The University of Queensland recently celebrated 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the annual Sashing Ceremony, marking an important milestone in their university journeys.
The students honoured on the day are part of a wider cohort of 116 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students graduating from UQ this year, including 11 PhD graduates. Held earlier this month, the ceremony brought together students, families, community members and staff to celebrate achievement and recognise the hard work behind each graduate’s journey. Each student received a sash, a powerful symbol of cultural pride worn at graduation.
UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) Professor Bronwyn Fredericks with graduand Mykahlia Douglas, a proud Mitakoodi and Dunghutti woman graduating with a Bachelor of Nursing and preparing to take the next step by studying Medicine through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MD Graduate Pathway.
UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry reflected on the significance of the sash as a visible expression of identity and achievement.
“The sash that you will all receive shortly, it is a symbol of great meaning. It allows graduates to visibly display a sense of pride in their culture during a moment of great personal achievement,” Professor Terry said.
That symbolism was echoed by student speaker Jasmine Adams, a proud Wuthathi and Jarowair woman graduating with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, who spoke about the responsibility and possibility the sash represents.
“The sash we wear tonight is a reminder of the pride we carry, the possibilities ahead and the pathways we are creating for future generations to follow,” Ms Adams said.
Student speaker Jasmine Adams, a proud Wuthathi and Jarowair woman graduating with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, shares her reflections on pride, possibility and creating pathways for future generations at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sashing Ceremony.
Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, Cassandra Diamond, said the ceremony also held special significance as UQ continues to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ATSIS Unit and four decades of advocacy, guidance and cultural leadership.
“As we look back on those four decades and the amazing achievements, we are reminded of the people whose strength and determination forged the path beneath us,” Ms Diamond said.
Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, Cassandra Diamond, reflects on 40 years of advocacy, cultural leadership and the growing legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student success at UQ.
“From the first Indigenous students who stepped onto this campus to the scholars who were the first to earn a PhD, each generation has pushed through barriers so those who follow can walk forward with confidence.”
Ms Diamond said that legacy continues to shape UQ today, with 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD graduates among this year’s cohort, contributing to the University now being home to the largest cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD candidates in its history.
Part of history. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD graduates at the Sashing Ceremony, representing UQ’s largest-ever cohort of Indigenous PhD candidates.
“Such a milestone speaks to the incredible strength, persistence and cultural resilience of our students, and it is something all of us should be incredibly proud of,” she said.
She also acknowledged the graduating students who first came to UQ through the InspireU program. The graduating cohort includes 13 InspireU alumni, with two students completing the Doctor of Medicine program. A further two InspireU alumni will enter the Doctor of Medicine program as graduate entrants in 2026, demonstrating the long-term impact of early engagement, sustained support and clear pathways through to professional degrees.
“That full circle moment we get to see, from InspireU through to degree completion, speaks volumes about the power of long-term support, belonging and visibility for our students,” Ms Diamond said.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) Professor Bronwyn Fredericks speaks to the determination, perseverance and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates at the annual Sashing Ceremony.
Speaking to the graduating cohort, Professor Fredericks reflected on the commitment and resilience required to reach this milestone.
“There are many stories of determination and perseverance behind every single student that is here today. Many of you have overcome significant challenges and you still kept going to the point of graduation — you have shown what it means to stick with something, to really dig deep” Professor Fredericks said.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sashing Ceremony is an important moment of recognition at UQ, celebrating not only academic success but the legacy, leadership and cultural pride of Indigenous graduates. It also acknowledges the collective support of families, communities and university staff who have walked alongside students throughout their studies.
As graduates prepare to cross the stage at their formal graduation ceremonies, the sash stands as a visible symbol of achievement, resilience and the growing legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence at UQ.
