Cultural Support Program Leader

Cultural Support Program Leader

Lauren Newman

 

During the September holidays as a part of her work with the CSIRO’s Junior Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy, Patience Hampton-Tungutalum attended ‘The Science Experience’ at CQ University in Townsville. The whole experience is designed to provide students who have an interest in science with an opportunity to engage in a wide range of fascinating science activities under the guidance of actual scientists who love their work. When asked about her experience Patience expressed that her favourite day was day two as there were many practical and ‘hands on’ workshops that she was able to get involved in.

On Tuesday 20 October, four of our Indigenous students participated in the Queensland School’s Constitutional Convention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students. Year 9 students Sanije Krasniqi and Patience Hampton-Tungutalum were joined by Year 10 students Flora Nona and Jermia Ahmat-Nona for this online convention. Jermia was our chosen speaker who presented a three-minute speech with regards to what her vision for Australia is for the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and why change is necessary. They also had to make references to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Imagination Declaration throughout, using the Australian Constitution as a context for their arguments. Jermia delivered a strong, heart-felt speech and it was voted as one of the best in Queensland. She is one of seven students who has now been selected to attend the National School’s Constitutional Convention in Canberra in 2021. We are immensely proud of her achievements, and thank you to Ms Byrnes and Ms Hansen who also assisted Jermia through the speech-writing process.

 

We currently have eight Year 10 students waiting to see if they have been successful in receiving a QATSIF (Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation) Scholarship to help to support them through Years 11 and 12. We should know by the end of term if they have been successful, and I will notify families as soon as we hear more.

I would like to again thank everyone for your support of our NAIDOC Week Indigenous Colours Shirt Day. We were able to raise $433.15 which has been donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation to support their many great works.

And finally, just another reminder about a current opportunity for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students:

University of Queensland InspireU Camps for 2021, including:

  • Junior STEM Camp – open to current Year 8 and 9 students interested in STEM, and
  • Senior Engineering Camp – open to current Year 10 and 11 students interested in Engineering.
  • Applications close 13th November 2020. UQ InspireU camps are very competitive and a strong application is needed to be considered.

Some current Year 10 families may have received a letter from Ms Byrnes regarding AARAs (Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments) for Years 11 and 12 from 2021. We ask that you please reply to these emails at your earliest convenience so that the relevant documentation required for this process can be sourced as soon as possible, in order to meet QCAA deadlines. If you have any questions please contact Ms. Byrnes.