Projects
Tertiary Education Scholarships
The Mary MacKillop Foundation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tertiary Scholarships
Mary MacKillop's concern for the welfare of Aboriginal people, particularly in relation to education for Aboriginal children is well documented. Indeed, her commitment to the welfare and education of indigenous children sets an inspiring example.
One way the Mary MacKillop Foundation honours this commitment is through scholarship funding for Aboriginal tertiary students.
The courses that current recipients are studying include:
- Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery at Sydney University
- Bachelor of Education at ACU, Brisbane
- Bachelor of Law/ Bachelor of Arts in Criminology at Griffith University, Brisbane
- Bachelor of Community Management at Macquarie University, Sydney
- Bachelor of Education at ACU, Strathfield, NSW
- Diploma of Aboriginial & Torres Strait Islander Education at ACU, Brisbane
Tertiary education is particularly important to Aboriginal students. Knowledge gained can motivate them to initiate reconiliation and bring changes at all levels of the Australian community. Some dream of acquiring their first degree in an environment close to home, then moving to the city to acquire postgraduate degrees so they can move into prominent positions in society. Others study in the city and return to their homes to help their communities. Without doubt, education and skills equip students to make a big difference to their people's lives and the lives of all Australians.
Partnerships in Aboriginal Scholarships
In 1998, Mrs Pat Ritchie, wife of the late Bill Ritchie, a well known Australian businessman, pledged her support for the Mary MacKillop Foundation. Over the course of nine years the Bill and Patricia Ritchie Foundation donated close to $1 million dollars to this partnership.
In an open letter to the Foundation, Pat Ritchie says:
"The advent of the Mary MacKillop Foundation has made it possible for me to do something I have long wanted to do in my husband's name: endow tertiary scholarships for Aboriginal children. I feel our country will never get on the right track until the original inhabitants and the rest of us are in harmony. From barbarous beginnings to ineffectual paternalism, not enough has been achieved. It seems to me that no real equity can be reached until the Aboriginal people can handle their own affairs on every level and tertiary education is the key.
"With your Foundation's affiliation with the University of Notre Dame in Broome, the problems of long distance transplanting of shy students are overcome. Already you have mature students wanting to take their education further. How little most of us know of their history, religion, culture and survival skills in the harsh bush-land of this great continent. If these scholarships contribute to true reconciliation, that would be as good a monument to a good man as we could hope for. It could make a real difference, which he certainly did in industry during his life.
"This course of action would seem to be in the true spirit of Mary MacKillop. Mary, with her hitherto unheard-of sorties into the Australian bush to bring teaching to poor children, believed that education was the key to equality. And who better than the Sisters of St Joseph to make things happen. They bring the humility of St Joseph and the practical, positive approach of Mary MacKillop. Financial endowment could not be in safer hands."
Success of the Program
Over the past ten years, the Aboriginal Tertiary Education Scholarship program has achieved the following:
- 27 indigenous students have graduated in the following areas of study: Law; Medicine; Business; Education; Nursing; Arts and Science.
- 18 students have received $2,000 Awards for Excellence in Aboriginal Studies at Universities across Australia.
Testimonials from Graduates
Dr Janelle Trees
"I am the first Indigenous student to graduate with Honours at the University of Sydney's medical school through the Graduate Entry Program. Thanks to the Ritchie Foundation Scholarship for Indigenous students and the Mary MacKillop Foundation, I have been able to show that it is possible to study medicine when you come from different circumstances. For a single parent living with a long history of scarcity in the family, regular stipends to pay expenses beyond the reach of the supporting parent's pension or Abstudy ensured such basic necessities as electricity and telephone connection.
The faith shown in my ability by the Foundation carried over into a healthy sense of entitlement and legitimacy. One of the most important effects of the scholarship is an insight into the long-learned 'poverty mentality'. As one begins to experience adequate material conditions, trust in the world and one's place in it develops and deepens. I have been a doctor in the Illawarra Health Service for the past two years and have been able to do good work, with the understanding that my achievement is the fruit of team effort."
Dr Janelle Trees
MBBS (Hons), BSc (Hons)
Descendant of the Daingadi clan
Annette Duggan
"My name is Annette Duggan and I have just graduated from Australian Catholic University with a Bachelor Degree in Education (majoring in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education).
For me this journey has enabled me to become a role model for kids, adults and family members within my community. For me I have seen that education has been empowering. As a person it has given me the ability to be more confident when dealing with a circumstance.
I would like to give heartfelt thanks to Mrs Ritchie and the Mary MacKillop Foudnation for their support and encouragement that was given to me by waY of sponsorship throughout the completion of my degree. This support has been highly valued by me and my family."
Annette Duggan
B Ed (ATSI)
Testimonial from Program Mentors
"Over my years lecturing at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Broome Campus and as a supervisor of scholarship students, I have seen many Indigenous students from the Kimberley fulfill dreams they would never have thought possible. This was achieved because of the generous scholarships offered by a donor though the Mary MacKillop Foundation.
As the students progressed through their degree programs they grew in their sense of self worth to become successful and confident teachers, nurses, business people, policymakers and men and women of great influence in their own mainstream society. The have encouraged their children and others to pursue university students and find positive ways out of the cycle of poverty.
The scholarship recipients have taken their studies seriously, giving progress reports to the Foundation. They are forever grateful to the donor who through the Mary MacKillop Foundation provided them with the opportunity to pursue a chosen career which has changed their lives and the lives of those around them. I admire donors who chose such a dignified approach to helping those who began life with few choices."
Sr Clare Ahern
Criteria for Applications
Guidelines and Information for Scholarship Applicants are posted to students enquiring about the scholarships. Following are the criteria for consideration of a scholarship:
- The applicant should be undertaking tertiary studies in an Australian university and have a commitment to Aboriginal education, helath, human rights or justice.
- The applicant will be require to complete an application form and submit a letter of application noting their indigenous background, stating the details of his/ her course, their current situation and the envisaged benefits of completing this degree for the wider Aboriginal community.
- Two letters of support including the person nominating the student will be required; this is usually a teacher from the University and a member of their community.
- The successful student will be required to name a Mentor/ Supervisor from the university who they will meet with on a regular basis during the course of each semester. This ensures that the Mary MacKillop Foundation monitors the progress of the student at a local level.
- The scholarship with support the students with their HECS liability and other allowances as necessary for completion of their course. Documentation of HECS liability and other expenses will be required. Each semster a progress report will be filled out by the student and their supervisor who will keep in closed liaison with the Grants Manager of the Mary MacKillop Foundation.
Call for Scholarship Partners
The Mary MacKillop Foundation has been instrumental in the success of Aboriginal Tertiary Scholarships by providing administrative support to the funding partner and by supervising and liaising with the students. We are the middle man. We have representatives at Universities around Australia who identify suitable students for scholarships.
To ensure that this program continues we are seeking partners to fund the scholarships.
- To educate a doctor is approximately $10,000 per year for four years - there are many indigenous students studying medicine with little or no support, working part-time or surviving on Abstudy.
- To educate a teacher is approximately $7,000 per year for three or four years depending on the University. Most students work part-time as teachers' aids or in child care during their degree. Supporting a teacher is an investment in the future of indigenous children as it provides positive role models in their daily lives.
Read the story of Tertiary Scholarship recipient Dr Greg Spice. Greg has recently graduated - here is his account of his elective term in the Kimberley region working with Derby Aboriginal Health Service.
This work of the Mary MacKillop Foundation has very great significance for the future development of Indigenous Australians and their communities.
