Phil McFadden

Phil McFadden, 2024 Brighter Futures Scholarship recipient

As a single father, Phillip McFadden’s schedule is full to bursting. On top of raising his two children, Phil is in his third year of a Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and working part-time to pay the bills. As a recipient of a Brighter Futures Scholarship, Phil now has the space and time he needs to focus on creating a brighter future for himself, his family, and his community.

“Over my first two years of study there was a lot of stress about balancing work, getting good grades and being able to be present with my kids. It would ultimately be my grades that would suffer because I’d have to work extra shifts to pay the bills to keep a roof over our heads.

“The Brighter Futures Scholarship will make a huge difference to my quality of life and give me free time to focus on my studies and to intern in summer programs to increase my practical experience instead of working additional shifts to make ends meet.
“It will be so nice not to just feel stressed and like I am falling behind in all aspects of life all the time.”

Phil has high hopes of going on to do a Master of Medical Research part-time once he has finished his undergraduate degree. “Ultimately I’d love to work in something adjacent to clinical medicine,” he says. “Like working towards the design, creation and ultimately trialing of new pharmaceuticals.”

In addition to university and work, Phil volunteers at a local animal shelter, a job he finds very rewarding. “I started with them as part of a Community Internship program at uni but continued on because I really like it there,” he says.

Another reason Phil says he’s thriving at Griffith is the support services on offer to help people reach their educational goals, regardless of their circumstances. “There are lots of services on offer at Griffith that make things accessible,” he says.

“I spoke to a career guidance person who helped me find out about an Australian Society of Microbiology program that I did over summer, and then I got some work at the Glycomics Institute on the Gold Coast. These were both thanks to her telling me what programs and initiatives are available to students.

“It’s incredible to know that when you put your hand up and ask for help, there are people within the Griffith family available to help. Whether that’s a career counselor or a donor who supports a scholarship. I’m grateful to these people who have made my university life a little easier,” he says.

Phil’s children—a daughter and a son aged 12 and 14—are now at a crucial life stage where they are beginning to make decisions about their life direction and pursuits, and Phil hopes they see his determination to make a better life for his family and their community.

“Education is everything, I want to make a difference in the medical field while also setting a good example for my children, the next generation,” Phil says.