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Tuesday, 26 February 2013

A 20-year-old Noongar man who is a recipient of a BHP Billiton Indigenous Scholarship is about to start his fourth year of Engineering studies at The University of Western Australia.

Devyn Jackamarra, who attended St Joseph's Primary School in Moora before completing high school at Wesley College in South Perth, said the scholarship had made a big difference to his life because it enabled him to live at UWA's Currie Hall (now University Hall).

"The support there and at the University's School of Indigenous Studies (SIS) enables me to concentrate on study," he said.  "I chose Engineering because it fits in with what I like doing."

Devyn, who is a Yued Noongar, has two older brothers and an older sister and is the first in his family, along with his mother, Lynnie Byrne, who is studying teaching at Edith Cowan, to go to university.

He visited the SIS in Years 11 and 12 during UWA Open Day and was impressed by the people he met there, especially other Indigenous students who encouraged him to aspire to reach his full potential.

"They were great role models for me, and I hope I can be a role model for other young Indigenous people," he said.

More than 200 Indigenous students have gained degrees in Arts, Commerce, Science, Social Work, Psychology, Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry, Health Sciences, Education and Architecture since the SIS was established in 1988.

UWA has one of the best success rates nationally for encouraging Indigenous students to undertake and complete degrees in Engineering, Law, Medicine, Dentistry, Health Science.

Media references

Devyn Jackamarra  (+61 4) 17 998 148
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783

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Faculty of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences — School of Indigenous Studies