A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

NIC GIVEN Communications Officer

St Peters has a long tradition of welcoming Indigenous students from far and wide to the College. The Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) Scholarship and Cape York Leaders Program provide Indigenous students with the opportunity to attend St Peters and receive a high quality education in a culturally inclusive environment.

Year 12 students Kuwanon Dickman, a proud Mannadeng Girramay man (Ludcke Mutze House Leader), and proud Guugu Yimithirr women Chuva May (Faith Leader) and Skye Bowen (Finger House Leader) have all boarded at St Peters since their arrival in Year 7.

In their six years at the College, they said Boarding has become a second home filled with an extended family.

“In Toowoomba, I grew up with only sisters. When I came into Boarding, it was a big change, I could watch the footy on a Friday night instead of Better Homes and Gardens. Coming to Boarding it was so different, it was like I had a brother next to me all the time and I had so many boys to talk to and pass the footy with,” Kuwanon said.

“Different cultures getting together, different people meeting everyone and just getting close. It's a big house of sisters and everyone has each other's backs. You’re never alone in Boarding,” said Skye.

“Since I'm an only child, I had friends here and there. But I never had a sibling to go home to. So having girls left, right and centre, it was overwhelming, but surprisingly I ended up taking care of a lot of them,” said Chuva.

Boarding has allowed the three students to grow as young people and develop their relationships with other Boarders and staff over the years.

“Staff and students, I reckon you put more trust in each other the older you get. Then the staff give you more freedom because you're older and they give you trust and you give them your trust as well,” said Skye.

“The staff aren’t our biological parents, but they felt like they were every time we came back and the more time you spend with them, the more they will be that person for you,” said Chuva.

“It's helped shape me. There are heaps of different role models and leaders in

Boarding. There are boys you can look up to with different traits that are good and over the years you kind of just slowly take those in,” said Kuwanon.

It’s bittersweet as their time at Boarding is coming to an end. They reflected on how far they’ve come while looking toward the future.

“It's made me feel more independent and rely on myself and get myself together. Because in the end, it's what you do that results in what path you follow after school,” said Skye.

“I don’t really have a plan at the moment, but I know that when I go back home, I want to get a job, earn some money, get myself a savings account and my own car and basically see where it goes from there.”

“It was all the opportunities and relationships as well as everything that happened, good and bad, they all just made me who I am, so I'm very grateful for coming here. I don't think I could have done it anywhere else,” said Chuva.

Chuva is yet to settle on a chosen career path but is currently considering roles in the Australian Army, in human resources using her Diploma of Business or studying medical sonography at university.

Kuwanon will miss the camaraderie of the Boarding House the most.

“I'll really miss the brotherhood. You're living amongst your friends and you're always around them,” said Kuwanon.

After graduation, he hopes to someday return to Boarding to give back to the community that has helped him to thrive.

“I don’t know if it’s uni or TAFE, but I’m interested in doing this leadership and mentoring course through the Brisbane Broncos so I can mentor younger boys through rugby programs and even come back as a Boarding master and give that a go,” he continued.

As for their advice for new Boarding students, all three emphasised the importance of getting involved in everything the College offers and connecting with other Boarders and day students.

Skye summed it up, “Don't be scared, talk to everyone, make friends and just get out there and try everything.”

St Peters is proud to partner with organisations like the AIEF and Cape York Leaders Program to empower young Indigenous students to reach their full potential and make a difference in the world. We look forward to seeing Kuwanon, Chuva and Skye take the next step on their journey.