QUEENSLAND Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation has turned stolen wages into scholarships with the latest round of scholarships presented to more than 450 students at its two ceremonies in the last two weeks.
From the 1890s through to the 1970s, the Queensland Government held onto wages meant to be paid to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers.
The scholarship money came from the interest on unallocated stolen wages reparations funds from the first set of reparations in 2008.
“We never ever should forget how QATSIF was founded – that it was founded on those stolen wages, and the interest from those pays for the scholarships and that students need to work hard to achieve their best,” QATSIF secretariat director Michael Nayler said.
“That’s what we’re seeing from our young people – so many coming out and heading into university or TAFE or apprenticeships or running their own businesses or armed services.
“There’s a whole range of things young people are going into and we’re seeing really great results.”
He said they had seen 12,500 young people through QATSIF in the last 12 years.
Mr Nayler said even with all the COVID-19 requirements the scholarship presentations at Australian Catholic University, Banyo, and University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, were some of their biggest to date.
Even more students – past and present – joined in via livestreams to watch the presentations.
Each year, the scholarship ceremonies included a celebration of arts and culture.
Students from Ambrose Treacy College performed traditional Aboriginal dance at the ACU event and at USQ, Mischa Ford from Marymount College read a moving poem that she had written for the QATSIF Creative Arts Competition when she was in Year 7.
After the Welcome to Country, QATSIF ceremonies began with the symbolic lighting of the QATSIF Elders’ candle to recognise the rich cultural heritage passed down since the Dreaming.
Uncle Denis Bobongie, who has been a long-time supporter of QATSIF, lit the Elders’ candle.
After a heart-felt welcome from ACU’s Professor Jim Nyland, there were two inspirational speeches from Professor Cindy Shannon AM and Hayden Kubler.
Professor Shannon AM, QATSIF’s Chair, shared story of the Stolen Wages and her pride in QATSIF’s work.
She also challenged the students work hard, take up any opportunities given to them and to “Dream Big” when it came to their futures.
She said that she was extremely proud to see QATSIF supporting a record 3600 students in 2021.
Hayden Kubler, who was a past QATSIF Scholarship recipient from Xavier Catholic College and is currently studying a Bachelor of Teaching at ACU, spoke passionately about his educational journey from school to university and encouraged the students to chase their dreams.
He thanked QATSIF and paid tribute to those Elders and Ancestors who had suffered the grave injustice of having their wages stolen and for the many opportunities that were given to him.
The Queensland Ambulance Service’s Assistant Commissioner, Peter Warrener presented Queensland Ambulance Service Scholarships to four of the ten QATSIF students from across Queensland who were selected to receive additional opportunities through the QAS.
Mr Mike Buxton from Transurban also presented Transurban Paiabun Karumba (Yuggera Dream Big) STEM Scholarships to many of the 20 QATSIF students who will receive opportunities to connect with engineers and additional support with purchasing IT equipment.
During the ceremony, some of QATSIF’s 150 school leaders including 20 School Captains were presented with their leadership badges and certificates in front of their proud families and schools.
Catholic Schools were well represented at both events with staff and students from – All Hallows’ School, Ambrose Treacy College, Brigidine College, Carmel College, Clairvaux MacKillop College, Lourdes Hill College, Mount Alvernia College, Mt Maria College (Mitchelton), Mt Maria College (Petrie), San Sisto College, Seton College, Southern Cross Catholic College, St Benedict’s College, St Edmund’s College, St Eugene College, St James College, St John Fisher College, St Mary’s College (Ipswich), St Peter Claver College, St Saviour’s College and St Thomas More College.
QATSIF currently has committed over $3.66 million to support 2030 students to complete Years 11 and 12, including 353 students from 77 Catholic schools across Queensland.
Across Queensland, many of QATSIF’s current 3600 students joined the livestreamed ceremonies.
