Scholarship recipient finds time to give back
The scholarship has given me the freedom to focus on other initiatives within the community that I wouldn’t have had time to do if I were working
Originating from Dubbo in New South Wales, Sam, an ANU Regional Scholarship winner and Bachelor of Arts/Law student, feels that he has been very fortunate to receive support that has eased his need to work while studying. Sam explains, "the scholarship has given me the freedom to focus on other initiatives within the community that I wouldn't have had time to do if I were working." These initiatives have included being a general representative of the ANU Students Association, as well as holding the position of Deputy Chair of the ANU Union. However, it is at his residence Burgmann College that he has felt the most inspired to get involved.
In his second year at Burgmann College, Sam took up the role of Community Officer. As part of this role he chaired a project between a far North Queensland Indigenous community and Burgmann College - the Doomadegee-Burgmann Community Partnership.
The Partnership was established in 2007, when a group of Burgmann residents and other ANU students were invited to visit the Doomadgee community by one of their elders. In the two years following this, the Burgmann College Residents Association led by Sam as Chair of the Partnership, funded and organised indigenous elders and children to travel down to visit Burgmann College and Canberra.
During their visits Doomadgee elders and children were able to take part in educational activities at the University's Tjabal Centre, perform a cultural dance at the American embassy and met students from the Kinross-Wolaroi school. Since these visits, Sam has been lucky enough to travel to the Doomadgee Community twice and explains that, "the visits to Canberra were really beneficial for the kids as many of them had never left their community before." The trips have proved invaluable to the Community and have encouraged several of the older children to travel to Canberra to attend university or to pursue further educational opportunities.
These trips could not have happened without the support of volunteers like Sam - who donate their own time to run the partnership and garner financial support to make it happen. Sam acknowledges that the partnership has received strong financial support from the College and organisations outside the University. The two trips were largely funded by the Burgmann Residents Association, Burgmann College, ANU, the Ian Thorpe Foundation for Youth, and Greyhound Buses. Sam plans to continue his involvement with the partnership after graduation as an Alumnus of the College.
With an identified need for more financial support, students at Burgmann have established the Wadjularbinna Foundation, which will now oversee the activities of the partnership. Sam currently sits on the Board of the Foundation and explains that there are exciting activities on the horizon for the Foundation. One of these activities is an exciting computer pilot scheme. Sam explains "we have been sourcing computers from different companies and taking them to the Doomadgee Community." This initiative will not only improve learning, it will also provide new avenues for Burgmann students to communicate with the community.
Reflecting on receiving the ANU Regional Scholarship, Sam believes "I would not have been able to be involved with the Partnership or Foundation if it wasn't for the scholarship. Having witnessed the hours some of my friends work, makes me think to myself 'wow I have been very fortunate'. Thank you to everyone that made it possible."
