QABuildingTS tomorrow’sI leadersF QUEENSLAND ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1 – TERM 1 QATSIF New Recipients’ and 2020 Student Leader Celebrations In this edition • New Recipients’ and Student Australian Catholic University (Banyo) Leader Celebrations On Friday, February 21, thirty-one Torres Strait Islander dance troupes. ACU (Banyo) schools gathered at the Australian Shakira Ritson from Balmoral State USQ (Springfield) Catholic University (Banyo) for the High School shared a beautiful poem, Photos from QATSIF Schools first of two QATSIF New Recipients’ “From the Oceans to the Dust” in a • Our talented QATSIF students – and Student Leader celebrations. moving tribute to our Elders. Alexis Boyd In its latest scholarship round, QATSIF After the official welcome from ACU’s • QAS School Based Scholarships has committed over $3M to support Professor Jim Nyland, there were two 1,657 Aboriginal and Torres Strait • 2020 QATSIF Team inspirational speeches from Aunty Islander students to complete Years • New QATSIF Board Members Ruth Hegarty and Shaunah Downton. 11 and 12. • Congratulations to Professor Aunty Ruth Hegarty, QATSIF’s QATSIF’s moving ceremony was led Cindy Shannon AM much-loved Patron, challenged by two amazing student MCs – Ella our students to take up QATSIF’s • 2020 QATSIF School Leaders Udowika from Carmel College and challenge to be leaders within their Indigo Malthouse from Bracken Ridge • QATSIF Young Leaders in Focus school communities and to “Dream Shannon Anderson State High School. Big” when it came to their futures. Tylah Fontaine After the Welcome to Country, QATSIF Ella McCann and Seth Saddler Shaunah Downton, who was a past ceremonies begin with the symbolic QATSIF Scholarship recipient from • QATSIF Young Achievers lighting of the QATSIF Elders’ candle Southern Cross Catholic College and Navrin Karklis to recognise the rich cultural heritage Juliet Biemann & Amily is currently studying a Bachelor of which has been passed down since Phineasa Midwifery at ACU, spoke passionately the Dreaming. Uncle Denis Bobongie, about her educational journey from • Sorry Business who has been a long-time supporter school to university and encouraged of QATSIF, lit the Elders’ candle. Jessica • QATSIF Ambassadors’ South the students to chase their dreams. Western QLD Road Trip Sturgess and Teagan Reale from In 2019, Shaunah received the • QATSIF 2020 Creative Arts Morayfield State High School lit our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Competition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candles on behalf of all students Student of the Year Award at the • QATSIF Round 9 Student present. Queensland Training Awards for Acquittal Information outstanding efforts in her Cert 3 Our 270 audience members were • 2020 QATSIF Celebration Dates Health Studies while at school. then treated to two incredible dance • In My Blood It Runs – Free performances by both Aboriginal and Reconciliation Week screening for schools Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned photographs in this newsletter • Current student opportunities may contain images of deceased persons which may cause sadness or distress. Please forward this Newsletter on to your QATSIF students and families. The Queensland Ambulance Service’s Deputy Mrs Ceolin said that she was extremely proud to see Commission, Mick Metcalfe presented the inaugural QATSIF supporting a record 3,000 students in 2020. Queensland Ambulance Service Scholarship to Chelsea She called on all QATSIF students to be leaders within Sanders from Everton Park State High School. their communities and especially our 172 QATSIF school leaders across the state including 13 School Captains Chelsea is one of 10 QATSIF students from across and 10 Vice Captains. Queensland who was selected to receive the inaugural QAS Scholarship. QATSIF is very grateful to the Australian Catholic University for supporting our students both now and During the ceremony, some of QATSIF’s 172 school into their futures. leaders and 1,657 new Scholarship students were presented with their certificates in front of their proud families and schools. Jane Ceolin, QATSIF’s Deputy Chair and the Director – First Peoples and Equity Pathways at Australian Catholic University, encouraged QATSIF’s 3,000 Year 11 and 12 students to work hard to achieve their dreams and to lead their school communities with pride. Rnd 11 QATSIF New Recipients. QATSIF would like to thank Papillion Studio Photography for their beautiful photos. www.papillonstudio.com.au. University of Southern Queensland (Springfield) Thirty-four schools gathered at the University of Following Professor Shannon’s speech, she was joined Southern Queensland (Springfield) on Friday, March 6 by QATSIF Board Members, Mr Jim Walker and Mr Mark to celebrate our new scholarship students and student Brand to present 41 school leaders including 5 School leaders. Captains with their QATSIF Leadership badges. Our USQ ceremony was led by our talented MCs Angus Mr Tim Eva, the Queensland Ambulance Service’s Loft (Runcorn SHS) and Lydia Oppermann (Groves Education Centre Director presented Kymberly Burns Christian College). from Highfields State College with her Queensland Ambulance Service School Based Scholarship certificate. The ceremony began with a Welcome to Country by Kymberly is one of 10 QATSIF students from across Jahmarlah Bonner, the School Captain of Hymba Yumba Queensland who was selected to receive the inaugural Independent School. This was followed by the lighting QAS Scholarship. of our Elders’ candle by Aunty Peggy Tidyman. Jade Maher and Levi Holland from Rochedale SHS used the Emily McInnes, a past QATSIF student from Ipswich flame from the Elders’ candle to light our Aboriginal and State High School, generously shared her educational Torres Strait Islander candles. journey which had brought her to USQ’s Indigenous Higher Education Program. Emily plans to continue The talented Marsden State High School Aboriginal her university studies with Bachelor of Media and Dance Troupe performed Gari Gynda Narmi to welcome Communications. our 370 guests. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of Addie Synnott from St Mary’s College read a special certificates to our new QATSIF students and a powerful tribute to our Elders who carry our stories and memories. Fire Blessing shared by Aunty Peggy to encourage Addie chose a beautiful poem called “From the Oceans to students to achieve their dreams. the Dusts” for our Elders. It was written by Torres Strait Islander poet, Zelda Quakawoot and will be used at our QATSIF is very grateful to USQ and their staff for hosting QATSIF ceremonies this year. our celebration. USQ very generously ran some incredible experiences for our QATSIF students before and after our Our QATSIF Board Chair, Professor Cindy Shannon AM celebration. encouraged our QATSIF students to strive to achieve their best in whatever field they chose. QATSIF would like to thank Papillion Studio Photography and USQ for their beautiful photos. www.papillonstudio.com.au. Rnd 11 Recipients’ photos shared by our QATSIF schools Mackay Northern Beaches SHS. Biloela SHS. Ingham SHS. Carmel College. Cunnamulla P-12 State School. Nanango SHS. Pacific Pines SHS. Palm Beach-Currumbin SHS. Mareeba SHS. St Patrick’s College (Mackay). Our talented QATSIF students – Alexis Boyd Alexis Boyd (Year 11), Meridan State College submitted art work for the jersey design for the North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health (NCACCH). Her work was not picked to go on jerseys, however her design was picked to be displayed on the day. Burdekin Christian College. Alexis is a descendant of the Bayali people, Gladstone/ Tannum Sands region. We congratulate Alexis on her deadly work. Moranbah SHS. Queensland Ambulance Service School Based Scholarships In 2019, QATSIF entered into a three year partnership Islander young people (https://www.ambulance.qld. with the QAS (Queensland Ambulance Service) to gov.au/indigenous-recruitment.html). provide 10 Scholarships for Year 11 QATSIF Scholarship For those looking to study Paramedics at university, there holders who are considering a career with the QAS. are the Jamie Jackway and QAS Tertiary Scholarships QATSIF advertised the Queensland Ambulance Service’s available to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander School Based Scholarships to all of our schools and students. received lots of outstanding applications. In the end, the following 10 students were selected for their passion and interest in a possible QAS career. School Recipient Calen District State Bree-Ann Pons College Blackwater State High Charli Muller School Everton Park State High Chelsea Sanders School Charli Muller. Toolooa State High Giaan Eggmolesse School Tannum Sands State High Imogen Stacey School All Souls St Gabriels Kayden Fogarty Highfields State Kymberly Burns Secondary College Fairholme College Monique Bloomfield Palm Beach-Currumbin Tyson O'Connor State School Bundaberg State High Zenaya Silvester- Kayden Fogarty. School Mumford QAS will fund the entire cost of these students’ QATSIF Scholarships and provide them with opportunities to experience life within the QAS. They will be offered opportunities to meet with Indigenous paramedics and have work experience at QAS stations and centres. At the end of this year, QATSIF will call for applications for the 2021 QAS School Based Scholarships. For any of our Year 12 students who are interested in a Paramedic career, there is information on the QAS’s website about careers