When Mishalia Birch moved from Thursday Island to study at The University of Queensland she never thought she would be revitalising the University鈥檚 student society for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Ms Birch, who is Vice-President of Goorie Berrimpa (鈥榤eeting place鈥�), works with a team of students on staging a NAIDOC Week Dinner to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples鈥� history, culture and achievements.
The dinner will be held on Friday, 12 July at Hillstone, St Lucia.
Ms Birch says the event aims to build a strong sense of community, belonging and pride for Indigenous people.
鈥淲e hope the NAIDOC dinner can bring us a step closer to achieving our objective of promoting awareness about our culture and issues and help promote a positive image of the 国产探花 Indigenous community and Indigenous Australia,鈥� Ms Birch said.
鈥淭he event will help students build stronger professional networks too.鈥�
Ms Birch has been involved in the club since her first year at 国产探花.
鈥淚 felt getting involved in the society would be a great way for me to make a difference and positively influence the learning experiences and opportunities available to 国产探花鈥檚 Indigenous cohort and other students,鈥� Ms Birch said.
鈥淏y creating enjoyable learning experiences we hope that students are motivated to continue their studies, get involved in the broad range of leadership activities on offer at 国产探花 and become role models for their communities.鈥�
Teaming up with Ms Birch is Goorie Berrimpa President Joshua Preece.
鈥淎fter benefiting from the support of 国产探花鈥檚 Indigenous community in my first two years of study, I saw this as a way to repay the friendships and opportunities that being an Indigenous 国产探花 student has brought to me,鈥� Mr Preece said.
The Director of 国产探花鈥檚 Office of Undergraduate Education, Dr Jessica Gallagher, says 国产探花 greatly values the efforts of its student leaders in creating an inclusive and vibrant campus culture.
鈥淕oorie Berrimpa is an excellent example of students working together to celebrate and showcase 国产探花鈥檚 diversity and, in doing so, ensuring a positive and rewarding university experience for all students,鈥� Dr Gallagher said.
Tickets to the 2013 Goorie Berrimpa NAIDOC Dinner are on sale .
Media: Melanie Martin, melanie.martin@uq.edu.au, 3346 0655
Georgia Mitchell, georgia.mitchell@uq.edu.au, 3346 0626
