18-year-old Charli has nearly completed her first semester of studying a Bachelor of Professional Communication through SIT Online, Southern Institute of Technology’s distance learning faculty. She enrolled straight after completing secondary school - Waiuku College - where she gained NCEA Level 3 and UE.
“I chose to study through SIT because it provided me with the ideal online study option which enables me to continue with all of my para-athletics training,” Charli says, adding she originally considered doing a flexy option at another tertiary provider, but found out she was required to be on campus full-time in the final year. “That was just not possible with my training schedule and my coach's location,” she explains.
After further research, Charli heard about SIT and the option to study fully online, which was the perfect solution for her situation. “By studying with SIT, I can keep training six days per week and work my study around that.”
Charli was also advised that SIT had good support for students that face learning challenges. “That was also a big plus for me as my health condition means comprehension, reading and writing can be super challenging sometimes.” Charli remarks that the Zero Fees Scheme is another bonus of choosing SIT. “…not coming out with a huge student debt is going to be really helpful as well,” she says.
“A big highlight is being able to blend both my study and my para-athletics. I am competing at both national and international level now and I am about to fly out to Aussie for my third international competition this year. My laptop comes with me on the plane, and I can do my study wherever I am.”
Charli admits to feeling overwhelmed when first starting her SIT studies. “The shift from college work to uni work was big for me and I felt out of my depth. I thought, there was no way I could do this, and I was really worried about failing.”
Doubting whether she would cope with understanding the course, Charli was also studying on her own. “Without having others around me doing the same thing as me … initially I wasn't very good at focusing.” So, Charli tapped into SIT’s Student Support Services. “We set up weekly meets to help with my planning; it was a massive help.”
Online study is more remote, and Charli acknowledges it was a challenge seeing her friends sharing their campus experience on Instagram. She admits to having “a bit of a pity party, then I got back up again. I was sad I couldn't have that experience too and felt like I was missing out. But I remembered why I'm doing things this way and now I'm really enjoying it.”
Charli’s been involved in athletics since she could walk. “I originally got into it because my big brother Quinn was competing in athletics, so I got dragged along.” She started with little track running but reveals “… I always came last due to my disability.” Despite that, Charli kept going and began throwing discus and shot put when she was around seven years old, “mainly for fun and to make friends”.
“Now I absolutely love it and it's a huge part of my life …it allows me to meet new friends, travel with a team if I gain team selection, and learn about different disabilities.”
Charli has been competing in para women's discus and shot put for about six years and currently trains six days per week - three days in the throws circle, and three days in the gym. “I have to travel at least 45 minutes each way for all sessions; you can imagine our petrol bill! For each session, I'll train for about 1.5 hours.”
Earlier this year, Charli competed in the 2026 New Zealand Track and Field Championships and although she wasn't the top seed in the event, she won the 2026 NZ Senior Para Women’s Discus title. “… to come out and beat the top seed and throw such a consistently strong series of throws, was awesome,” she says. At that same competition Charli also broke the New Zealand Para Records for both the U19 and U20 Discus in her category, “Something I had been chasing all season!” Winning the title means more to Charli than people might realise.
“I think lots of people think winning a title means you have bragging rights, but it's so much more than that. Achieving that senior New Zealand title reflects all the hard work and dedication I have invested over years and through some really tough times. It also recognises the support of my coach John Eden, who is a Paralympian, my throws squad PREP, and my family, who do so much for me.”
In April, Charli flew to Sydney to compete in the Australian Senior Track and Field Championship. “It was excellent as I was competing with all of their best senior athletes and some other international athletes too.” Competing at that level provides Charli with valuable experience in high-profile competitions and helps her to prepare for the international stage. “I PB'd (personal best) twice in the senior shot put, and smashed the U19 New Zealand record, so that was epic.”
The following week, Charli was in Brisbane competing in the Australian Junior Track and Field Championship. “I beat out the Aussies to win their U20 Para Discus event and took the silver in their shot-put event. It was pretty neat bringing back two shiny medals in my luggage.”
And Charli pulled out a gold-medal-winning performance last week at Oceania’s biggest athletics event. She was back in Australia competing at the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships (May 18–23) in Darwin. On Friday evening, in a stand-out performance, Charli struck gold for New Zealand in the Senior Women’s Para Discus, taking out the top medal. She also set new U19 and U20 New Zealand Para Discus F37 records.
“Pulling on the New Zealand singlet and representing my country gives me so much joy and makes all the hard work worth it. And I come from a very competitive family, so it's in my blood!”
Charli’s performances this year have seen her top the 2026 World Rankings in discus for her classification. “That just blew my mind,” she says.
Once graduated, Charli plans to combine her SIT communications degree with her firsthand knowledge and love of sports in a comms role in para or junior sport. “And of course, I'll be working on my big goal of one day representing New Zealand at the Paralympics,” she says confidently.