CELEBRATING FIRST NATIONS CULTURE
News from Bryan Carswell
Indigenous Liaison Officer
St Augustine's College Cairns
We Congratulate Three Saints Boarders on Their AIEF Graduation
Our graduating AIEF Scholarship students, Subita Lui and Xavier-Ray David-Williams, along with our Director of Boarding Mr Brett Toombs, travelled to Sydney for the AIEF Graduation Ceremony on 19 August. It was held at Taronga Zoo which overlooks Sydney Harbour. Three St Monica’s AIEF students were present as well.
Over 60 students on AIEF scholarships from various schools graduated. And this year marked a milestone for the organisation as included in this group was the 1000th AIEF graduate: Lilly See Kee from Thursday Island and a St Monica’s student who boards at Saints. Lilly is the sister of Old Boy Kobe See Kee, who was also an AIEF student. He graduated in 2018, studied nursing in Melbourne and is now working in the health sector there.
Lilly appeared in The Australian newspaper, reflecting on the opportunities afforded by her scholarship. You can read the article here. She also appeared on Sky News Australia's AM Agenda with Laura Jayes, talking about her goals for the future. You can watch a clip here.
It was a two-day visit to the harbour city. On day one the graduating ceremony took place and day two was spent meeting and being mentored in leadership by AIEF alumni and AIEF staff. It was the first time Xavier-Ray and Subita had been to Sydney, and they thoroughly enjoyed their stay.
We congratulate the students for their persistence and dedication to their studies. Subi and Xavier are among a minority of First Nations students in Australia who have managed to swim against the tide and make it to Year 12 and graduate. This is thanks to the support of AIEF scholarships, the foundation's hard working staff and the staff at Saints.
