Yiramalay continues to have a lasting impact on my life

It is almost 12 years since I first attended Yiramalay/Wesley Studio School as part of Induction Group 1 as a Wesley College Year 10 student and almost nine years since I went back to work as a Residential Mentor. So, while there are hundreds of students and staff members who have been to Yiramalay more recently than me and therefore could provide a clearer and more detailed reflection of their experience, what I can write about is the lasting impact that Yiramalay has had and continues to have on my life. But before doing this there are some key memories from my time at Yiramalay and Learning In Residence (LIR) which I wanted to share.

Two notable memories from my time as a student, which remain clear today, are being welcomed onto Bunuba Country when we first arrived and forming friendships with students from around the Kimberley region.

Some of the most special memories I have from being a residential mentor include going into Fitzroy Crossing to watch some of the Yiramalay students play footy, attending ceremonies, driving to Wangkatjungka Community to meet families, and visiting significant sites around Yiramalay. And finally, some of my memories from my role as a Learning in Residence (LIR) mentor at Glen Waverley include watching so many students graduate, being part of the excitement before several Year 12 formals and watching friendships form between students who have come to LiR from around the country and the world.

Beyond memories, Yiramalay continues to have a lasting impact on my life and still informs and shapes many of the decisions and career choices I make. Since first attending Yiramalay, I have spent eight years working for both Yiramalay/wesley Studio School and Learning in Residence. And currently, I am completing a PhD on the wellbeing and aspirations of First Nations Peoples and working at Deakin University as a tutor at the National Indigenous Knowledges Education Research Innovation Institute and work as part of the subject Cross Cultural and Indigenous Psychology. Following the completion of my PhD, I plan on working in a policy role that contributes to the decolonisation of the mental health system in Australia. All of these experiences have been informed by my first experience with Yiramalay back in 2010.

And while every student who attended Yiramalay will have a different story to tell, I doubt that there would be many of us whose lives have not been enriched by our experiences at Yiramalay.