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Keyarrah’s study journey hasn’t exactly been what she describes as ‘linear’, but it has changed her life trajectory in the best possible way.
She started by enrolling in the Preparing for Success Program, which she says set her up with the skills and confidence to successfully navigate university.
“I didn’t quite finish my HSC, but I didn’t want that to define my future opportunities. So, I chose the Preparing for Success Program because I knew I wanted to enrol in a degree, but I wasn’t completely confident that I was at the academic level that I needed to be to go to uni,” she said.
Bolstered by the support of her tutors and the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS), Keyarrah was equipped with new skills in academic referencing, time management, problem solving, and how to navigate Blackboard. She passed with flying colours.
“It really gave me the foundations of what I needed to succeed. I felt like the tutors were all wanting me to succeed. They always checked in, they were supportive and always available to help,” she said.
Keyarrah is now in the final stages of a Bachelor of Indigenous Knowledge, where she has delved deeper into her own Indigenous ancestry and uncovered a new sense of purpose.
“It was so much more than I expected. Throughout the course I had so many meaningful experiences with Elders, Indigenous Academics and with cultural events at Gnibi. It was a super special time in my life that I will never forget”
“It’s actually shifted my whole life trajectory and opened up my worldviews so much. The course really encourages you to look within yourself at a deeper level and shift your perspectives of history and the environment. It changed me to my core.”
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“I feel well equipped to professionally engage in the areas of Social Justice, Health and Education, I feel passionate about making a difference and shifting outdated perspectives”.
While juggling her studies, Keyarrah had what you might call a few ‘bumps’ along the way, beginning with becoming a mother.
“I was actually out on Country with Bundjalung Elders as part of my Caring for Country unit while I was heavily pregnant, which was such a cool experience. And I was able to continue studying while I was in the early stages of her infancy as the University was so supportive and flexible,” Keyarrah said.
“I also received support from Student Equity and Inclusion as I was working through some challenges with my learning style. I was diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD and autism. It’s allowed me to recognise that we all have different learning styles and that’s ok,” she said.
Now throw in a pandemic, a temporary flip to online learning and some major flooding.
“I lost my home in the flood two years ago, so that was really big to navigate. It has definitely been a non-linear journey. From an Indigenous perspective, that’s representative of life as being more like a spiral, where we circle back to things when we are ready,” Keyarrah said.
“Southern Cross Uni has been so understanding and flexible with these challenges and I felt really, really supported here. It's felt like a second home.”
Since studying the Bachelor of Indigenous Knowledge, Keyarrah has begun exploring a whole new field of career possibilities, from creating educational content about Indigenous culture for schools, to Indigenous health care, or continuing on to postgraduate study.
“I’d really love to be able to share more widely about our culture in the ways it is alive and thriving, not some mythica part of history, culture is always evolving just as our knowledge is always growing. I want to contribute to ensuring that the land is taken care of and that Indigenous perspectives are embedded into the way that we are managing our systems.”
Keyarrah was the recipient of the Recognition of Academic Excellence award in 2018 for maintaining a GPA of 6.33, the Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship - Offered in Session 2, 2020 and a Southern Cross University Equity Scholarship.