Ben’s inspiring journey to University life

When he was 16, Ben Roberts made a metre-high BMX jump in his backyard out of a pile of dirt. “I was a bit nervous about testing it but thought – what the heck, I’ll have a go,” Ben said.

He woke up in the intensive care unit at Tenterfield Hospital with a broken neck to learn that he would be a quadriplegic for the rest of his life.

Today, six years but a lifetime later, Ben has started studying a Bachelor of Social Science degree at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus.

Sitting in the afternoon sun outside his specially-modified University accommodation, with its sweeping valley views and thrum of student activity, Ben feels like he has suddenly grown wings and claimed his independence and future back again.

After the accident, Ben spent 17 sometimes dark and despairing months in hospital. “Of course there were times when I just wanted to die,” he said. “I was angry and in denial. I couldn’t imagine what my future would be like without the use of any of my four limbs and with a ventilator helping me to breathe.

“You can’t believe the condition will be permanent. You always believe that you will learn to walk again. It is hard to accept the longevity of the disability.”

In hospital, Ben made friends with many other young men who were also facing the challenges of paraplegia or quadriplegia. “They had survived all sorts of accidents,” Ben said. “Some had broken their neck while surfing or diving into shallow water; for others it was a car or motorbike accident. One had fallen off a ladder.

“I realised that life would go on for each and every one of us and made a decision that the only way to freedom for me was education – otherwise I would end up at home until my old age, just watching TV in my parents’ house. There was no way I wanted a life like that.

“So I went back to Tenterfield High School and finished my Higher School Certificate and then enrolled at Southern Cross University.”

Initially, Ben’s family and friends wondered how someone with such high support needs could manage independently, so far away from his local support networks.

“But the University was just great – they couldn’t do enough to help accommodate my needs,” Ben said.

Ben has moved into a specially modified unit in Magellan College, which he shares with other students. A wall has been removed between two bedrooms, giving him more space and a concealed private laundry has been neatly tucked away behind cupboard doors. The bathroom has been made fully accessible, with easy access from Ben’s bedroom.

“It is a great environment for me to be in,” Ben said. “I have government-funded personal support staff and the University provides support such as a note-taker for my academic studies.

“My main worry when I came was how I would fit in socially and whether I’d make friends, but it has been much easier than I expected and I have found the other students to be great company and very friendly. There is a very relaxed and accepting feel about the SCU community which I appreciate.

“I think my family always knew the transition would go well however everyone’s efforts have made this a definite success.”

Ben said that his goal was to have a career involving government social policy.

Photo: Ben Roberts enjoying his new life as a student at Southern Cross University.