Meet some of our students

Jared Field

Bachelor of Science (Advanced mathematics)

In year 10, I had half an hour to decide whether or not I wanted to move up into the advanced maths class. I remember clearly after initially deciding I wouldn€™t, running from my next class back to the maths department to tell them I€™d give it a go (thanks to encouraging words from my Science teacher).

The reason for all the self-doubt was my being told; €œYou€™ll most likely struggle with the content€. However, with a lot of help from a close friend, in the first exam I took in the advanced class I came 4th out of about 30 people. In the next exam, I came 2nd (my friend coming 1st). And that was it. I had the bug for the competition. From this grew not only my appreciation and enjoyment of the subject, but my philosophy that I should take every single opportunity that presented itself.

I€™m now enrolled in the Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) at the University of Sydney, a degree that only accepts 20 students from all across Australia. Studying it now for the challenge and love of the subject.

This is but one story, and is far from over. To any student even playing with the thought of tertiary education, I say go for it. The opportunities and benefits are far too great to ignore. Make your own story; but more importantly make it without the restrictions of what others think you can achieve.

Kia Brown

Bachelor of Veterinary Science

My name is Kia Brown and I am a descendent of the Garawa people of north-east Arnhem Land. When I was at school I never thought I had what it took to get into university, so I dropped out after finishing Year 10. After a few years working dead-end jobs, I realised that the only thing that was standing in my way was me.

So, I enrolled in TAFE and am proud to say that I received my HSC aged 21. Not knowing anything about how to get in to university and how the whole selection process worked, I went into the Koori Centre and the staff were extremely helpful, pointing me in the right direction.

I have always wanted to work with Australian native animals and I decided that the best way to achieve this is to become a vet. Thanks to the help of everyone at the Koori Centre, I am now in the first year of my Veterinary Science degree.

I found the first semester a bit overwhelming, as Vet Science is a full-time, five-day-a-week course, and I also travel an hour each way to uni everyday. But now that I have settled in to the workload, I am finding this semester a lot easier to cope with. Through the Koori Centre, I have also met many other Indigenous students in the same situation as me, starting uni a bit later than most. It's great to be surrounded by people from a similar background who understand what you are going through.

My message to anyone who dreams of doing something that has always seemed out of reach, is that believing in yourself is half the battle. Once you believe you can do it, anything is possible.

Linden Allan

Diploma in Education (Aboriginal)

My name is Linden Allan, I am a Murramerang woman from the South Coast of NSW in Ulladulla.

I have always enjoyed working with kids and being the Aboriginal Education Assistant at Ulladulla Public School is so rewarding. When I was offered the opportunity to become an Aboriginal Studies teacher it seemed like a dream.

I never finished high school because of personal issues, so I went straight into the workforce where my first job was working in a pre-school. Being given this second chance to attend university, while still being able to spend most of my time in my community and with my family, is a perfect way for me to pursue my educational goals and career.

The Koori Centre is so helpful in assisiting you with all your needs. They are always there to help with any questions and support. University is not as scary when you have the Koori Centre helping, supporting and pushing you through.

Ryan Bulger

Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Human Movement and Health Education)

Hi my name is Ryan Bulger and I am a Koori man from the Wiradjuri country of NSW.

In 2006 I was approached by the University Sport Union to come to Sydney and play cricket for the University. I was living in Canberra at the time and was looking to improve my chances to play cricket as a professional. I took up the offer and later that year moved to Sydney and worked for the NSW Cricket association. During the summer, the sports union suggested I should study. Not having done well at school and not having done any study for around eight years, I was quite apprehensive to say the least, but with great support from the Koori Centre at the University, I was able to apply and get in.

Now in 2009, I am in my third year of a Bachelor of Human Movement degree, enjoying University life and looking forward to graduating next year and furthering myself as an educator - not only for Indigenous Australian students but also non-Indigenous students.

Mariko Smith

Master of Museum Studies (Coursework)

My name is Mariko Smith and I am a descendent of the Yuin people from the NSW South Coast, but I grew up in Sydney and the Central Coast. I have always enjoyed studying, so without hesitation I decided to go to university after I finished high school. I enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts/Law at the University of Sydney through the Koori Centre€™s Cadigal program.

After graduating, I obtained my legal practising certificate and worked as a solicitor for nearly three years. Although I had the opportunity to experience various aspects of legal practice during the degree and after I graduated €’ in private practice, barristers€™ chambers, in-house in a company and at community legal centres €’ there was something in the back of my mind that was telling me that my true calling was beyond the law. For a while I had felt like a round peg in a square hole, not really feeling like being a lawyer was natural for me.

In August 2009 I decided that there was no time like the present to make the big jump and resigned from my role as a junior solicitor in a small law firm. I thought long and hard about what I really enjoyed and what sort of role/profession I could see myself fitting perfectly into €’ I love history and art, and was keen to finally follow those interests. I have always thought that a fantastic place to work would be in a museum. After researching the various institutions that specialised in museum and heritage studies, I chose to study back at the University of Sydney, in its highly regarded Museum Studies program.

I have just completed my first semester, and can€™t wait to do my next subjects. My aim is to one day work in a museum in the UK, and to also go into academic research. Even though I had come into the program as a completely blank slate, this hasn€™t held me back at all. Although the subject matter is completely new to me, the critical thinking and analytical skills I learnt from my law degree and years in professional practice are definitely relevant and have given me an edge in my assignment work. The flexibility of postgraduate studies means I can do it part-time €’ I just had my first child and I am so glad I can spend time with my daughter and study at the same time.

My advice would be to follow your gut instinct when deciding what you want to do with your life, and to run with it, even if it involves taking a huge step like changing careers and starting pretty much from scratch. I do recommend getting some practical experience, whether it be through paid or volunteer work, so you can obtain valuable organisational skills and €˜real life€™ experience that you can take anywhere.

Donna Riley

Master of Indigenous Languages Education

My name is Donna Riley and I€™m a Wiradjuri woman from Narromine in the central west of NSW. I grew up in a close family and seemed to be related to everyone in town. School was not my favourite place, but like so many of us loved the social and sporting activities it provided. My father died when I was 13 and my mother always told me that an education was the key to unlock any door. I didn€™t really see how that applied to me because I was an average student who excelled at sport, but struggled with the books.

My success was due to a special PE teacher who believed that I would make a good teacher. She was the role model that inspired me to be what I am today, Head Teacher PDHPE. I have taught out west for 18 years at Broken Hill, Narromine and Condobolin. I then sought a sea change and now I€™m on the North Coast at Murwillumbah. I love it but, miss family and the smell of rain when it hits the dust.

I have always had a love for Indigenous language and only now realise how much I have been exposed to it growing up. Hearing words from the other girls and thinking I know that word and getting a strange gut feeling that gives you a connection to country, it€™s hard to explain. It makes me realise that language is culture and must be shared. It€™s our responsibility to give what we can to our kids so they can keep the language alive.

The MILE course is challenging but worth every headache that the first block gave me. The support by the Koori Centre is amazing. Everyone is so willing to help. I wish it was around when I went through Uni the first time. My aim after finishing this course is to get Bundjalung language into my school. It will take time but I know it will eventually happen.

Tarina Perry

Bachelor in Education (Secondary: Aboriginal Studies)

My Name is Tarina Perry. I am a proud Wiradjuri woman, my mob is originally from Cowra however I grow up in Karuah on the Aboriginal Community known to us as €˜the mish€™. Although I do not live there now, this is where I call home and have a sense of belonging.

I have a passion for education and children, and it wasn€™t until my last semester of my Bachelor degree in Social Science I realised I wanted to be a teacher. I knew I could best help our children and my community by becoming a teacher. It was then I saw an advertisement about the Koori Centre and the Teacher Degree they offer. I thought this is my chance where I can continue to work and also study.

Although I found the Koori Centre to be more than just this, I found the staff and lecturers very supportive and would try and help in anyway they could. It was different from coming from mainstream where often I was the only Aboriginal student in class and often felt alone. However doing my block study with my people I felt comfortable and more confident than ever before.

I often recommend the Koori Centre and the teaching degree they offer to my friends and family. I hope to finish my degree and pursue a teaching career where I can help our kids but also educate the wider community about my people and our rich culture.