Towards the end of 1996, after 11 years in banking - first with Westpac, then with Trust Bank - Michael Bell (NSW) realised that if his career was to progress any further, he would need to undertake some formal study. "Without it," he says, "I was just one of the many bankers with no qualifications in an industry where this was becoming increasingly unacceptable." So, following the lead of two former colleagues, he enrolled in the FSU's Diploma of Management.

However, career plans can change, and before Michael had completed his Diploma he'd moved into real estate. He was pleased to find that not only was he able to continue with the course, but also that what he was learning was equally applicable to his new job. And he was even more pleased to find that his FSU Diploma would earn him generous credit towards the Diploma of Business (Real Estate Management) required for a real estate licence: in effect, he only had to complete those units specifically relating to real estate.

More recently, Michael's returned to the banking and finance sector, having been head-hunted to manage a new Bendigo Community Bank branch. It is, he says, a challenging and varied role, a real management position: "It ranges from responsibility for staff, and for loan assessment (both consumer and commercial), through to communicating with some 300 shareholders and ten directors."

His commitment to study hasn't slackened. "I've discovered the benefits of career-related study," Michael says, "and to say that it can 'unlock your career potential' is an understatement." So, having recently completed the Financial Services training required for his new position, Michael has now enrolled in Monash University's Graduate Certificate in Banking and Finance, the first step towards a Masters degree.