Shalom Gamarada Scholarship Program
“This program is a strong and eloquent contribution to our journey of reconciliation.”
- Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales, Program Patron.
The Shalom Gamarada Scholarship Program offers residence at Shalom College to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students studying at UNSW. The program runs in partnership with the UNSW’s Nura Gili Indigenous Programs Unit and the Muru Marri Indigenous Health Unit.
The program’s name comes from the term Gamarada ngiyani yana in the Eora language (the coastal Aboriginal people of Sydney) and is translated as “We walk together as friends.”
The premise behind the scholarship is to make a future contribution to address the poor state of Indigenous health and welfare in Australia.
Many Indigenous students find it difficult to succeed at university because they:
- commonly come from deprived educational and socio-economic backgrounds
- often live far from campus and spend many hours each day travelling on public transport
- generally have to find part-time work to help support themselves and;
- are seldom part of a “learning community” with friends and family members who have been or are engaged in higher education.
The Shalom Gamarada Scholarship Program helps to alleviate these problems by providing financial support, eliminating travelling time and creating an environment conducive to learning through tutoring and counselling support.
“Our commitment must be to maximise the number of Indigenous doctors in the workforce and this wonderful initiative will make all the difference between an Aboriginal student who struggles to pass and one who progresses steadily through the program.”
- Professor Richard Henry, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, UNSW
Since the program's inception in 2005, the program to date has assisted 21 students study medicine, optometry and medical sceince. There are currently 10 Indigenous students at Shalom College, ranging from 1st to 4th year of their studies.
Funding
Each scholarship covers full board and tutoring support at Shalom College. Conditional on passing their examinations, each student awarded a scholarship has tenure until they complete their degree.
The scholarship program is funded partly from the proceeds from the annual Shalom Gamarada Art Exhibition. There are eight scholarships funded by:
- The Gonski Foundation (David Gonski AC, Chancellor of the University of NSW)
- Investec Bank (Australia) Limited
- Reuben Pelerman Benevolent Foundation
- The JCA Benevolent Fund
- Four private donors
How to Apply
Please note that this scholarship is for Indigenous students only who will be studying for a medical or health-related degree at UNSW.
- Apply to the college using the online application form, and ensure all sections are completed.
- Notify both Shalom College and the Nura Gili Centre for Indigenous Programs at UNSW that you are interested in applying for a Shalom Gamarada Scholarship.
Scholarship Recipients Profiles
Beth Kervin
Horningsea Park, NSW
6th and Final Year Medicine, UNSW
Beth lived in college for 3 years as a Shalom Gamarada scholarship holder. She will be our first graduate at the end of this year. Since she is now working at Liverpool hospital, she is residing at home.
I am an Aboriginal woman from outside of Liverpool, and my people are from Guyra. I have recently completed a year of research focusing on support for breastfeeding among mothers in South Western Sydney, and I am now in my final year of Medicine working at Liverpool Hospital.
Being able to study medicine was a huge opportunity for me. I am serious about making a difference and feel privileged to be becoming a doctor.
In future, I hope to specialise in paediatrics and to work with, and give back to, my community. I’m committed to contributing to improving the health of Indigenous people in this country. I would also like to be a role model for other Indigenous people considering studying medicine.
I was awarded a Shalom Gamarada Scholarship in 2005. This opportunity has been invaluable, and I am grateful beyond words. This scholarship meant that I no longer had to travel for 4 hours a day to attend my classes, and was able to commit more time to my demanding studies.
I have always had the motivation to follow my dream to become a doctor and the Shalom Gamarada Scholarship has allowed me to make the dream a reality.
Jenna Owen
Dubbo, NSW
4th Year Optometry, UNSW
Jenna has achieved a distinction average in her university studies to date. She is a gifted golfer with a handicap of 4. When she completes her studies in 2010, she will become the first Indigenous optometrist ever in NSW.
Being an Indigenous student from a rural area, it would have been impossible for me to study Optometry having to live so far away from home because of the financial stress of accommodation, living expenses and travel costs. The Shalom Gamarada Scholarship has made my dream a reality and enabled me to be the first member of my family to attend university.
Helping others has always been a passion of mine and being an optometrist will give me the opportunity to improve the health of my Indigenous community. There is only one qualified Aboriginal optometrist in the whole of Australia! The shortage of Indigenous health professionals makes the task of improving the health of our people more difficult – and that is why we need more Aboriginal doctors and optometrists.
The elevated rate of illness among the Aboriginal population saddens me and many common illnesses, even diabetes, can be reduced through proper eye care. I hope to return to my community and provide the wider central-west of New South Wales with this desperately needed health service.
Receiving the Shalom Gamarada Scholarship, and living here in Shalom College, has been an amazing experience for me. The cultural adjustment to studying and living in the city has been made smoother through the support I have had from friends at Shalom College.
Education is such a vital tool in the development of a healthy future for Aboriginal communities. I am so proud and grateful to have the opportunity to achieve my goals through this scholarship and better serve my people.
Josef McDonald
Newcastle, NSW
Completed 4th year Medicine in 2008, UNSW
Josef has deferred his studies for 1 year (2009) and will return in 2010.
I don’t know where I would be without the Shalom Gamarada Scholarship. It has been a life-changing experience for me. Six years of study is a long time - and the fact that I have had a friendly and supportive home, with healthy meals, on campus lets me do the job I have to do to pass my exams. I have been at Shalom College for four years, and I have had the time to work hard at uni, and work out where I want to go when I graduate. The scholarship - without question - has allowed me to stay at uni and get on with my dream of becoming a doctor. I really want to go into public health when I finish - and make a difference to my people.
Apart from the advantages it offers my studies, another great benefit of the program is that the college is a racism-free environment in which Indigenous students can live proudly and discuss Indigenous issues and what it means to be Indigenous.
I basically owe everything to the Shalom Gamarada Scholarship. Without it, it would be impossible for me to study medicine as there is no way my family could afford for me to live in Sydney.
Currently, with the help of the scholarship, my grades are very respectable. In 2008, I conducted research into antibiotic use in children and how we can slow the resistance of deadly micro-organisms to our most precious drugs.
What gives me the greatest initiative whilst studying is the fact that upon graduation I can make a contribution to improving the health status of Indigenous Australians. This is a very daunting task because of the poor state of health of my people. This fact is one of our country’s greatest tragedies.
In this way, there is no substitute for Indigenous health professionals from the local community who are known and respected. This is why the Shalom Gamarada Scholarship is so important, it is providing Indigenous people with the opportunity for self-determination regarding their health outcomes.
Jessica Webb
Coonellabah, NSW
2nd Year Medicine, UNSW
This Shalom Gamarada Scholarship has provided me with an environment that has helped my transition to university and a city lifestyle. It has also given me the chance to dedicate myself to my studies, which would be almost impossible if I were living off campus. Being at Shalom College, I am able to make use of the wonderful network of other medical students and tutors and so enhance my study experience and increase my knowledge.
Eventually, when I graduate, I have two main goals, to improve Indigenous education and health. Both are imperative components of a successful and healthy life which everyone deserves but does not always have. I want to help to eradicate this problem.
I have already worked in the following roles:
- Student supervisor Nura Gili Winter School, UNSW 2007 and 2008;
- Gidgee Healing, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service, 2009;
- Mt Isa Community Development, Healthy Living Program and Community Housing Scheme, 2009.
I hope to advocate to younger students the importance of an education as a means of eradicating the terrible statistics facing our people. The most astounding is the 17 year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous Australians and the remainder of the Australian population. This is something that needs to be addressed urgently and one day I hope to improve health outcomes by removing the stigma that clinics are emotionless and daunting places, which will, in turn, augment the quality of Indigenous health and well being. Another important facet of Indigenous health is health promotion, increasing general knowledge of what is dangerous to our health and what may improve our well-being.
Being from the country, I hope to return there to work on these issues and help to resolve these problems.
Murrary Haar
Punchbowl, NSW
2nd Year Medicine, UNSW
I am a proud Aboriginal man from South Western Sydney. My ‘mob’ originates from Wiradjuri country, with connections to Narrandera and Wagga Wagga. I am committed to studying Medicine and qualifying as Doctor where I will be able to give back to my Indigenous community. I could not do this without the Shalom Gamarada Scholarship. It has provided me with the opportunity to live within walking distance to class and endless resources and an environment conducive to successful study.
There is a cohesive bond between the indigenous students and other residents living in Shalom which has made the transition to tertiary studies so much easier. It allows all of us to help and support one another in our studies and develop socially and emotionally in a safe and culturally accepting environment.
From my high school years, I was the Coordinator of Social Justice and a School Prefect and have a strong passion for equity and equality for all. I have embraced my culture and volunteer at every opportunity to lend a hand my community. The scholarship has made it possible for me to study medicine and will enable me to qualify as a doctor so that I can work to improve the health and wellbeing of those who need it.
I want to become a doctor, eventually specialising in either Anaesthesiology or Dermatology. These fields are in short supply in the Indigenous communities and would enable me to be a role model for future Indigenous kids.
|