Goals and determination driving Steph to succeed

Steph Woods has a clear goal for her future: to become a lawyer and advocate for other people with disabilities. And she’s not letting her own health needs stand in the way.

The 18-year-old lives with a degenerative disorder called mitochondrial disease and is completing her VCE from home through Virtual Schools Victoria (formerly Distance Education Centre Victoria).

“I want to become a human rights lawyer so people with disabilities know what they are entitled to,” she says.

Woods won a VCE Study Award in 2025 after earning a perfect score in legal studies in year 11, reflecting both her academic ability and determination to succeed.

She says that moving from a bricks-and-mortar school to VSV was a game-changer, particularly the flexibility to watch recorded classes and support setting up a tailored learning environment.

With symptoms ranging from chronic migraines, nerve damage and vision and hearing impairments to ataxia and scoliosis, she’s not always well enough to log on: “You pick an organ and it doesn’t work.”

Woods is one of about 5500 students who study through VSV each year, from professional sportspeople or performing artists to students living in rural and remote communities or experiencing health difficulties.

Her mum, Kylie Poppins is as proud as punch. On the day of Steph’s award ceremony, Poppins and her son looked over as they prepared to leave to find Steph studying.

“She works so hard,” she says. “I teach year 12 and there’s not many kids who wake up and can’t sit up because of this massive migraine, and are throwing up from nausea, but then crawl out of bed an hour later to study for a SAC.″⁣

“I probably shouldn’t be quoted on this, but I want to beat the able-bodied kids,” she says, laughing.

Interest in vocational and applied learning is growing alongside traditional studies.