Sarah Mitchell

Monday February 24, 2011

Sarah Mitchell, Year 12 student from Open Access College received Subject Merit Award (Aboriginal Studies) and Leila rankine, Aboriginal Studies Award (presented by SASOSE Council, a professional educators organisation) for 2011.

Seventeen year old Sarah, an Anglo-Saxon descent with no Aboriginal heritage, is very passionate about Aboriginal culture and issues.

When it came to selecting Year 12 subjects she decided to follow her passion. As Aboriginal Studies was not offered at her school, she opted for a correspondence course through Open Access College.

"I had a wonderful experience on my class's camp to the Yorke Peninsula (Adjahdura/Narungga land) in June 2010. I would identify this as being not only a highlight of studying Aboriginal Studies, but indeed a highlight of my entire schooling."

Sarah continues -

"...the camp gave me a far greater insight into Aboriginal culture and experiences on the Yorke Peninsula, as well as opening my eyes to the complexity of the issues facing Aboriginal people today. I am a great book-lover, but actually interacting with Aboriginal people provided me with a deeper understanding that studying books could not give."

Sarah is off to Vanuatu for six months to volunteer as a teacher in a local village. Sarah believes the Aboriginal Studies has equipped her with the cultural awareness and sensitivity to do the volunteer work. She hopes to commence lessons in Kaurna (the local Aboriginal language of the land she lives on) once she returns.

And next year, Sarah is thinking of doing journalism, anthropology or teaching in the University.

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