Ulladulla indigenous student Matilda Langford has spent a week visiting courtrooms in Sydney, as part of the University of Sydney outreach summer program.
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It is a week-long journey building educational aspirations, as the program encourages more than 200 indigenous students across the country to think about their higher education choices.
Each time I come to the program, it inspires me to succeed.
- Matilda Langford
It is the Year 11 student’s second time at the Wingara Mura-Bunga Barrabugu summer program, and said it is full of benefits.
“When I came back to Ulladulla High School last year, I was filled with a lot of hope,” she said.
“Each time I come to the program, it inspires me to succeed.”
During the week she has participated in academic and cultural activities, visiting Downing Centre courtrooms as part of the Law and Humanities stream.
The strong-willed and passionate student, Miss Langford’s involvement in the indigenous community has risen since moving to Ulladulla.
She is a founding member of the Deadly Aboriginal Youth Society, a South Coast indigenous youth council formed under the guidance of Shoalhaven Elders.
Our culture is amazing, especially the way indigenous youth get together in a way which is really supportive.
- Matilda Langford
“I have been immersed in it thanks to (UHS Aboriginal Education Officer) Sharon Bunyan,” she said.
“Our culture is amazing, especially the way indigenous youth get together in a way which is really supportive.”
The University of Sydney program aims to remove indigenous educational disadvantage said University of Sydney head of outreach Mary Teague.
“The power of the program is undeniable in motivating and engaging students in determining their own educational journey,” she said.
“We are here to build academic capacity in students, make the leap of coming to university viable and successful.”
The University of Sydney’s acting vice-chancellor professor Stephen Garton is confident about the programs positive impacts.
“We’ve demonstrated we can have a real influence when we engage with young people while they’re at school,” he said.
“This is the impetus for our increased outreach work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students this year.”
