A UniSA Whyalla campus program to introduce Indigenous students to tertiary study has won first place in the university's prestigious Chancellors' Awards for Community Engagement.
The UniCamps program also won the Best Collaboration with a Regional and Remote Location section of the awards, collecting $13,000 in funds to continue helping indigenous youth get to uni and succeed in their studies.
UniCamps brings indigenous students from rural and remote areas of South Australia to the Whyalla campus for week-long intensive programs to explore different pathways to tertiary study, get information about courses and programs, and practice the skills they'll need to succeed at uni.
And Whyalla UniSA staff say the hard work and dedication of indigenous students played a significant role in UniCamps' success.
"We've just hosted a second visit from eight students at Mimili Anangu School and the effort these young people put in while they're here is outstanding,'' UniSA marketing officer Tracey Watson said.
"The young men and women are so bright and so determined.
"Everyone they've visited in Whyalla has been impressed with them.
"They're a credit to their school and community.''
Ms Watson said she was thrilled to hear the program had won two sections in the Chancellor's Awards.
"It really shows indigenous students that UniSA recognises how important it is for them to further their education, and is willing to invest in helping them.''
Mimili School Anangu coordinator Sandra Pumani, who accompanied the students on their most recent visit, welcomed the award and praised the program.
"Anybody who can give us support, we really appreciate it,'' Ms Pumani said.
"It's really good for the students to go away from home to learn.
"We want them to study and run the community themselves."
Mimili Anangu School principal Christine Bell said the year 10 and 11 students who visited Whyalla for the most recent UniCamp were at the top of the school's secondary program.
"They've got high attendance at school, excellent behaviour and they're willing to further themselves through education,'' Ms Bell said.
"The pride in these young people's achievements in Mimili is just incredible.''
Ms Bell said she hoped visits to UniSA, Nunyara, OneSteel and the wider Whyalla community would help the students who aimed to study engineering, nursing and teaching, to develop dreams about careers and further study.
The APY Lands students who appeared on the front page of Whyalla News on September 16 had nothing to do with the story about illegal sniffing.
We sincerely apologise for any hurt or misunderstanding this caused to the students, to their families and to their community.
The students were visiting Nunyara Wellbeing Centre with Spencer Gulf Rural Health School as part of a program which rewards them for high achievement at school when the photo was taken.
They are career minded students who were touring Whyalla to explore pathways to university study, and to learn more about job opportunities.
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