Having the courage to back herself saw Makalia Ciccia (BCom ‘23) follow her dreams from regional New South Wales to owning a boutique Pilates studio in Melbourne.
Growing up in a small town, Makalia always had her sights set on a life in Victoria’s bustling capital city. When she attended an Open Day at Deakin University’s Burwood Campus in Year 12,‘it just felt right’.
‘The Burwood campus was state of the art and unlike anything I’d seen growing up regionally; it felt modern, innovative and like a place that was genuinely invested in the future of its students,’ she says.
Drawn to the logic and structure of numbers, Makalia began a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin in 2019, with a focus on accounting, already thinking about the doors it could open across almost any industry. And open doors it did. By the time she graduated, Makalia was working part-time in a graduate role at an accounting firm while finishing her final subjects. In the following years, she worked her way up to a senior accountant role before making a move into business ownership, taking over a boutique Pilates studio in Melbourne in February 2025.
‘It’s been one of the most exciting and challenging things I’ve ever done, a completely different world from accounting, but the financial and analytical foundations I built at Deakin are something I draw on every single day,’ she says.
‘More than a degree’
Makalia learnt more from Deakin than accounting skills – it also taught her adaptability, as did studying through the upheaval of a global pandemic.
‘I lived on campus in my first year, which was a wonderful way to find my feet in a new city and build friendships quickly,’ she recalls. ‘Then COVID hit and like everyone, I shifted to online learning. Fortunately, Deakin had already built strong online infrastructure well before the pandemic, so the transition was far smoother than it might have been elsewhere. That experience of navigating change, staying focused and productive even when circumstances shifted, is something that’s served me well ever since, especially as a business owner.’
Since graduating, being part of Deakin’s alumni community is something Makalia values more and more as she continues to build her career.
‘At the time, you’re just focused on getting through, but looking back, Deakin gave me a foundation I genuinely built my career on. Being part of that community means being connected to a network of people who came from all different backgrounds and went on to do incredible things,’ she says.
Backing to be her best self
While at Deakin, Makalia became one of the first recipients of the Casella Family Brands Scholarship, established in 2018 to support Deakin University commerce students.
‘Coming from a regional background, moving to Melbourne to study was a significant financial commitment,’ Makalia says. ‘When I heard about the Casella Family Brands Scholarship and what it stood for, backing students who were motivated and driven, I felt it aligned with who I was trying to be. I applied because I believed in what I was working towards and I wanted the opportunity to prove that with the right support, I could make the most of my time at Deakin.’
She says the scholarship gave her something that’s hard to put a price on: peace of mind. It meant being able to focus on her studies without constant financial pressure.
‘That freedom translated directly into my results and I was able to achieve high distinction grades throughout my degree, which I’m incredibly proud of,’ she shares. ‘It set me up for success in a very real, practical way and gave me confidence going into the workforce that I had truly earned what was on my transcript.
‘Looking back, I think receiving a scholarship gives a student permission to fully commit. So much of university life, especially for those who’ve moved away from home or come from regional areas, is spent managing financial pressure alongside the academic load. A scholarship lifts that weight and allows someone to show up as their best self.’
Investing in the leaders of tomorrow
John Casella, Managing Director, Casella Family Brands, believes education plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of business leaders. The Casella Family Brands scholarship was established to ease financial pressure on students, allowing them to focus on achieving their full potential.
‘Supporting students today is an investment in the leaders, innovators and decision-makers of tomorrow and we’re proud to support Deakin University commerce students and invest in emerging talent that will help drive innovation, growth and economic prosperity across Australian industries,’ he says.
‘Makalia’s journey is a wonderful example of the lasting impact these opportunities can have. The scholarship she received during her studies helped support her educational journey, and today she has gone on to establish a successful business of her own.
‘Her achievements demonstrate how investing in talented students can create positive outcomes not only for individuals, but also for the communities and industries they shape and grow.
‘We congratulate Makalia on her success and look forward to seeing her continued accomplishments in the future.’
‘Innovation doesn’t always mean inventing something new’
Makalia says her memories of Deakin and the people she met will stay with her forever, as will the impact – far greater than the dollar figure – of receiving her scholarship.
‘The scholarship didn’t just help me get through university; it shaped the kind of professional and person I became on the other side. I carry a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility because of it, and that has influenced how I lead, how I give back and how I show up in my own community as a business owner. [People who support a scholarship are] not just funding a degree. You’re investing in someone’s future, and that future extends well beyond graduation day.’
She says she still strives to reflect the spirit of the scholarship today.
‘At the time I was someone who had moved away from everything familiar to pursue something bigger. I was driven, I was disciplined and I genuinely believed that education was my path to independence. I think innovation doesn’t always mean inventing something new; sometimes it means having the courage to bet on yourself. That’s something I continue to live out today. Leaving a stable corporate career to build a business from the ground up is its own kind of innovation, and I hope it reflects the spirit the scholarship was intended to inspire.’
Are you interested in supporting a student to overcome barriers that might stop them starting – or finishing – a degree at Deakin? Find out how you can help by contributing to our Deakin Achieving Potential Scholarship