Indigenous Education
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Employee consultant
Commenced: Year 7
Country/Nation: Yolngu
Scots memory: The support I received from staff throughout my educational journey.
I am currently working as an employee consultant, back home in Gapuwiyak. I coordinate payment restoration processes, help individuals complete application forms to get things like Birth Certificates, Working with Children’s Checks, IDs and Medicare cards.
My role is quite a significant part of my life and I take great pride in supporting my community. I find great fulfilment in being able to assist community members with many things.
My first year at Scots was quite challenging and, initially, I felt isolated. I later realised that I had support from many individuals who helped me navigate my fears throughout my educational journey. I am grateful to have graduated and am now employed, which allows me to contribute to my community in Gapuwiyak.
I adapted to being away from my family. One of the most valuable aspects of my time at Scots was the life lessons I learned along with my academic education. I formed new friendships and had family in Sydney who provided care and support during my time there.
I particularly cherished my experiences at Glengarry which fostered a sense of belonging for me. Glengarry played a significant role in my personal development; the six months I spent there were transformative.
After graduating, I had the opportunity to join the staff at Scots, marking an important advancement in my career. This experience has contributed significantly to my growth into adulthood.
Traineeship – Certificate 3 Production Process Operator in the oil and gas industry
Commenced: Year 10
Country/Nation: Yolngu, Torres Strait Islander
I was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity to attend The Scots College in 2022. At that time, I was in Year 11 at a small high school in Nhulunbuy, in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, the town where I was born.
I was planning to leave school and just get a job, I didn’t know what job. I had terrible grades and I had no idea if I would be any good at anything. Scots was able to offer me a scholarship as long as I was willing to take a step back and join as a Year 10 student. After thinking about it for a few days and discussing it with my parents, I decided to take the opportunity and commit to this school. It was the best decision I have ever made.
When I arrived, I was a little bit overwhelmed. Scots is amazing! The number of students, the Boarding Houses and the overall environment was a lot to take in. But I was lucky, I had my brothers here and within a week or two I made some great mates – Indigenous boys and non-Indigenous boys. One of the biggest things I noticed was the culture of the school. It was far more ‘serious’ about learning and growing than any other school that I had experienced. After a short amount of time, I was able to get used to this new and amazing environment. Sometimes, as students, we take things for granted. Sometimes I think we need to remember how lucky we all are.
In an interesting twist of fate, I ended up leaving Scots at the end of Year 11. In the 16 months that I was at Scots, I had turned my academic life around. I was getting As and Bs for the first time and I had grown and matured enormously. I began thinking about my future and my old dream of working in the oil and gas industry now seemed like something attainable. I knew the process of getting a traineeship was difficult, so my dad suggested I apply now as practice for the following year. I actually wrote in my cover letter that I would be grateful to go through the experience to make me a stronger candidate for the following year after completing Year 12. I really wanted to complete Year 12 at Scots and with my mates.
Amazingly, out of the hundreds of applicants that applied for the traineeship I was one of the very few successful ones. My dream opportunity had arrived a year earlier than I had hoped. I had to make another hard decision; my parents would support me either way. After a couple of days, I decided to take the traineeship opportunity.
In January 2024, I began a Certificate 3 Production Process Operator traineeship. It is sponsored by Santos who will become my employer upon graduation later this year. It’s a career where you never stop learning and you are at the front line of technological development.
Later this year [2024] I will be going to Perth to do training in relation to how to escape from a helicopter that crashes into the sea. You basically have to strap yourself into a helicopter with ten other people while a special machine puts the helicopter into a deep pool, submerges it and then turns it upside down. You then need to safely escape.
I want you all to know how great this school is. It has provided me with a foundation for life that I will never step down from. It has provided me with an opportunity to have a great career and a great life if I keep doing the right things. I didn’t expect my professional journey to come so quickly, but it did, because of this College.
I am grateful to this school, the Principal, Dr Lambert, and the Head of Indigenous Education, Miss Kolliou, the teachers, my parents, and most of all, my Indigenous brothers here and especially my mates. I will never forget my time at Scots.
Mr Alan Elder was born in Scotland and migrated to Australia with his parents at a young age. He attended The Scots College for all his schooling, graduating in 1944. He played 1st XI Cricket and was a member of the College Cadet Unit. After leaving school Mr Elder studied accountancy and retained a life-long love of the College, especially the Pipes and Drums. Mr Elder never married, however the significant bequest he left will allow his Scots family to remember him through the Lang Walker Business Centre.
