inspirational stories

Utilities

deborah mailman

Take a step and make a difference

Education is undeniably one of the most important opportunities afforded to us.

hetti perkins

Another way to empower ourselves

A university education was once considered something that few of our people could aspire to or even dream about. That is changing for the better.

paul gray

Charlie Perkins Scholar at Oxford University

I didn’t set out with plans for a university education, but after ﬁnding my way there, I discovered a world of opportunity I never imagined.

christian thompson

Charlie Perkins Scholar at Oxford University

I grew up all over Australia. My educational journey though, began at home, ten hours inland from Brisbane in Barcaldine, where my family are from.

tim goodwin

Roberta Sykes Scholar at Harvard University

My journey proves that a successful undergraduate degree can lead to amazing opportunities and possibilities.

rebecca richards

Australia’s ﬁrst Indigenous Rhodes Scholar

I was the ﬁrst Aboriginal person in my family to complete high school and obtain a university degree. I couldn’t do the anthropological work I am doing now without having undertaken those studies.

misty jenkins

Education is important to our Indigenous communities

My educational journey began in country Ballarat, where I'd never even met anyone who had been to university.

daniel allen

Opportunity and connections

I am currently studying civil and environmental engineering at the University of Technology, Sydney.

vincent backhaus

My trade skills could only take me so far

Undergraduate study was not a priority for me when I left high school. Instead I chose a trade qualification and undertook a four year apprenticeship. However, after some time, I realised my trade skills could only take me so far and I wanted to explore new alternatives.

sharna beahan

Aboriginal education is my passion

As a Wiradjuri woman who grew up in a small country town in NSW I chose to study education because Aboriginal education is my passion in life.

brooke boney

I want to become a role model for our people

I always wanted to go to university but I didn't finish my HSC and I decided to go straight into the workforce. After working for about four years I decided it was time to undertake further education.

leah brown

My goal is to make a difference to the lives of Traditional Owners

As a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman my passion was to work in native title and cultural heritage. My goal is to make a difference to the lives of Traditional Owners. I’m working at addressing the injustices perpetrated against Aboriginal people in the past and today.

lisa capewell

I wanted to help kids achieve their goals

I chose to undertake a teaching degree at Edith Cowan University (ECU), because I wanted to become a role model for Indigenous children and help them achieve their goals.

oliver costello

I now get paid to make dreams come true

I didn’t apply myself well at school. I spent years working depressing, dead end jobs to get by.

alisa duff

Education gives you choices and freedom

My educational journey began when I was four years old.

donisha duff

You don’t know your own potential unless you try!

I never really had career aspirations when I was growing up, on Thursday Island there weren’t many options.

renee emzin

Uni can be the best time of your life

I’ve just completed my first year at Melbourne University. Moving from the Gold Coast I found it hard to leave my family and friends but living at Ormond College is a welcoming home-away-from-home.

bevan mailman

Fortune favours the brave

It’s often said that university study "opens doors". It’s certainly been the case for me.

virginia marshall (falk)

Think big and meet the challenges head on

I began university with four very young children and very little money. I had a burning desire to follow a legal career and completed my undergraduate law degree and a graduate diploma at the University of Wollongong, as well as completing other degrees.

samantha faulkner

I made long-lasting friendships

My parents encouraged me to go to university. In year 12 I did not know what I wanted to do career-wise, let alone go to university.

frank gafa

Getting university qualifications opened many doors for me

As an Indigenous Australian I faced many hurdles before I even got to university. I didn’t think I was smart enough, but continued persistence and inspiration from my Mother - and a school visit from the director of the Tjabal centre at the Australian National University - helped change my perspective.

simon graham

I make my own choices

I enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree after high school and had no idea about what to do in the future.

kirsten gray

I was the first in my immediate family to attend university

I am a Kamilaroi woman and the first in my immediate family to attend university.

mark heiss

Hang in there ... it gets easier

I am a Wiradjuri boy, born and bred in Sydney, and I completed a Bachelor of Education, Human Movement and Health Education at The University of Sydney in 2002.

mark holden

I can now go out into the world and have a say

To be honest, I don’t know why I went to university in the beginning. But my family was so happy when I began my law degree at the University of Technology in Sydney.

terri janke

Go to uni and create your own dreams

I am the Solicitor Director of Terri Janke and Company, a law firm I started in 2000. I was born in Cairns and have family connections to Cairns, the Torres Strait Islands and Cape York (Meriam & Wuthathi).

luke jeffery

Uni made me strong and determined

My exit grades from school were not high enough for university. However, I completed the entry examinations through the Ngunnawal Centre (Indigenous Education Centre at the University of Canberra) and was accepted into university.

jariah kaissis

Set goals and achieve your dreams

I didn’t complete high school so I was worried when I started my degree about not being able to write well enough for university.

steve kinnane

Take up tertiary study and be rewarded

I am a Miriuwung Marda-Marda from the East Kimberley of Western Australia. Perth is my birth country, and for me the movement between the South West and the Kimberley region of WA has become a kind of pathway that crosses the many countries and stories that are part of my foundation and my history.

simone liddy

I'm proud to be the first Indigenous pharmacist in the NT

I am a descendant of the Maranunngu (Daly River) people. My Grandparents were taken away as children during the stolen generation and gained little education. I am proud to represent them as the first member of our family to complete tertiary studies.

Indigenous Scholarships

Utilities