Yalari News - December 2021

NEWS

ISSUE NO. 51 | December 2021

Yalari

Welcome

Founding Director | Waverley Stanley AM

Waverley with Yalari boys Kye Boland and Christopher Swan

Thank you.

These last few months have felt a little more like a typical year for us at Yalari.

It was wonderful to have some student camps, a fundraising dinner, travelling for student interviews and catching up with our sponsors in person.

Yes — many of our students have spent Term 3 & 4 learning from home again and some of the interviews for our 2022 cohort had to be done via Zoom. We also had to postpone our Adelaide and Sydney dinners, and the Year 10 girls camp was cancelled for a second time. But despite all this, we were very grateful that several of our events and activities could go ahead.

We travelled to the Northern Territory, throughout North Queensland and to the Torres Strait Islands to interview children and families for our Yalari scholars starting next year. What a great bunch they are, and we look forward to welcoming our new scholars to the Yalari family in 2022.

It was inspiring to see 127 of our Queensland Yalari scholars and 12 Yalari alumni together at our Brisbane Dinner. We also had a room full of wonderful supporters, volunteers, school staff, Yalari families and friends. I hope you enjoy the photos of the evening, and congratulations to Tate Pyziakos, Tilly David, Noami Buchanan and Reghan Bayles for winning the Herbert Smith Freehills student resilience and leadership awards.

One of the highlights for me each year is the Central Australian camps. We were lucky enough to have most of our Year 9 girls, and our Year 9 and 10 boys for the camps, getting together and experiencing the heart of Australia. From camping under the stars (with one rainy night) to walks through beautiful ancient lands, we shared much laughter and stories while reconnecting with the land and each other. I experienced an unforgettable night at Kings Creek Station. The girls surprised Llew and I on our wedding anniversary by singing a Taylor Swift song around the campfire. It was a special moment as we danced to Love Story! I was also lucky enough to spend my birthday on Arrernte country at Uluru with the boys, my brother, staff and friends, who all made it a camp to remember.

Term 4 saw us celebrating another 19 students who graduated Year 12 from their respective schools and all other students completing a further year of their education. The school staff, volunteer tutors, and Yalari team continue to ensure our students receive the quality education and holistic wellbeing care they need to thrive and prepare for 2022.

Many thanks for the consistent support from our Yalari community. We appreciate the effort, kindness and generosity of so many people, which creates positive change for our Indigenous children.

Acknowledgement

Educating Indigenous Children

Yalari acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of this land. We recognise the culture, history, diversity and deep connection to land, waters and territorial seas of Australia.

Yalari is a not-for-profit organisation that offers quality, secondary education scholarships at leading Australian boarding schools for Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote communities.

We pay our respects to the Elders, past and present, and acknowledge the Yalari office is on Kombumerri country within the lands of the Yugambeh language group of the wider area. We also acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we work Australia-wide, and recognise their culture, heritage and beliefs.

We believe education is the key to generational change and a brighter future for Indigenous Australians and for our nation as a whole.

Copyright © 2021| Yalari Limited.

All rights reserved. information in this| newsletter is for general Yalari Limited PO BOX 1355, Oxenford QLDThe 4210 | Ph: 07contained 5665 8688 F: 07 5665 8611 | E:information info@yalari.org purposes and interpretations within are those of the author only and may reflect those of other ABN: 66 only.

113 The 794opinions 148 ACN: 113 794 148expressed | Yalari is a not-for-profit company limited bynot guarantee. identified parties. Every effort is made to ensure that information is accurate at time of printing.

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Yalari - Educating and Empowering Indigenous Children

Cover Image: Ginaya Fernando (John Paul College) and Jorgi Owers (Scots PGC) at the Yalari Fundraising Dinner, September 2021

Yalari Newsroom

International Day of the Girl TOMORROW’S GENERATION, TODAY Yalari was delighted to be selected as one of two charity partners for this year’s ‘It’s Now Girl, Tomorrow’s Generation, Today’ virtual event on Monday, 11 October 2021. The event is part of FCM Meetings & Events’ commitment to championing social change for young women.

Yalari Scholarships for Indigenous Children

For the second year running, It’s Now Girl connected virtual guests for a day of celebration and awareness of the critical issues affecting young girls. The focus this year was on building brighter educational outcomes and advocating gender equality for young women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.

Yalari alumna Jadalyn David De Busch (St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School - 2015) was part of the event, speaking about her Yalari journey and the passion she has for education and empowerment of the next generation of Indigenous girls.

Thank you to everyone who attended this important online event to raise awareness of issues affecting women and girls and to champion positive change.

QUEENSLAND MOB CATCH-UP!

Yalari is looking for students and families who believe that education is the key to providing a better future for Indigenous people in Australia.

Boarding school scholarships are open to Indigenous children who live in regional, rural or remote areas of Australia and will start Year 7 in 2023.

Our scholarships are awarded to students who are willing to give 100%, try hard at everything they do, don’t give up when things get tough and are brave and determined enough to succeed at boarding school. We work closely with our students, families and partner schools to provide a high level of support in all aspects of student welfare.

In early September, the Yalari Glennie girls travelled to Brisbane for a long-

Scholarship information, including the application pack for scholarships commencing in 2023 will be available online at www.yalari.org from 1 January 2022.

Applications close Friday 29 April 2022.

awaited meetup with our St Margaret’s girls. They had a wonderful day visiting the Queensland Museum and catching up at South Bank.

Not sure what to do or have some questions?

Please call our student support team on (07) 5665 8688 and they will be happy to guide you through the application process.

Yalari News - December 2021

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Yalari’s Graduating Class of 2021 YALARI VALE DI C T O RI AN 2021

Cheree Whyman For resilience, kindness, inclusiveness and tenacity, Cheree has been awarded the Yalari valedictorian for 2021.

She has shown outstanding commitment to her Yalari scholarship, support of her Yalari year group, and care and guidance for the younger Yalari scholars at Scotch College, Adelaide. Cheree has been accepted into the University of South Australia to study a Bachelor of Business and Marketing in 2022.

Connor McGovern Cubby (Churchie) has been awarded an Indigenous scholarship to study A Bachelor of Laws at Bond University.

Tyrese Idai (Churchie) is planning on working and studying in construction management .

Aaliyah Blackaby (Geelong Grammar) has applied to study Psychology at Melbourne University.

Deklan King (Geelong Grammar School) plans to spend the year at home working.

Mariah Lennard (Great Southen Grammar School) is working in hospitality in Perth while aiming to join the WA police force.

Shauna Dhagapan (John Paul College) plans to join the Northern Territory Police.

Brooke Brown (Abbotsleigh) has been accepted into A Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Arts at Australian Catholic University in Sydney.

Beau Kendall (Scots PGC, Warwick) is planning on working in Aviation and becoming a pilot.

Mibulgurrdoo Yanner (St Hilda’s) plans to study a Bachelor of Arts at Griffith University.

Alanah Tompkins (Kinross Wolaroi) plans to take a gap year working before tertiary studies in 2023.

Tyeka Ferguson O’Shea (St Hilda’s) has applied to study at Griffith University, criminology and human services.

Chelsea Edwards (Kinross Wolaroi) is having a gap year working at a disability and youth service in her hometown followed by studies at the University of Newcastle the following year.

Braydon Mundy (Shore) has been accepted into Exercise Sports Science at University of Technology Sydney

Anna Dingley (The Glennie School) has been accepted at Griffith University to study A Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Jemmah Ronson (The Glennie School) has been shortlisted for a gap year program with the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. On completion she plans to study Marine Biology.

Shakita Foster (The Glennie School) will complete her Diploma of Nursing at Toowoomba Tafe.

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Yalari - Educating and Empowering Indigenous Children

Yalari Newsroom

Churchie Rugby Test Luncheon

Every year, Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) hosts a Rugby Lunch in Brisbane, which is attended by over 1,000 guests from the Brisbane community.

The event coincides with a major international rugby match, with panel discussions including sporting identities and an impressive line-up of speakers. Significantly, the luncheon includes a fundraising component, supporting Churchie’s co-curricular activities and a selected charity.

For the past three years, Yalari has been the nominated charity partner for the event, which has raised over $70,000.

This has funded three Yalari student scholarships at Churchie.

A huge thank you to the team at Churchie for embracing the Yalari vision and enabling our participation at the lunch. We also extend a humble thank you to Yalari partners, Hentley Farm Wines and Brad Horn at Epic Private Journeys, as well as Fireworks Gallery in past years, for donating raffle and auction prizes which greatly helped in raising funds.

Good job, Will!

Yalari alumnus and Churchie Old Boy (2012) Will Munro spoke about his Yalari journey and was proudly watched on by his scholarship sponsors, Steve and Di McCready.

Will is studying at Griffith University, completing a Bachelor of Psychological Science, having previously studied primary school teaching.

He aspires to work in the mental health sector upon graduation.

A VALUABLE NEW PARTNERSHIP We are incredibly proud of our newly forged partnership with Sodexo, global Leader in Quality of Life services. The collaboration will see tertiary scholarships being offered to Yalari alumni as part of our Pathways Program.

The first recipient of the scholarship is Yalari Alumnus, Lenka Rivers, who attended St Hilda’s School in Queensland. Lenka is now studying at the University of Western Australia, undertaking a Bachelor of Communication, with a major in Management.

Sodexo is committed to improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia, and we are humbled they have chosen Yalari to share this special journey with.

SHARE THE LOVE! JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

#yalari #generationalchange #indigenous #educatingindigenouschildren Did you know that Yalari is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter?

Follow us and keep up-to-date on what’s happening around the Yalari community.

@yalarimob

@yalarilimited

@yalari

If you would like to submit a story, provide feedback, share some photos or have any questions regarding our publication, please contact - comms@yalari.org.

Yalari News - December 2021

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Student Support and Development

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS OUR INDIGENOUS LEADERS OF TOMORROW

Yalari students continue to dream, learn, achieve and succeed!

Harmony Bellotti Year 9 - Methodist Ladies’ College, Claremont Winners of the footy finals.

Riley Wondergem

Tate Pyziakos

Tilly David

Year 8 - Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)

Year 7 - The Southport School

Year 7 - St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School

Riley was recently selected to represent Queensland at national hockey trials to be held early next year.

Reghan Bayles Year 11 - Toowoomba Grammar School Reghan volunteered for the Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp, spending two nights and three days as ‘companion carer’ to thirty-four children with special needs, giving their families some much-needed respite.

Leewana Harrison Year 9 - The Glennie School Leewana was selected as a representative for the Queensland Indigenous State Rugby Team.

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Awarded the Herbert Smith Freehills Junior Leadership Award at the Yalari Brisbane Dinner.

Tate Pyziakos is a proud young man whose bloodlines extend back to Tagalaka where his grandmother and Nanna grew up in North Queensland.

Tate has followed in the footsteps of his older brother Eli to attend The Southport School on his Yalari scholarship. Tate, who is sponsored by Archie & Mary Lou Douglas, has transitioned exceptionally well into boarding school life, especially living with 40 other boys!

Tate is not satisfied with settling for good results; he strives to be great. Supported by his parents Rochelle and Paul, Tate has been encouraged to develop strong positive habits focused on always putting his best foot forward. And he has certainly done that in his first year of boarding. Tate was recently elected after a vote from his peers as Vice-Captain of his boarding house, Rogers House.

When he is not out on the Rugby field or studying his academic workload, Tate is actively engaged in learning how to master the didgeridoo. Tate always shows respect, is eager to learn and continues to strive for excellence.

We believe that Tate is destined for further leadership roles as he continues to grow in confidence.

Tilly is a proud young Torres Strait Island woman. As a descendant of King Kebisu, Tilly and her family call Yam and Tudu Islands and waters in the central Torres Strait as their country. She has grown up away from traditional country in Biloela, in the Banana Shire in Central Queensland.

Tilly has a very outgoing personality and the determination to keep going when things get tough. She is supported by her parents Emma and Gus, and sponsored by the Judith Musgrave Family Foundation.

Tilly is always willing to help those in her cohort and those in the older year levels, whether it is assisting them in understanding their schoolwork or just being a person that lends an ear.

Tilly is also quite the team player and is currently playing volleyball, netball, cricket, and basketball.

When she isn’t at school or playing a sport, you can almost guarantee you’ll find her making TikTok videos with her peers in boarding. Tilly has a smile that can light up a room and a laugh that is so infectious that you can’t help but smile and laugh along with her.

Yalari Newsroom

Jasmine Glass

Moigida Loban

Abbotsleigh School, Sydney

Year 11 - St Catherine’s School

Sophie was recently elected as next year’s Year 12 Head Boarder Prefect on Abbotsleigh’s Prefect Executive Team.

Jasmine has been elected by her peers as Boarding Co-Captain for 2022.

Year 12 - Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)

Sophie Oakeshott

Moigida was recently elected as prefect for his forthcoming senior year.

Noami Buchanan Year 10, The Glennie School This year, Naomi received the Mayoral School Achievement Medal, an award bestowed upon students by Toowoomba Regional Council.

The accolade recognises students reaching incredible educational goals despite adversity.

Yalari News - December 2021

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Student Support and Development

Following a year of student development program interruptions and cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yalari students and staff were excited to get out to the red centre again in June/July 2021. The outback camp program for scholarship students offers an excellent opportunity to ‘reset’ after semester one and celebrate the halfway mark of the boarding school journey.

Two groups (Year 9 girls, then Year 9 & 10 boys) made the journey during the July school holidays, each experiencing a five-night camping adventure from Alice Springs to Uluru.

The camps involved a road trip to scheduled activities or the night’s accommodation; setting up and packing down camp; journaling; hiking; playing sport; collecting firewood; cooking; eating meals together; campfire yarns; and lots of laughter.

Perhaps most importantly, the camp offered students the opportunity to reconnect with culture and land, forge new friendships, strengthen support networks and reflect on the unique opportunities they are receiving.

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Yalari - Educating and Empowering Indigenous Children

“From walking around Uluru in the footsteps of our elders to sleeping under the stars of the NT skies, my Year 10 brothers and I have had the experience of a lifetime. We connected with our culture more deeply, stepped out of our comfort zones by sharing conversations around a blazing fire, and learnt more about ourselves.

It was wonderful to create memories that will last a lifetime and leave footsteps for the younger generation as our elders have done for us.

On behalf of the Year 9 and 10 boys, I would like to thank Uncle Wav and the Yalari staff for the life-changing experience and helping us make history one step at a time.” - Jye.

Yalari News - December 2021

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Yalari Events Partner Schools

2021 Ya l a ri

BRISBANE DINNER Held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in mid-September, it was ‘smiles-all-round’ as we welcomed over 550 guests to our 2021 Yalari Brisbane Dinner. It had been a long time coming, given the challenges of the past 18 months, and we were so grateful to greet our friends, family and supporters in person.

A highlight of the evening was watching as four of our students received outstanding leadership and resilience awards. The children were excited (and possibly a little nervous!) as they took to the stage to be applauded and celebrated. Congratulations Tilly, Tate, Reghan and Noami!

A huge thank you to our national corporate partners and extraordinary friends at Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) for donating the awards and the ever-delightful Kirsty Faichen (Senior Partner) for presenting them.

E V ENT P A R T N E R S

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Yalari - Educating and Empowering Indigenous Children

We proudly recognise the contribution of our event partners and corporate tables.

Thank you for your valuable support.

C O R P OR A TE TA B LES

Yalari News - December 2021

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Yalari Volunteers

YALARI PEOPLE ARE

Pure Gold!

Over 40 volunteers from several key corporate partners, Yalari alumni and the wider community gave their time and enthusiasm to help at our recent Yalari Brisbane Dinner. Volunteers assisted with everything from selling raffle tickets to helping guests with online auction bidding. A huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteers for making the night such an incredible success.

“When the callout for volunteers for the Yalari Dinner came, I didn’t hesitate to put myself forward after a quick read about the cause Yalari stands for. I firmly believe that educational opportunities for our First Nations children will help them and Australia on the journey towards healing and changing minds and hearts.

It was terrific to hear from students and alumni how being part of the Yalari family has changed the trajectory of their lives and given them a voice in the world. Despite a tough couple of years, we have endured due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the patrons continued to be generous and raised almost $100k to fund scholarships for the children.

As a volunteer, I truly felt part of the Yalari mob and was appreciated throughout the evening by the Yalari team. We also met Waverley while making our rounds, and it was nice to be individually acknowledged by him.

“I was so honoured that I could be part of the Yalari Dinner – it was a truly wonderful night! As volunteers, we felt so welcomed and embraced by the Yalari community.

We received lovely Yalari t-shirts, were given a delicious dinner made especially for us, and had many thank you’s from the guests and Yalari team. The live auction and speeches delivered by Waverley and the students were particular highlights of the evening! I was blown away by the students’ speeches – the confidence, insight and passion with which they spoke made me sure we were listening to future leaders, and I cannot wait to see all the amazing things they will go on to do! Thank you for the opportunity to be part of such a fantastic event.”

- Sophie Broadbent, Deloitte

Overall, I felt that the night was a huge success, and I look forward to more opportunities to volunteer for Yalari.

- Claudia Braganza

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Yalari - Educating and Empowering Indigenous Children

“Here at Turner and Townsend, we encourage and support our employees to volunteer, so when an opportunity to help at the Yalari Brisbane Dinner came up, a group of us put our hands up and were able to spend a fantastic evening with an inspiring bunch of people.

It was great to see a direct link between raising money (selling raffle tickets on the night) and the young people benefiting from a good education. The incredible thing about the Yalari Dinner was the wonderful spirit of generosity in the room that night; We sold out of raffle tickets in the blink of an eye! We all had a great time participating and feeling a part of the Yalari family on the night.”

- Simon Hunt, Turner & Townsend

d Our Terrific Tutor

Thank you Mrs Stone!

Mrs Fiona Stone has been working as a teacher at The Glennie School for the past seven years and also volunteers as a tutor to the Yalari girls.

Her tutoring sessions are open to all Yalari students, but her ‘regulars’ are the Year 7 and Year 8 girls who attend every week.

Students also come to seek specific help with assignments.

“I really like tutoring students; it is something I have done for a long time. Tutoring helped pay my way through university, and it is a rewarding job as you can help learners come a long way in a short space of time,” Mrs Stone explains.

“Students sometimes enjoy my sessions as a comfortable space to be able to focus and finish homework. I am there to keep everyone on track. We have some first nations art on the wall and on some cushions, so the classroom feels welcoming and shows that Glennie values Indigenous culture.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to give back to my community by volunteering at the Yalari fundraising dinner.

It was particularly inspiring to hear from some immensely talented students and alumni and Yalari Founding Director, Waverley Stanley. Hearing first-hand about the generational change Yalari provides for Indigenous children and their communities was a great reminder of why giving back is so important and rewarding.”

- Andrew Dorman, RPS Group

Volunteering at the Brisbane Dinner was an uplifting and stirring experience. From seeing the students being able to enjoy themselves at the end of a stressful school term, to Waverley’s awe-inspiring speech, to the adrenaline rush of helping out with the auction, to honing our sales pitch for the raffle tickets, the night was action-packed for me and the rest of the volunteers. Being in amongst the organisers, students and other guests helped me appreciate why Yalari means so much to so many scholars, alumni and supporters, and makes me excited to volunteer with Yalari again.

- Ben Gibbons, Herbert Smith Freehills

Year 8 student Courtney Dritoni agrees that Mrs Stone’s makes every tutoring session feel very special.

“When I go to tutoring with you, I feel so comfortable in a nice cosy room with an amazing teacher - YOU,” speaks Courtney of her tutor.

“You have made your room the best in the school because of all the decorations!” she says.

Starting this week, Mrs Stone and her class have set a new goal of getting a head-start on the Year 8 curriculum. She has already spoken to the other teachers so her students can pre-learn some of the concepts, making students more prepared before new content is delivered.

‘I found the evening inspiring, dynamic and refreshing.

Bunching some volunteers together can go well or badly: I have seen both.

The volunteers for this event were just superb. We worked together seamlessly and were proud to deliver a positive result, even though some had minimal previous exposure to Yalari. I found the Yalari administrators to be refreshing in their attitude and energy, and had great organisational skills.

In summary: a great night, and I will be back!

- Scott Harris, Cobham Aviation Services

Courtney Dritoni Year 8 - The Glennie School

Yalari News - December 2021

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Yalari Alumni

Catching up

with our inspiring Alumni

Yalari Alumni Leading, connecting, giving

Brian Naylon Class of 2014 | St Ignatius’ College, Riverview “Hi, I’m Brian Naylon. I attended St Ignatius’ College Riverview in Sydney on a Yalari scholarship and graduated in 2014. I then gained a job as a Teacher’s Aide in Mungindi, worked at the Boggabilla Preschool and later, as a Youth Worker.

In 2018, I took the role of Community Engagement Officer for the Mungindi Preschool for 12 months. At the end of 2019, I relocated to Sydney, where I worked at the Australian Catholic University in Strathfield.

2020 was a crazy year for us all, but I commenced the role of Acting CEO of Mungindi LALC (Local Aboriginal Land Council) in November. In April 2021, I was appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer. I undertake duties involving the day-to-day administration and financial management of the Land Council, communicate to the members and report to the Chair and Board of Directors.

If I had one piece of advice to give, I would say be happy, have fun, and be kind to your body and heart.”

Isaac Burgoyne Class of 2018 | Toowoomba Grammar School “Over the last couple of months I worked for Yalari as the Student Support Officer at Churchie while studying fulltime at ACU, hopefully graduating in 2022 with a dual degree in paramedicine and nursing.

I loved working for Yalari and being a Student Support Officer. I got to do my part in ensuring younger generations make the most of their opportunities and get the best education possible.

I also positively influenced these young men, allowing them to feel supported and cared for while being away from family.

Recently, my partner and I welcomed our first child, Luka Burgoyne, into the world on the 17th of September. For me, becoming a dad is something that I can’t explain. Until you live that experience, I can tell you that it’s a love like no other.”

Summah Bedford

Class of 2017 | Geelong Grammar School “Hi, my name’s Summah, and I’m a Kidja & Jaru woman from Halls Creek in The Kimberleys of Western Australia.

I was lucky enough to receive a Yalari scholarship, graduating from Geelong Grammar School in 2017.

After school, I was introduced to the VTEC (Vocational Training and Employment Program). This program is with Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) and offers opportunities and career development for Indigenous people. In the two years that I have been working with FMG, I have moved to Perth, bought my car, and just bought a house with the support of my family.

Yalari has made a difference in my life, which I could only wish for more Indigenous kids to have.

The opportunity to go to a boarding school on the other side of the country has exposed me to a different culture and mentality of Australia. Supporting Yalari to provide more scholarships will help Indigenous kids better their lives through education as it did for me.”

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Yalari - Educating and Empowering Indigenous Children

Brody LeLievre Class of 2012 | Churchie “I’m Brody, and I am part of the Nyikina mob. I was born in Derby, WA, and grew up in western Queensland on a farm in Dulacca. I graduated in 2012 from Churchie in Brisbane on a Yalari Scholarship.

Since graduating high school, I took a gap year working at a Waste Treatment Facility before commencing my tertiary studies at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. I faced a few challenges completing my degree, mainly because I didn’t know what to expect and found the university learning environment very different. While studying, I worked as an Event Medic and Lifeguard, and in 2016, I started as a Patient Transport Officer for the Queensland Ambulance Service. I transitioned into a Paramedic role within the service beginning in August 2022, graduating with a Bachelor of Paramedicine.

Through my work and education, I have learned that kindness, caring, and compassion are simple things that can make a world of difference to someone in need. Looking forward, I plan on continually working on my clinical knowledge and bettering my practice to help those who need it the most. In the next couple of years, I would like to buy a house.

If I had any advice for Yalari’s current students, it would be to never give up on what you want to do in life. Anything is possible, and some of us just have more challenges to face.”

Ezekiel Billy Class of 2019 | St Ignatius’ College, Riverview “Due to lockdown, I have not been able to get out as much as I would have liked, but luckily through my job, I’ve been able to get out and do a fair bit of work.

I’m currently working as a cultural mentor at my old school (St Ignatius’ College, Riverview). My role is to help all First Nation boys from years 7 to 12 with schoolwork, extracurricular activities or cultural classes.

This term has been easier to handle as I have only had to supervise one of the Year 12 students completing his HSC.”

Yalari’s Alumni Association forges forward into 2022 The Yalari board recently endorsed the new Yalari Alumni Association committee members. Jadalyn De Busch is the president, Lincoln Whiteley is the secretary, Mitchell Whiteley is the treasurer, with Jordie Ellis, Brody LeLievre, Taneale Lawton, and Trey Petterson as committee members. Throughout 2021, this group have dedicated their time, thoughts and energy into establishing themselves as a self sufficient operating committee. A special mention and thanks must be made of the team from RPS who assisted in the early stages by facilitating workshops to gather ideas from the association members as to how they can act in the best interests of Yalari and its alumni.

The committee is now confident and looking forward to being more active in 2022 and looks forward to engaging and supporting more alumni on their journeys.

“The YAA is a group of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander alumni who have come together to leverage Yalari’s platform to elevate the needs and aspirations of our alumni and communities. We aim to empower young Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander people to be agents for change across their communities and also more broadly across the Australian landscape”.

– Jadalyn De Busch

Yalari News - December 2021

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