Uni student lands dream
TIMES are changing for the better, and Toowoomba’s Miah Hickman is proof that no matter where you come from, all dreams are possible.
The 19-year-old is studying medicine at the University of Queensland after she received the Peter Hoj Mandy Thomas Scholarship.
As part of the prestigious scholarship, the First Nations student was also offered a place in the first intake at the university’s new residential building.
Named after UQ alumni and Indigenous musician Kev Carmody, who grew up in the Darling Downs, the multistorey building was designed to increase enrolments of undergraduates from regional and remote areas.
“Living in a place that’s named after an Indigenous person really inspires and gives that confidence that you can do what you want to do,” Ms Hickman said.
“Just because you’re a First Nations person or you come from a regional background, you’re now free to make your own decisions and follow your dreams.”
The significance of the St Lucia campus building has not been lost on the first-year tertiary student, with the school committed to helping break down barriers that First Nations people face in accessing tertiary education.
“Hearing Kev’s stories about how much his perception of his First Nations heritage has changed from when he was a boy and how he was treated in school, to his transition into fighting for tertiary education, was so inspiring,” Ms Hickman said.
“It actually made me sit back and go ‘wow, I’m able to be here because of people like you who fought for my rights and gave me the opportunities to make my dreams of studying medicine and attending university come true.’”
Passionate about helping others, the medicine student hopes to one day work in the emergency department, as well as make an impact in rural and regional healthcare.
“Toowoomba has three hospitals and people still need to travel to Brisbane for treatments or to see specialists.
“It’s not a small town, it’s quite a large regional centre and it has the facilities and infrastructure there,” Ms Hickman said.
“Then you look at Goondiwindi, Charleville and Roma for example – those areas are even more impacted.”
Now fully settled into student life and the new residential building, Ms Hickman said while she missed her family, she was loving the unique experience.