Treading a new path through education

Growing up surrounded by strong Aboriginal women, Caitlyn Joseph would hear stories of the struggles her maternal relatives had faced – the experiences of her great-great-grandmother, who was forcibly removed from her family, and her great-grandmother and grandmother, who were both denied their right to schooling. She wondered why these clever and resourceful women never received a full and proper education.

“I always knew my mum was the first in my family to finish high school, and I’d think to myself, ‘Why?’” says Caitlyn, who was raised by her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother in Sydney’s inner west.

“When I asked them about it, I learnt that in my family, as far back as we know, the women had not received an education because they were shut down by teachers and kicked out of school, simply because they were Aboriginal.

“Since then, I’ve had this strong desire to become a teacher and help other Aboriginal students to make it through school, so they can gain an education and do whatever they want to do with their lives.”

Becoming a leader

When Caitlyn studied at Bethlehem College (now St Vincent’s College) in Ashfield, she was deeply involved in the school’s Indigenous programs, performing cultural dances and playing a leadership role among other Aboriginal students.

“I was the eldest of the Indigenous kids at the school, and we had this little group who would gather and go on cultural excursions and sometimes put on dances for the rest of the school,” says Caitlyn, who graduated from high school in 2019.

Caitlyn with her mother, grandmother and late great-grandmother.

This unofficial leadership role continued when she arrived at ACU’s Strathfield Campus to start her Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree – but not before she overcame her first-year nerves.

“I’m definitely a bit shy when you first meet me, and just starting out at uni, being in this big place on my own and doing something new, I was a bit anxious about everything.”

Caitlyn found her feet at ACU’s Yalbalinga unit, the on-campus hub that provides a culturally safe space and promotes positive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity.

The more time she spent at Yalbalinga, the more comfortable she became. 

“I quickly got to know the staff and other Indigenous students, and it just felt like I was at home with family so I could come out of my shell,” she says.

“They were just always there when I needed them, and I soon became more involved with Indigenous matters on campus, lending a hand with events and activities and helping to guide new students who came through.” 

Nurturing culture

Now in the final year of her degree, Caitlyn works at Canterbury Girls High School as its Aboriginal student support officer. Her role is to nurture the cultural identity of students, helping them to become successful learners.

“I love it so much,” says Caitlyn, who currently supports 25 Indigenous students at the school.

“I’ve got a group of very proud Aboriginal girls who come to me for advice on schoolwork or some kind of issue they’re facing, and it’s almost like they’re coming to talk to an older sister or a cousin, so that’s how we approach it.

“In some ways it’s like going full circle, because I’m giving back some of the support that I’ve received from the staff at Yalbalinga and all those who have guided me along the way.”

Caitlyn will soon be qualified to be a primary school teacher, a career she intends to pursue in the long-term. For now, she wants to continue rolling up her sleeves to foster Indigenous student success – a job that she’s passionate about, and which also makes her mother and grandmother proud.

“I look at my nan, and for her, going to university was like this pipedream that was so far out of reach,” Caitlyn says.

“Nan gets very emotional at the thought of her eldest grandchild graduating from uni, and because of that, it’s not something I’ll ever take for granted.

“It makes me really determined to help others like me to take advantage of the opportunities in front of them, so they can find something that interests them and tread a new path through education.”

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Learn more about ACU’s Indigenous Higher Education Units.