News Archive

A group of Indigenous high school students recently spent a week on campus, going to lectures, meeting students, learning about courses.

But one of the things that made them feel most comfortable about taking on tertiary education was the age of the undergraduate students.

"They're so young - just like us!" they said to teacher Natasha Mavec from Broome Senior High School.

"They had this idea that university students were much older and more mature and I think it made them feel a bit nervous," Ms Mavec said. "But seeing them walking around the campus, chatting to them, they realise now that many students are only a year or so older than them, and they feel more relaxed about joining them."

The annual residential camp, organised by the School of Indigenous Studies (SIS), has been running for 21 years.

This year the camp took on a leadership theme. "These students are obviously going to be role models in their communities just by doing the subjects that can get them into university," said Ray Garrett, senior project officer at SIS. "So we want to help them to take on that role."

A total of 44 Year 11 and 12 students from both metropolitan and regional schools attended the camp, with their confidence growing by the day.

They heard from Indigenous leaders including Member of Parliament, Ken Wyatt; the Dean of Indigenous Studies, Winthrop Professor Jill Milroy; Noongar elders Professor Len Collard and Dr Richard Walley; and Dr Jody Eatt, a recent UWA medical graduate. The encouraged the students to challenge themselves to reach their goals.

Brendon DeGois, co-ordinator of the camp, said 70 per cent of the new Indigenous enrolments at UWA this year were students who had attended one of the camps. "The program is really making a difference to the number of Indigenous students who are choosing to come to University," he said.

The students were assigned a ‘buddy', an Indigenous UWA student, and spent time together, including going to a lecture.

Their comments, on the last day of the camp, indicated how much they had learned and how well prepared the students would be if they came to UWA.

"Now I know what a lecture is like, and what to expect," said Hayley Ford from Seton Catholic College.

"And I understand what a major is - I had no idea before," said Carmel Adventist College student Jalla Alley.

Ben Cable from Rossmoyne SHS said he particularly liked the broadening units.  Other comments from the participants included:

"The camp was great.  Before the camp I really wanted to go to Curtin but after hearing about all the support here it really encourages me to come here and study."

"This Leadership Seminar was a great camp to attend.  UWA was an unforgettable experience.  Met some amazing people."

"The leadership seminar is a great way to gain knowledge of UWA and Shenton House, also to make friends before you attend uni."

"The leadership seminar is a great opportunity to get in-depth knowledge about UWA and other things like Aboriginal culture.  It was a good experience".