Investing in regional leadership: Caleb’s study journey boosted by Heritage Bank Scholarship

When Caleb Marriott was 15, he picked up his first job at McDonald’s.

By 18, he was leading teams of up to 40 as a Shift Manager, building culture, handling pressure, and discovering that leadership was about more than just ticking boxes – it was about people.

Growing up in the small town of Meringandan, just outside Toowoomba, Caleb always felt a pull toward teaching and development.

He thought he’d become a teacher but found his ‘classroom’ on the restaurant floor, coaching new crew, unlocking potential, and creating environments where others could thrive.

Now 20, Caleb is studying a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Human Resources and Leadership at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) – a decision that brought his passion for education and people together.

We caught up with him to ask about his journey so far.

You have been able to leverage being a recipient of the 2025 Heritage Bank Peter Cleary Memorial Scholarship to help you thrive in your studies. What has this support meant to you?

University can be financially and socially daunting. This scholarship eased pressure so I could focus on my studies and say yes to deep learning. The congratulations email was a revelation: it validated the late nights and long shifts and reminded me that hard work builds. It’s lifted my confidence and sharpened my commitment to show up at a high standard consistently. I’ve maintained a GPA of 6.06, and I’m excited to raise it even higher in my final year!

The scholarship supports business students from regional, rural or remote Queensland through their second year of study. How has it supported you in your studies?

The scholarship means I can reduce work hours in my final year and engage more fully, meeting with leaders and supporting first-year students through systems like PASS. Ultimately, this scholarship funded the deep work that turns good results into great ones. Outside of university, I regularly help McDonald’s with local career fairs and recruitment, hoping to inspire people of all ages to step into leadership and develop their potential regionally in Toowoomba.

What are your dreams for the future?

The scholarship recognises regional leadership, something I care about deeply, and it’s opened doors to conversations with industry partners. After graduation, I’m aiming to become a Learning and Development Consultant, combining my passion for education with business, designing training that lifts safety, performance, and engagement. Long-term, I plan to return to UniSQ for a Graduate Diploma in Education. Lifelong learning is the goal; I want to keep teaching and keep being taught.

If you could formally thank the donors at Heritage Bank for this scholarship, what would you say to them?

Thank you for investing in regional students like me. Heritage Bank hasn’t just funded learning time; it’s funded focus, confidence, and a pathway to contribute back to our community. I’m excited to pay this forward by building workplaces where people thrive, creating high-quality learning and keeping talent close to home in regional areas like Toowoomba. The scholarship is succeeding through the people I train and the teams I lead.

What’s been the most valuable lesson or course you’ve learned so far in your studies, and how would you like to use this in your future career?

The stand-out has been psychological safety: creating teams where people feel safe to speak up, make suggestions, and learn from mistakes. I’ve applied it in shift leadership – clear expectations, calm de-escalation, and recognition that builds trust. In L&D, I want to design programs that weave psychological safety into onboarding, feedback, and leadership so “feeling safe” becomes a business advantage.

And finally, why did you choose to study business at UniSQ?

Working at a high-pressure job like McDonald’s, I’ve always been fascinated by how good leadership shapes workplaces and communities. UniSQ was an easy choice: it’s close to my community, offers industry-connected lecturers, and supports students who are balancing work and study. I wanted a degree that would keep me connected locally while providing me with practical, industry-relevant skills. Studying Business and majoring in Human Resources and Leadership felt like the next step in turning my passion for people into a long-term career.

Learn more about how a UniSQ Business degree can help turn your ambitions into action.