LIMESTONE Coast residents Janeth Andrews and Laura Long are now ready to take the next step towards their dream careers after completing the University of South Australia’s Indigenous Participation Pathways (IPP) program.
The program specifically tailored for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was first introduced last year in Ceduna, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln and Whyalla as a way for students to build skills required to succeed at university.
Over the past one and a half years, Ms Andrews and Ms Long have developed skills in a number of areas through Aboriginal knowledge, learning and culture, land management and building academic success courses.
Program director Tanya Weiler said it was a great program for Aboriginal students to study as a community in a community.
“Like all UniSA college programs, it is enabling pathways to support students for successful learning in higher education,” she said.
“I am thrilled to be here to celebrate our first completers and am excited that more students will be completing at the end of the year.”
Ms Long said it had been a great opportunity for her to get a feel for the university lifestyle and secure her decision in completing further studies.
“I loved the program, the course content was really interesting and the atmosphere that the lecturers and other students created in class was great,” she said.
“It has prepared me for my future studies in psychology, which I will start next year.”
Also wanting to further her education, Ms Andrews said it was a fun experience that has broadened her knowledge of Aboriginal culture.
“It was a lot of fun and really interesting learning about other people’s backgrounds and cultures,” she said.
“I am now looking forward to beginning a course in social work, which is something I have always wanted to do.
“I really want to help kids in domestic violence and foster care situations – that is my main interest.”
The IPP program will soon receive a name change to Aboriginal Participation Pathways and will open for enrolments again in January.
