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The Indigenous Support Fund facilitates the Yaitya Tipanthi Scholarship and the Yaitya Tipanthi Bursary. 

Established in 2021 with a generous donation from Professor Peter Høj AC, the purpose of the Indigenous Support Fund is to improve access to tertiary study and facilitate better higher education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. 

Through the scholarship and bursary we can reduce the financial burden and create stronger foundations for our students’ success in life and their career. This will ensure they have the tools they need to excel in their chosen field of study.

Now in the third year of her studies, inaugural recipient of the scholarship, Talara McHugh, is testament to the importance of the Indigenous Support Fund and the opportunities it can provide our students.

Thanks to the scholarship I have been able to pursue additional opportunities which support my studies and will hopefully provide greater prospects for my dream career in media and journalism.Talara

“Gaining real-world experience is really important to me. During the 2023 summer break I completed an internship at The Advertiser, and I have also completed two cadetships with the ³ÉÈË´óƬ. Without the scholarship it would have been challenging to take advantage of these opportunities as there would have been more pressure to find a part-time job to support myself.

"I have also had the flexibility to volunteer with the University’s On Dit magazine. Since January I have helped with editing submissions as well as submitting my own pieces, and this April I have helped to edit the May edition," she said. 

The May edition is the first time On Dit has had a First Nations focused issue which is really exciting. I want to pursue a career as an Indigenous Affairs reporter and I feel very grateful and proud to help create this issue, and hopefully inspire other First Nations journalists and writers.Talara