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The bridge that’s bringing more mob to university
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Indigenous bridging program K-Track is getting more students to – and through – university by building confidence and the critical skills required to succeed.
“Kulbardi changed my life,” Aaron Taylor says about his experience coming to university.
“I never thought I would be in a situation where I would not only have the opportunity to enter university but also shine in that environment.”
Aaron is one of more than a thousand Indigenous students who have attended the Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre’s K-Track bridging program, which provides an alternative pathway to university for Indigenous students based on life experience.
“I always knew that education was the key to getting opportunities in life and I’d missed that from a very young age,” Aaron says.
To be able to come to university later in life – and receive the cultural support I needed along the way – has been life changing.”
Aaron Taylor
This year, Aaron will graduate as the recipient of a Dr Tracy Westerman Indigenous Psychology Scholarship, a Vice Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence, a prize for the highest grade in a unit and a distinction grade point average.
It’s a remarkable outcome after leaving school at 13 and running away at 14, never to return to complete his schooling. However, his experience is not a unique story of Indigenous excellence from adversity.
Jenna Woods, who today leads the School of Indigenous Knowledges at Murdoch, arrived through that pathway too.
As a young mum who never completed her high schooling, Jenna did the bridging course to get into university, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in community development, politics and international studies.
"If I can be here, I hope that everyone sees that they can do it too," Jenna says.
She was the highest achieving Aboriginal student at Murdoch during her studies and now plans to pursue a PhD to make a contribution to Aboriginal-led research in areas broader than health.
I want to bring the voice of Aboriginal experience from the community level into the academic space and provide evidence-based research that will produce positive change.”
Jenna Woods
Jenna says her success is all down to K-Track, which taught her the basics of life at university and helped build her self-esteem and confidence.
It also provided the social support she needed to keep coming back each week and introduced her to a wide network of people who have inspired and mentored her along the way.
"I encourage anyone who might be interested or wants a change in their life to come and have a yarn and see if it's something that might work for you."
“As a lecturer, I have seen how well our bridging course students do as undergraduate students,” Jenna says.
“They perform highly with the skills that K-Track has helped them to develop, and often go on to make significant changes for their families and their communities.”
This sentiment is shared by Aaron, who is now Lead Facilitator at Kulbardi, a role that sees him helping other mob find their way to and through university.
“I tell them, if you think you can’t do it, just look at me,” Aaron says.
“Then come have a yarn.”
Learn more about the incredible student support provided by Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre.News
The bridge that’s bringing more mob to university
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