Gavin Wanganeen Indigenous Scholarship Recipients
The Gavin Wanganeen Indigenous Scholarship has provided financial assistance to several UniSA students and the lives of each of the recipients has been touched profoundly. Below are quotes from the scholars which highlight the importance of the scholarship and how it is helping them to achieve their academic goals.
Messages from the 2011 scholarship recipients:
Nicholas Arundel
"I've been honoured to receive this scholarship. The financial assistance provided by the scholarship will ease the week to week financial burdens of student life as well as create external opportunities to compliment my studies which otherwise would not have been possible".
Nicholas completed UniSA's Foundation Studies program in 2010 achieving a Grade Point Average of 6.38. The course provided a base from which to pursue further study, and in 2011 he commenced a Bachelor of Arts (International Studies). Nicholas would like to a chart a career in foreign relations, possibly international diplomacy. He is currently employed by the Department of Education and Children's Services as a mentor to at-risk Indigenous students.
Edoardo Crismani
"It is an honour to have been chosen as a recipient of the Gavin Wanganeen Indigenous Scholarship. It makes a significant contribution toward the costs of my tertiary education and I am particularly grateful for the award given the respect and involvement this award has within the community. I appreciate the opportunity to continue my studies at university and whilst it is a challenging pathway, it is facilitating an enhancement of my skills, my knowledge and an opening of new networks for my lifelong passions".
Edoardo is a multi- talented singer/songwriter, actor, writer, poet and film director in the third year of a Bachelor of Media Arts where he is furthering his appreciation of film, television and creative writing. He is an accomplished live performer and has appeared in numerous short films. A short story plus three of his poems are slated to be published in Piping Shrike and a short film he wrote and directed has been acquired by National Indigenous Television for broadcast. The Gavin Wanganeen Indigenous Scholarship is a welcome boost to him achieving a formal university qualification. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has kindly sponsored Eduardo's scholarship.
Mark Osborne
"I am both grateful and proud to have won the Gavin Wanganeen scholarship. The scholarship has done much to relieve the financial pressure of studying full-time. I would like to encourage other Indigenous students who are studying at university to be dedicated and work hard and opportunities for this and other scholarships will arise. The scholarship has now allowed me to continue with my post-graduate study aspirations".
Mark is in the third year of a Bachelor of Arts (Aboriginal Studies). He received a Chancellor's Letter of Commendation in 2010; awarded to students in the top 5% in their division of study. Mark has aspirations to continue postgraduate study, hopefully culminating in a PhD. During the 2010/11 vacation period, he assisted UniSA researchers on the ARC research project. The Department for Water has kindly sponsored Mark's scholarship.
Messages from previous recipients:
Robert Hawkins
“The Gavin Wanganeen Indigenous Scholarship means a lot to me. Glass is an expensive media and walking into the studio costs a lot. In the past there have been exhibits and art contests that I have been unable to enter but my work has picked up since winning the scholarship. The funding has increased the exploratory processes needed to enhance my skills and the other day I was actually able to make a piece 75cm long, 60cm round and about 6kgs.”
Robert completed his Bachelor of Visual Arts degree program in 2010, specialising in glass. He is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) and hopes to complete a Masters degree and possibly a PhD. He is also a mentor at the David Uniapon College of Education and Research and is involved in the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme.
Justin Canuto
“The scholarship has helped my family out immensely. We have been able to buy a new computer and printer for our home which takes a lot of pressure off and allows us to pay other bills and concentrate on completing my degree. Without the scholarship others like myself would struggle to complete our degrees so I thank those involved with the scholarship for their support and hopefully it can continue for many years for Indigenous students to come.”
Justin completed a Bachelor of Arts in Aboriginal Studies in 2010 and
is currently undertaking a Master of Aboriginal Studies. Inspired by the ethos of the Gavin Wanganeen Indigenous Scholarship,
the Department of Environment and Heritage have kindly sponsored Justin's scholarship.
Wendy Barth
Since completing her Bachelor of Nursing in 2010, Wendy has been appointed Clinical Educator at the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, the peak body representing Aboriginal health and substance misuse services in this State. In this role she is fulfilling her ambition of helping her people have a 'health voice'.
“I had already gained some healthcare qualifications, but I wanted to complete my Bachelor of Nursing to ensure that the highest level of care is available to Indigenous people, and that I can in turn share my knowledge with other healthcare workers. Ultimately my goal is to establish and run a specialised health clinic in a remote area.”
Nathan Agius
“If I can encourage just one other fella to go to University, my job is done. If I can encourage more than that, all the better!”
Nathan completed a Bachelor of Arts (Australian
Studies) / Bachelor of Education (Middle and Secondary) in 2009. He is currently the Aboriginal Education Teacher at the John Pirie Secondary School in Port Pirie, where he is responsible for ensuring that Aboriginal perspectives are included in the curriculum. He is also a member of the SA Department of Education and Children's Services Chief Executive Aboriginal Teachers and Leaders Advisory Board.
Amanda Lynch
“This scholarship has helped me in ways that the donors may never understand and I thank them so much for that. It is a daily reassurance that I am on the right path and a reminder that I can do more.”
Amanda is studying towards a Bachelor of Arts (Aboriginal Studies) / Bachelor of Social Work. She intends to graduate in 2011 and then continue on with postgraduate studies. She hopes to work for the Australian Government in the area of service delivery to rural and Indigenous communities and to eventually work for the United Nations.
Andrew Barker
“The scholarship is definitely a talking point at work. Through word of mouth, it helps to inspire others to stick with their studies and follow their dreams.”
Andrew is undertaking a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education part-time. He studies externally and at the same time, works full-time and looks after his little boy. His dream is to become a registered teacher and perhaps one day teach in the Pitjantjatjara Lands or in other remote Indigenous communities.
Patricia Waria-Read
“I am a real believer in education. I like to tell my story to the younger generation whenever I get the chance. They are quite amazed to meet a 50 year old grandmother who has just completed a degree. It is a real inspiration for them.”
Patricia completed her Bachelor of Education (Adult, Vocational
and Workplace Learning) at the end of 2008. She is currently
employed as a Case Planner for the Aboriginal Prisoners and Offenders Support Service. In this role she helps support Aboriginal offenders following their release from incarceration. Patricia is also a community member of the Nanga Courts in Port Adelaide and a member of the State and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Gathering Group.
In January, 2011 Patricia was the inaugural winner of the Women Hold
Up Half the Sky Award. This award, created by the State Government's
Office for Women and the Australia Day Council, acknowledges women
for the valuable contributions they are making in the community.