Sara Au

Course: Master of Professional Counselling, 2019
Nationality: Malaysian
Current role: Co-founder and Mental Health Counsellor, Cara Cara Mental Fitness / Sessional Supervisor, Monash University Malaysia

Why did you choose to study counselling?

My experiences working in the corporate environment helped me realise the importance of employee mental well-being for work performance and employee retention in organisations. I decided to pursue counselling so as to help reduce the gap in mental health support among working professionals.

Did Monash meet your expectations?

As an internationally-recognised university, Monash has indeed delivered high-quality education to ensure that we obtain both research-based knowledge and practical industry-ready skills in preparation for our journey as counsellors in Malaysia.

What did you enjoy most about your student life?

I had the opportunity to build very valuable friendships during my time at Monash. The university’s course design and recruitment of like-minded individuals greatly facilitated the development of close bonds among peers within cohorts. I believe that the connections made, not only with my peers but also with the lecturers and supervisors at Monash, have been important contributors to my personal and professional growth.

Did you participate in any student activities or opportunities?

Monash is generous with its efforts in organising training seminars and workshops to expand our knowledge across a variety of disciplines within the counselling field. I had enriching experiences in my counselling practicum and internship where I was able to practise skills learnt in the course and obtain first-hand encounters with the rewards and challenges of working in the counselling industry.

What are your career goals?

I want to work towards improving mental health literacy and reducing barriers to professional mental healthcare in Malaysia. As a large part of our lives are dedicated to career growth, I aim to provide mental health support for individuals to maximise their full potential in both their professional and personal pursuits.