ASSETS 

ASSETS (Aboriginal Summer School for excellence in Engineering, Technology and Science)

During the summer holidays, I had the amazing opportunity to attend ASSETS (Aboriginal Summer School for excellence in Engineering, Technology and Science). Their aim is to encourage young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to pursue tertiary studies and careers in STEM fields. As part of the program, I travelled to Adelaide and met other students who would soon become my closest friends.

During the week we participated in a wide range of incredible activities, such as touring SA museum, where I was able to see a handmade necklace made of echidna spines made from my language group and learn about ecology and taxonomy. We participated in health and nutrition, blood pressure and cognitive testing workshops, as well as learning to weave and start fire using traditional methods.

My favourite part of the week was “STEM professional speed dating”, where I got to engage with numerous Indigenous and non-Indigenous scientists from a wide range of fields and ask questions about their pathways and career choices. We engaged in several leadership and cultural presentations by the ASSETS mentors and Prof Peter Buckskin. I enjoyed my first taste of kangaroo tails and traditional damper made by the visiting Aboriginal families from the central desert region of SA, who performed for us and told stories.

As the week drew to a close we began our inquiry projects, developing a question, running an experiment and then presenting it.

On our final day, my group presented our inquiry project at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), which was on the topic of palm oil use in food products and the ethics surrounding it. Being able to stand and talk in front of my peers, mentors and several professional scientists about one of my passions was one of the most daunting, exciting and proud moments of my life so far and I’m so thankful that ASSETS is able to provide such opportunities to Indigenous students.

I would encourage all students, Indigenous or non-Indigenous to take on as many opportunities like this as they possibly can, because there is so much to discover about yourself and the world outside of the classroom. You never know if you don’t try.

“Aim for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

Kelly Barrett