goals that brought him to Canberra as an Australia Awards scholar.

“After accomplishing my PhD, I will be focusing on my efforts to improve primary students’ numeracy in Indonesia,” he says.

“I think the core of this improvement is proper research, which is then translated into teacher professional development and classroom practices.”