A N N U a L R E P O

2016 - 2017 QABuildingTS tomorrow’sI leadersF ANNUAL REPORT We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also honour the source Contents of QATSIF funding knowing that this remains a source of ARTICLES FACTS & FIGURES deep pain for many Aboriginal and Torres 2 A Note from our Patron 20 Scholarship Distribution Strait Islander Peoples. 3 Chairperson’s Report 24 2016 - 17 Financial Summary 6 Our Governance 28 QATSIF Schools Rounds 7 - 9 We congratulate QATSIF 7 From the Trustee Scholarship Recipients 8 The Board of Advice and encourage you to 12 Elders continue to honour 14 About the Foundation the legacy of your 15 Our Students traditional Aboriginal 26 2017 Review and Torres Strait 30 Get Involved in 2018 Islander Ancestors. 31 Acknowledgments 2 3 A Note from Chairperson’s Our Patron Report I remember our first group of about 120 QATSIF Students. If we QATSIF has continued to develop as a leading Foundation in the thought it would always be that way, we were wrong. past year and it has been my privilege as Chair of the Board of Advice to be part of the emerging QATSIF Story. Never before have I witnessed so many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students keep faith in their education. This past year has seen QATSIF continue to develop our Strategic Plan to support the education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait The QATSIF staff have been dedicated in your efforts to bring Islander young people in Queensland and to enable them to together students, teachers, parents and supporters for celebrations. realise their full potential. This has involved the organisation of speakers, dancers etc always acknowledging the past and present Elders who sacrificed so much, I wish to start by thanking Members of the QATSIF Board without ever knowing how the Stolen Wages might benefit our youth. of Advice, Patron Aunty Ruth Hegarty, The Public Trustee of Queensland and the QATSIF Secretariat for making QATSIF such I congratulate you Narelle. You will be sorely missed. As you move an inspiring reality. Having recently announced outcomes of forward, take time for the things that will bring a sense of joy to the Ninth Round of QATSIF Scholarships in over 220 secondary your heart and have yourself a wealth of beautiful memories. schools throughout Queensland testifies to the success of this relatively young foundation which many schools now say is from your dear friend and Patron definitely a positive factor in improved educational outcomes and “Closing the Gap.” Each year, when a Scholarship Round closes, all applications are Aunty Ruth Hegarty prepared for assessment by the Members of the Board of Advice. Each of us becomes increasingly conscious of the significance of our QATSIF Schools in working with the Secretariat in the practical aspects of making the scholarships a reality. I remain immensely proud of and grateful to all of our QATSIF Schools across the State, Catholic and Independent sectors of education in Queensland. Back to Contents During the past year, the QATSIF Board of Advice has worked on the Strategic Plan ensuring improved effectiveness in making QATSIF a model organisation for scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Years 11 and 12 Students in Queensland. The focus has been on the need for a formal evaluation of QATSIF and as a result of a special grant from the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, QATSIF engaged the services of Black Swan Consulting. QATSIF continues to enjoy a reputation in the community as a leading foundation. The growth of QATSIF has seen continued valued partnerships with QATSIF Schools, a broadening of the reach of the scholarship program to include new schools and a recognition that QATSIF can play a leading role in key strategic discussions and opportunities around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education. I continue to delight that QATSIF creates a strong network of partnership and collaboration so clearly demonstrated in the QATSIF celebrations. In the past year, with the significant support and hospitality of Queensland Universities including the University of Southern Queensland, CQUniversity, The University of Queensland, James Cook University and Bond University, QATSIF has brought together clusters of QATSIF schools to honour events significant in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and to celebrate the achievements of QATSIF Students graduating Year 12. As QATSIF thanks the Queensland Government for ongoing financial support to ensure sustainable growth until 2021, the role of Elders past and present in relation to the Stolen Wages remains uppermost in our minds, as it was your legacy that inspired the establishing of QATSIF. Each QATSIF Board Meeting will continue to honour you: “We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land in Queensland and pay respect to Elders, past present and in the future. We acknowledge the source of QATSIF funds and pay respect to Elders and all those painfully affected by past policies. We reflect on the endurance that has brought us this far.” Emeritus Prof Cindy Shannon 4. QATSIF Annual Report 2016 - 2017 Back to Contents 6 7 Our From the Governance Trustee As Trustee, I am privileged to share in witnessing the contribution towards ‘Closing The Gap’ that the Foundation has made since its Public Trustee inception in 2008. From an initial scholarship round of only 117 students, QATSIF is now providing more than 2,500 students with scholarships each year. Additionally, a further 1,045 students are currently pending for grant Round Nine 2018 – 2019. I am pleased that this funding continues to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of scholarship recipients and their communities. During the 2016-17 financial year a total of $1.76m The Public Trustee of Queensland was made in scholarship payments to eligible schools. Further is the Trustee of the Foundation. to this, as Trustee we have approved an additional $1.9m in As independent Trustee, they scholarship grants, to be paid over the next five financial years. are responsible for ensuring the Board of Advice The difference that these funds make cannot be underestimated. administration of the Foundation in accordance with the terms of Supporting education leads to better outcomes, not only for the Trust Deed. the students who receive the funding; there are also positive outcomes for their schools, their families, their friends and their communities at large. I am pleased that The Public Trustee continues to support QATSIF, and I wish the Foundation every success for the coming financial year. I would like to thank all of the members of the QATSIF Board of Advice who have supported the Foundation this year. Thank you also to Professor Cindy Shannon, Chair QATSIF, Board of Advice for her ongoing work and commitment to making a difference. Regards QATSIF Secretariat Sub-Committees Peter Carne The Public Trustee of Queensland Back to Contents 8 MRS JANE CEOLIN The Board (DEPUTY CHAIR) Jane is an Aboriginal woman with cultural and traditional connections to Far North Queensland. Through her mother’s and father’s connections, Jane is of the Wulgurukaba and of Advice Yirrganydji peoples. Jane has worked with a diverse range of teams across key stakeholder groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members to build and sustain effective partnerships and networks. She was appointed to a leadership role at Australian Catholic University in August 2012 and from December 2012 became the Acting Director of the Centre for Indigenous Education and Research. She was appointed as Director, First Peoples and Equity Pathways The Trustee is assisted by a Board of Advice, providing Directorate, ACU in December 2014. strategic direction for the Foundation, and advising the Trustee on the application of scholarship funds. EMERITUS PROF MR MARK BRAND CINDY SHANNON (CHAIR) Mark has worked with privately owned and publicly listed companies in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, as Emeritus Professor Shannon has made a significant and well as closely with Government for more than 20 years. He is extensive contribution to health policy including working on a broadly experienced manager with strategic and operational maternal, foetal and infant health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait experience in the technical, consulting, human resources and Islander communities including dealing with difficult issues not-for-profit sectors. such as drug and alcohol abuse and homelessness. He has visited and engaged with a number of Aboriginal Ms Shannon brings to the Board her experience in the communities, particularly on Cape York since 2004 and seeks community as an educator, her extensive network within the to contribute towards improved educational outcomes and the sector, and views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People growth of the Foundation. in rural, remote and urban settings. MR JHARAL YOW YEH MR KENNETH JAMES Jharal is an indigenous Australian of the Margany tribe. His surname (JIM) WALKER is Mandarin and he was born in Emu Park, Central Queensland. Jim Walker was born in Rockhampton and is a descendant of the Iman and Goreng Goreng peoples of Central Queensland. As a Rugby League player, Jharal debuted in Round 1 2009, played 60 games for the Brisbane Broncos scoring 33 tries, and He has extensive experience in working for both Queensland in 2013 was named Clubman of the Year. He played three State and Australian government departments and agencies. His of Origin games for Queensland scoring three tries including work has included policy and program formulation, analysis one on debut, three Tests for Australia and represented the and evaluation. Up until January 2015, Jim had worked for Indigenous All Stars on three occasions. In 2012, Jharal suffered more than 7 years in the Office of Indigenous Engagement a career ending injury and being a man of considerable courage within CSIRO and in this position his responsibilities included and substance, he struggled bravely against all odds to make an increasing the engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait unlikely playing comeback in 2014 which ultimately led to him Islander trainees, cadetships and internships in science.

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