Kate Mullin Scholarship Awardees
Current Awardees
Brooke Cuthbertson, Edith Cowan University
Brooke is in her final year studying for a B.Ed at ECU. Working as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer, she identified that the reading abilities of indigenous students were significantly less than non-Indigenous students at the school. As a result she is very passionate about working closely with indigenous students, their families, and their communities to close the gap in education. She understands the transformative impact that education can have on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
She is currently employed as Program Coordinator for Shooting Stars in Collie Senior High School, where she works with over 40 Aboriginal girls, combining advocacy and support, engagement activities, motivators, and health and wellbeing sessions to strengthen students’ confidence, cultural identity, and positive attitudes, while promoting their health and wellbeing. She aspires to use her teaching qualification to continue this important work within the Noongar community.
The Kate Mullin Scholarship will enable her to undertake her nine-week professional practicum and has inspired her to help others and to give back to the community when she graduates.
Shanae McGuire, Central Queensland University
Shanae is a Noongar Ballardong Whadjuk woman, living in the Geraldton region and is in the 2nd year of a Bachelor of Education (Primary). As an Aboriginal Education Officer she knows the importance of involving families in the school community for learning opportunities, and of having positive relationships with organisations to whom she can refer families. She also volunteers time to connect with stakeholders and community organisations within the Geraldton region to ensure she can build relationships with children and families within her area.
Getting the Kate Mullin Scholarship will allow her to continue her community involvement whilst studying, by easing the financial pressures. The funds will go towards books, teaching programs and subscriptions that have assisted in her education degree thus far.
Krystle Devine, Curtin University
Krystle is a proud Malgana woman from Shark Bay, WA, currently living in Tom Price, the home of her husband’s family the Muntulgura Guruma people of Tom Price. They have three children aged 10 months to 5. She values the importance of education, believing it ito be the key to generational change to create future opportunities. After the birth of her daughter, she completed a bridging course through CDU in 2021, to be accepted into Curtin 2022 to start her academic journey. For the future generations, she will educate the importance of creating a safe, supported and welcoming classroom environment to inspire children to become life-long learners.
In her spare time she raises awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis, and volunteers at her children’s primary school on the P&C. She sees her most important role as being a good mother and role model for their children.
Shanae Tesling, Central Queensland University
Shanae is an energetic, fast-learning, friendly, and hard-working young woman. She is studying for a B. Ed. (Primary) at CQU through their campus in Geraldton. Prior to studying, Shanae worked at Champion Bay Senior High School as an Aboriginal Education Officer.
She has strong time management and collaboration skills developed from various sporting and school engagements – she is strongly involved with local basketball and netball clubs as umpire, coach and player, has in the past been selected as a Student Councillor, and was Artist in Residence at Rangeway Primary School during NAIDOC Week.
2022 Awardees
Brianna Taylor-Ellison, Curtin University, On-Country Program
Brianna is from Derby and has aspired to be a teacher from a young age. After graduating from university she wants to work in remote Aboriginal communities. She works as an AIEO at Derby District High School, and does after-school tutoring with the Follow the Dream academy. Translating the learning content for students is something she does daily in her role and which she enjoys.
She says “I am learning that there needs to be more Indigenous teachers to create change in education. I believe that education paves the way to bridging the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australia and am a firm believer that every child has the right to an education.”
Shanice Flemming, Curtin University On-Country Program
Shanice is from Broome and is an AIEO at the local Primary School. She has experienced the educational disadvantages that children in regional and remote communities receive compared to the much richer educational opportunities children in metropolitan areas receive. She has also seen how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are treated by teachers who may not understand their lifestyles, their learning abilities, and/or their understanding of cultures. She has now become the voice for all students from all cultural backgrounds and has become an advocate for students with educational disadvantages.
She wants to teach in an Aboriginal school upon graduation. Her values are culture, respect, commitment, trust and excellence. Working at a school with a high proportion of Aboriginal students would give her the opportunity to convey these values to the students and to build connections with students and staff through their cultures and their love of learning.
Past Graduates
Sarah Callow
“Since receiving the Kate Mullin Scholarship, I have completed my Bachelor of Primary Education in which I received a High Distinction (mark of 100) for my final internship unit. This occurred at Victoria Park Primary School in Perth and was an incredible experience. Upon completion of my studies, I moved to Kalgoorlie and began relief teaching at Boulder Primary School for the remaining half of Term 3. I have developed my behaviour management skills, gained experience of classroom routines and worked adaptably across a variety of year levels. I then received a contract for full time employment at Kambalda West District High School for Term 4. Currently, I am living in Kambalda and teaching Year 4/5. The Kate Mullin Scholarship has been of great value to me during my final semester of online study in Esperance; my final internship placement in Perth; and the following employment opportunities in regional towns Kalgoorlie and Kambalda. My future plans involve teaching in regional and remote Western Australia and continually developing my reflective teaching practice. I would like to thank the Kate Mullin Association for their contribution in making my transition from study to full time employment in education smooth and successful. I look forward to the teaching opportunities that arise in regional and remote W.A. for me to explore, broaden my teaching knowledge and honour Kate Mullin’s legacy.”
Malcolm Maloney
Malcolm has been working in Geraldton district schools since 2012, and is currently at Champion Bay Senior High School as an Aboriginal & Islander Education Officer while completing his studies for his primary school teaching degree. “The Kate Mullin Scholarship has helped me significantly through 2020. With the COVID-19 pandemic, I was unsure whether I would be able to complete my final professional placement. Thankfully, there was no disruption to my course. As my placement was to go ahead, I definitely needed support throughout this time. My final placement was 10 weeks long and this meant I needed to take a substantial amount of leave without pay. The scholarship helped me with my everyday living expenses during this period. It also contributed to the many resources I used during my placement. Without the scholarship, completing the final parts of my Bachelor of Education would have been extremely difficult. After my final term of university, I plan to seek out full time employment as a teacher. I have had a couple of schools show interest in employing me for next year, so, hopefully, I will be able to gain a full-time position. I am looking forward to being a teacher in charge of their own classroom and learners. Without the support of the Kate Mullin Association, I have no idea what I would have done with regards to my University studies. The association contributed to my University success and my future success as a fully qualified teacher, and for that, I am extremely thankful.”
More information on the Scholarship can be found here: Scholarship Information