Kiarna’s study boost
kathleen.skene@news.com.au OF the 409 Griffith University engineering students in her year, Kiarna Broomhead is one of less than 55 women and, within that group, is the only indigenous woman.
It’s a rarity the 17-year-old would love to see change.
“I like maths and sciences and engineering is something that integrates both and has good job prospects,” she said.
“Engineering is very fitting for me because it gives me the potential to work hard and progress to a position where I can be a role model for younger kids that are struggling with being different.
“This is why choosing to go to university and studying engineering is important to me, because I want to be a person that can help others see that their background does not influence their future.”
Ms Broomhead will receive a $5000 scholarship from building group Grocon, which is today acknowledging the success of its indigenous staff and contractors in their Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games athletes village project.
Since work began on the Parklands site in August 2014, the project has benefited from the work of 128 indigenous employees, provided more than 800 training hours to indigenous trainees and partnered with 15 indigenousowned businesses.
Grocon CEO Craig Mitchell said the company had a responsibility to improve employment access and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“The Parklands Project serves as an example of the positive outcomes that can be achieved through a dedicated focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation and I hope that a legacy of the project is a brighter future for the people who have worked on it,” he said.
“It’s part of a commitment to four core values that guide our behaviour at Grocon: safety, sustainability, community and innovation.”
Ms Broomhead, of the Brinja-Yuin people in NSW, said the scholarship would allow her to focus on her studies, with less pressure to work part-time.
“I didn’t expect this – it will mean I can pay for everything I need for uni,” she said.
The village’s fit-outs are being completed for the October handover to Goldoc.