Oakleigh Grammar Alumnus Arthur Demetriou, who graduated the school in 2023, recently celebrated the astonishing feat of becoming the first person with cerebral palsy to be accepted into Medicine at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales.

Arthur began his journey with Oakleigh Grammar in 2015, joining the School in Grade 4 after previously being in the public school system. Longing for a school environment where he could experience Greek culture alongside his education, Arthur seamlessly became part of the community and immediately felt comfortable at Oakleigh Grammar.

Given the obstacles Arthur faced with his condition, Arthur’s parents, Jim and Irene, were instrumental in building his belief that he was capable of anything. The remarkable level of care and love that Arthur received as a patient in hospital growing up instilled in him a desire to work in medicine, and so, from a young age Arthur mapped out a pathway of how he could achieve his goal.

In his earlier years of schooling at Oakleigh Grammar, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, taught as part of the Junior School curriculum, were pivotal to Arthur’s self-belief. They provided an extremely practical framework for Arthur to follow that helped him stay consistent and accountable to his own goals. Habit 2- Begin with the end in mind – was especially important for Arthur as his goal of working in medicine was kept at the forefront of everything he did.

In his later years of schooling in the Middle and Senior Schools, Oakleigh Grammar’s Learning Enhancement team also helped Arthur flourish. 

Admiringly nicknamed ‘Arthur’s Angels’, these learning assistants aided him in classes with note taking, acting as scribes for assessments and other acts of support. Arthur appreciated that his learning assistants never babied him and always kept him accountable while providing a safe space at the school.

When his final year of schooling came around in 2023, Arthur yet again aimed high and achieved excellence, taking on the leadership role of School Vice Captain, while balancing participation in the School Representative Council along with his studies – which always came first. This resulted in an outstanding ATAR of 90.85 – the third highest mark among the Class of 2023.

Although this was not high enough to get into Medicine at Monash University, Arthur began undertaking a double degree at Monash before identifying a pathway for him to achieve his ultimate goal, through a program called Excellence Through Equity, which he was accepted into at the University of Newcastle after a rigorous process.

Invited back to speak to the current Oakleigh Grammar cohort at the Whole School Blessing in Term 1, Arthur was again welcomed with open arms. As he celebrated his excitement and success of achieving his goal, he thanked all members of the Oakleigh Grammar community, from the School Board to his teachers to the learning assistants who always pushed him to be his best.

He also gave words of encouragement to all students to pursue their dreams no matter what, reiterating the importance of the 7 Habits and their practical value to not just schooling, but everyday life.

Arthur was gifted a stethoscope by Oakleigh Grammar to celebrate his achievement in commencing the study of Medicine, with School Principal Mark Robertson celebrating Arthur’s accomplishment.

“Arthur’s journey is an inspiring testament to resilience and determination. Overcoming the challenges of cerebral palsy, he not only defied expectations but also became a beacon of hope for othersm” Mr Robertson said.

“His achievement stands as a powerful reminder that with perseverance and belief, anything is possible. Arthur is truly an inspiration to all who have been and who are currently in his presence.”

Oakleigh Grammar is extremely proud of the achievements of Arthur, and they serve as a powerful reminder of every person’s ability to achieve their goals if they are willing to put in the work and believe in themselves.