First Nations students honoured in Valedictory Ceremonies across CDU campuses

Proud Larrakia and Birri Gubba woman Melissa Fisher was determined to go to university after seeing her father’s lack of literacy growing up.

She had always dreamed about becoming a nurse ever since she was a teenager, but it wasn’t until she had her fifth child that she eventually started studying a Bachelor of Nursing at Charles Darwin University (CDU).

This week, Ms Fisher is among 42 First Nations students who will graduate from Charles Darwin University (CDU) in an upcoming First Nations Leadership Valedictory Ceremony.

Ms Fisher is realising her dream of becoming a nursing practitioner as she graduates from her nursing degree. But the journey does not end there, and she has already taken up honours studies with the hope to gain her PhD in the future.

“Before I studied my nursing degree, I felt that I wasn’t qualified enough to make the difference I wanted to in the health care system,” Ms Fisher said.

“Now working as a nursing practitioner, I can provide culturally appropriate care for my patients, which is so important because I know exactly what it feels like to be treated unfairly in the public health system.”

Growing up seeing the lack of literacy of her Birri Gubba father from Queensland due to historic issues limiting Aboriginal people’s access to education, Ms Fisher was determined to pursue higher education.

“My father’s lack of literacy encouraged me to have an education. It’s both a way out and a way up for me,” she said.

“Now completing my degree, this is not the end of my journey. I want to be someone who people can trust and make a difference by creating a positive experience for people scared of the health care system.”

The ceremony at CDU’s Casuarina campus on April 5 will celebrate the academic achievements of First Nations students as they complete their studies.

This year a record number of 286 First Nations students are graduating in April and June in Darwin and Alice Springs.

Graduands will be recognised for their academic achievements across a range of disciplines including business, law, health, nursing, arts, education and science.

The valedictory ceremony is held specially for First Nations students who have successfully completed their degrees at CDU, and they will also attend the Graduation Ceremony held at the Darwin Convention Centre later in the week.

Graduands will be adorned in academic stoles in Indigenous colours celebrating their heritage and achievements.

Yawuru-Djugun and Jaru woman Cynthia Coyne has completed a Master of Environmental Management postgraduate program through the College of Engineering, IT and Environment after completing a Bachelor of Environmental Science at CDU. 

Finishing the postgraduate degree provided an opening for Ms Coyne to work as a Communications, Extension and Adoption project leader on an FRDC Tropical Rock Oyster research project at CDU. 

Ms Coyne is continuing her postgraduate education by recently commencing a CRC RACE 2030 Industry PhD Program and researching into developing appropriate and robust community management strategies to support successful renewable microgrid energy solutions for off-grid Indigenous communities. 

"Over the last seven years of study and working on casual research and administrative projects mean putting a lot of hard effort into the study," Ms Coyne said. 

"There are a lot of challenges as a student, but a good support system is available from the First Nations Support Team at CDU."

CDU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor of First Nations Leadership, Professor Reuben Bolt, said valedictory ceremonies were an important opportunity to recognise the academic excellence of CDU’s First Nations students.

“These ceremonies are a chance for us to acknowledge and celebrate our student’s hard work and the successes they have achieved throughout their academic journey,” Professor Bolt said.

“Our First Nations students are role models for their communities and other students wanting to enter higher education and are an important part of the University’s identity.”

“I congratulate all of our First Nations students who are graduating, and I look forward to seeing which career pathway they choose after leaving CDU.”

The CDU Alice Springs Campus will host their First Nations Leadership Valedictory Ceremony on June 16 at the Yarning Circle. The ceremony will celebrate 36 First Nation graduands from both VET and Higher Education from across the region.