Calamvale Community College’s latest Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Foundation  (QATSIF) Scholarship recipients were invited to the annual QATSIF New Recipients and Leaders’ ceremony at UniSQ Springfield

Congratulations to this year’s Scholarship recipients Shanieka, Rickell, Teiki, Kobie, Nikita & Chloe. Shanieka was also presented with a certificate and leadership badge for accepting the role of CCC’s very first ‘First Nations Secondary School Ambassador’.  Proceedings began with a Welcome to Country and Didgeridoo performance, followed by a special candle lighting by Auntie Sandra and Uncle Milton. We were then treated to traditional dances from the mob from Bremer State High School, followed by a heart-warming message from Aunty Ruth Hegarty. We were so honoured to be a part of the celebrations. We are very proud of our students and wish them the best of luck for their senior years at Calamvale Community College.

QATSIF was created to advance the education and life of our Indigenous students and assist in completing their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). Built from the labour of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders under now-repealed laws, students are supported to complete their senior studies.  Under the QCE Scholarship Program, QATSIF provides two-year scholarship funding to support students commencing in Year 11. QATSIF funds successful schools which then provide scholarships to individual students. The intention of the funding is to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander student retention in Years 11 and 12 rather than simply sustain existing retention rates, and funding has to be used to complement and build on existing school and community programmes and support for individual students.