By Mia Walsh, Year 12, Cairns State High School
Exploring England’s halls of learning
IN the past school holidays, five Far North Queensland students, including myself, set voyage on an indigenous scholarship study tour to England’s Cambridge and Oxford universities.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity broadened our horizons and took in beautiful 800-year-old architecture and a number of famous tourist attractions, freezing weather and inspiring scholars, professors, staff and mentors.
Vincent Backhaus from Cairns, the first indigenous person to complete a PhD at Cambridge, helped us as high school students engage in workshops integrating indigenous culture.
As a result, this allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of identity within myself, culture, community and country.
The Australian Charlie Perkins scholars, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander postgraduates of Oxbridge, graciously provided us with exclusive college tours and an insight into university life.
Their success stories of overcoming barriers sparked inspiration for our future pathways.
While being London tourists, we attended formal functions at the London Queensland Commission House and the Grant Thornton Building to share our stories and network.
Inspirationally, this entire experience has opened my eyes to my endless opportunities to make local and global change through the pursuit of education.