[CDU eNews] - INDIGENOUS STUDENT AND FORMER AFL PLAYER AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP

[Peter.Hurt at cdu.edu.au]

Nick makes his mark at CDU

Nick Yarran is the new face of Charles Darwin University. He is proof that
anybody can succeed if they put their mind to it.

Last week was a momentous time for Nick, who lives in Malak with his
partner Jaylene, sons Nicholas, 7, and Daniel, 5, and daughter Jenaya, 2.

On Wednesday evening, Nick and several other prominent students attended a
university scholarships evening, hosted by the Vice Chancellor Professor
Helen Garnett and attended by several dignitaries, including the Chief
Minister, the Hon Clare Martin.

Nick, in his mid-30s, was awarded a $2500 Minter Ellison Rising Star
Scholarship for 2005 and presented with a certificate by Lachlan Drew, a
partner in the Minter Ellison law firm.

Twenty-four hours later, Nick donned a ceremonial gown, hood and
mortarboard for the opening night of the 2005 Graduation Ceremony, waited
his turn along with hundreds of graduates and walked on stage to collect a
certificate from the Chancellor, Richard Ryan AO, recognising his
successful completion last year of a Bachelor of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Studies.

Not content with having completed one degree, Nick is in the final year of
studying for a Bachelor of Laws degree, and the scholarship is an
important, and valuable element, giving him work experience at Minter
Ellison and financial assistance, too.

"I want to work in policy or criminal justice," he said today, "perhaps
with the Department of Public Prosecutions, or justice, or a private law
firm. This scholarship gives me that opportunity to see first-hand what
it's all about."

Studying for two degrees at once, as Nick has been doing for the past six
years, would tax most people to the limit, but Nick shrugs it off, saying:
"I've always been very determined and competitive. Where there's no will,
there's no way."

Nick said his big inspiration and role model at university had been
Professor MaryAnn Bin Sallik, Dean in Indigenous Research and Education.

It's all a far cry for Nick from a few years ago.

Born and brought up in Perth, he left school at the age of 16 when he was
awarded an AFL scholarship and played a handful of Australian Rules
football matches for Claremont in the West Australian Football League at
the age of 17 and 18, and "did a few odd jobs for government, but nothing
substantial".

It wasn't until the mid-90s that he came up to Darwin. "I found out our mob
originally came from Halls Creek," he said, "so I came up to trace my roots
and I've been here ever since."

Nick entered Charles Darwin University through the Tertiary Enabling
Program, which gives people such as himself who have not studied for
several years, the opportunity to ease their way into university life and
find out all the do's and don'ts, plus a good grounding in study
requirements.

He also completed an Indigenous Pre-Law Program. Together with a pre-arts
program, this is set up to prepare Indigenous people for higher education
studies, with academic, library, computing and pastoral support.

   Bridging programs in law and arts are now being offered to Indigenous
   students as part of the mid-year intake at Charles Darwin University.
   They are open to Indigenous students who have either completed Year 11
   or Year 12, undertaken post-school studies such as bridging courses and
   VET studies or have relevant work experience where graduate
   qualifications are valued and likely to enhance career prospects.

   Details about the Indigenous Pre-Law program, from Veronica McClintic on
   (08) 8946 6962.
   Details about the Indigenous Pre-Arts program, from Cynthia Coyne on
   (08) 8946 6766.


Peter Hurt
Media Manager
Charles Darwin University
Tel: 08 8946 6019 or 0438 466 439

CRICOS Provider No: 00300K