To celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025, we’re sharing the stories of two of our Tertiary Accommodation Grant (TAG) recipients. The theme of NAIDOC Week is “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy”, so we want to showcase some of the next generation who have come through the TAG program.
TAG program owner, Kristie-Lee Butler said "all of our TAG students are future leaders - they're smart, driven, talented people who are going to leave their mark in whatever they pursue."
Students who received grants in 2024 are pursuing diverse career paths including law, exercise physiology, journalism and business. We asked Kayrenia and Rhys what they think their legacy will be.
They say it’s never too late to be what you want to be” I’ve learned that I had to create my own opportunities. As a mature-aged Indigenous single mother studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in legal studies minoring in Indigenous studies and wanting to come back to do a graduate entry of law, I haven’t always had doors open for me. But when society made space for me, I stepped through the door not only for myself, but for my children and my community."
Kayrenia Kelly will finish her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2026 and plans to complete a graduate entry law degree after that. She's currently interning in Sydney while she continues studying. In the future, Kayrenia plans to work in family and criminal law "so that families have an advocate on their side to navigate a system that can leave you feeling like you've got no voice."
“I’ve spent a lot of time on the patient-side of the physio-patient relationship, so I know what makes a good practitioner - a bit of empathy and someone who can think a bit more holistically about a person’s health.
I hope that I’m remembered as a good practitioner. I want to work hard to help people. In my field you get to understand why a client's body is behaving in a certain way, then help them get it back to working how it should. So if I'm working diligently means I'll be able to make a real difference in peoples’ lives."
Rhys is due to finish his Bachelor of Exercise Science this year. He plans to study his masters next year so he can either be a Physiotherapist or Exercise Scientist. Alongside his study, he's currently working with Wollongong University's Woolyungah Indigenous Centre doing school outreach, helping kids connect with culture and figure out what they want to do in their future.
TAG offers students financial support so they can focus on studying. For some students this means they can work a casual job and do internships, for others it means they work part-time and have peace of mind knowing that rent will be covered.
Kristie-Lee Butler said "It's crucial that we reduce barriers for Aboriginal students to access higher education, especially in the middle of a housing crisis. We know that having a tertiary qualification affects job opportunities, earning potential and health outcomes - we're investing in these students early because we know it will pay off for them in the longer-term."
Tertiary Accommodation Grants are for Aboriginal students who are enrolled in full-time studies at either university or TAFE New South Wales.
So my name is Hannah Pipe, I am the student advancement coordinator at the Wollotuka tucker institute. I am responsible for administering the grant funding to
the students o I put a notice out to students when we have funding available take in the applications talk to students about their situation and ensure that they get
the funding in an in an appropriate time for them.
My name is bobby I'm a Gomeroi man from Gunnneda-Armidale area. I'm a brother, carer, guardian, university student and a disability advocate.
My name is Amelia I'm a proud Gomeroi woman from the Kamilaroi nations of Moree and I’m studying medicine, second year.
My name is David, I'm a proud Kamilaroi man from Moree and I've been studying at Newcastle for about three years now.
Hi, I'm Lacey I'm a Biripiy-Worimi where am I woman and I grew up on Awabakal country.
It changes their life. a lot of the time the students are in quite severe financial distress and in housing distress. So, it can be as simple as having rent being paid for an entire semester for them or it ensures that they are able to get appropriate housing for them and their families whilst they're studying.
It not only impacts their life immediately, but it has an ongoing flow-on effect for their studies in their future.
Financially it has helped significantly. Even after when dad was diagnosed with Cancer.
I remember getting a phone call from Wollotuka staff saying that I was accepted into the AHO scholarship. So, for that bit of relief, for dad, he knew that we're financially stable.
I was homeless before I moved here, so just being able to afford that luxury. It was really important, really kept me on the straight and narrow and is why I am in second year now and I haven't dropped out and gone back home.
Being able to I guess put aside money that was coming from my allowance, it makes it a lot easier for me to where I can use the grant to help myself pay for food and stuff like that.
It definitely takes off that pressure, I reckon. So, receiving the grant has helped me tremendously with my living space. Not having to think about money with paying rent, not having to think about money when I want food or to feed my animals, medical care transport.
Home for me is just a place of comfort where you feel safe.
It's just my safe space, you know. Just relax not have to be anyone but myself. It's just a place to obviously study but just relax, chill be safe.
It's been absolutely wonderful, I've got that sense of security for me and my family and, like I said, I'm one of eight that are living in the household at the current situation and five who have disabilities. So, that bit of financial security is a weight off your shoulders more than what an individual would understand.
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