Download - higher education feature 2021 Mother and daughter duo ...other, we laughed with each other and we were always there to help each other.” Leah and Lauren thrived at ACU. Lauren left

38 | THE KOORI MAIL ADVERTISING FEATURE, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 www.koorimail.com

CRICOS registered provider: 00004G

Study in a place that feels like home.

YALBALINGAYalbalinga is our Indigenous Higher Education Unit. We provide a welcoming and culturally safe space for students to study in an environment that promotes positive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity.

HOW WE SUPPORT YOUYalbalinga provides:• academic and administrative

support • social, cultural and personal

support• access to computers and study

facilities• a visible Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander cultural presence • study assistance• information about scholarships.

COURSES OFFEREDCourses in:• education and arts• health sciences• law and business• theology and philosophy• pathways.

SCHOLARSHIPSWe offer specific Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarships and a range of other scholarships that you may be eligible for.

CONTACT Yalbalinga Indigenous Higher Education UnitEmail: [email protected] Phone: 02 9701 4258

ACU invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to study at our new Blacktown Campus.

acu.edu.au/blacktown

By DAMIEN STANNARD

Diving into tertiarystudy as theyharnessed the

power of their kinship wasall it took for mother anddaughter duo Leah andLauran Ingram to realisetheir potential.

The Wiradjuri womenare revelling in newopportunities andconnections aftercompleting Bachelor ofEducation degrees viaAustralian CatholicUniversity’s (ACU’s) AwayFrom Base (AFB)Program.

For Leah, the journeywas especially rewardingafter being introduced tothe program by her son,Michael, who graduated atACU with a Bachelor ofEducation Primary(Indigenous Studies).

“I decided that if Iwanted to enact change, Icouldn’t just sit and wait. Ihad to be pro-active,” shesaid.

“Being able to take thisjourney with my daughter

was truly amazing.”Where the Darkinjung

Nation meets Guringaiand Awabakal Nations bythe shores of Awaba(Lake Macquarie) on thenorthern Central Coast,both mother and daughterwere motivated to learn,but had their own reasonsto be daunted by highereducation.

Leah worked in variouseducation roles for almosttwo decades, however ithad been a long timesince she had studied,and her fear that ‘youcan’t teach an old dognew tricks’ held her back.Lauren also worked inschools yet had notcompleted her Year 12certificate and believed atertiary degree was out ofher reach.

Further enquiriesrevealed ACU’s nationalAFB program, involving abalance of online learningand intensive residentialblocks, would provide thesupport they needed toreach their goals.

“It was all very

overwhelming at thebeginning, however doingit through ACU’s [AFB]program made it thatmuch easier. Beingsurrounded by mob fromall over the countrycoming together to walkthis journey together wastruly empowering,” Laurensaid.

Leah’s experience inthe education system lefther frustrated and cravingmore First Nationsperspectives and rolemodels. Having initiatedchange in her own life shecan now be that rolemodel for her family andpeers.

“I was so lucky to begrouped with my daughterand the most amazing,inspirational, clever andfunny cohort,” Leah said.

“Being surrounded byBlakfellas cut out all of theelitism.

“We were just a bunchof brothers, sisters,aunties and uncles tryingto pave the way for ourpeople and providedirection and inspiration to

our young ones growingup. We cried with eachother, we laughed witheach other and we werealways there to help eachother.”

Leah and Laurenthrived at ACU.

Lauren left behind herjob as a learning supportofficer and is nowteaching at a primaryschool on the CentralCoast.

Leah was awarded theExecutive DeanCommendation in each ofher four years of studyand was also awarded theJohn F. Slowly MemorialScholarship.

“The AFB program washard at times but beingable to continue workingwhilst studying offeredgreat advantages as faras financial support for myfamily,” Leah said.

“I have a great senseof pride that I was able toreach such a milestone atmy age.

“For my wellbeing I amslowly starting to believethat I can do this.”

Mother and daughter duo unlockthe power of learning at ACU

Mother and daughter duo Leah and Lauran Ingram undertook theirlearning journey together at ACU.

h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n f e a t u r e 2 0 2 1