Shanara, a proud Kalkadoon and Warluwarra woman from Mount Isa, Northwest Queensland, recently completed her Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Queensland (UQ). She credits the university's Indigenous unit as a key factor in her positive and enriching experience, helping her build lifelong connections and thrive academically.
After moving to Brisbane alone, Shanara initially found it challenging to adjust to life away from her family and community. However, she soon discovered a welcoming network through the Indigenous unit, which became a cornerstone of her university experience. One of the highlights was joining the Goorie Goannas, UQ’s Indigenous Nationals team. Shanara played with the team for five years, beginning in 2019, and was part of the victorious squad that won the Indigenous Nationals competition in 2023. She described this experience as transformative.
"Meeting other mob and finding a community here at UQ has been so good," Shanara shared. "I've met so many of my friends, so many other mob through the unit, and that was mostly through the Goorie Goannas as well."
The Goorie Goannas offered more than just sporting opportunities—it became a space for connection and cultural pride. Competing with her teammates over the years, including their incredible Nationals win, gave Shanara a sense of belonging and achievement. "Being part of the Goorie Goannas has been a highlight of my time at UQ," she said. "It’s where I found my people and felt supported."
Outside of sports, Shanara also enjoyed bonding with her peers through shared cultural activities, from bubble tea outings to friendly card games. These simple yet meaningful moments made her university experience all the more memorable and helped her maintain her cultural roots while pursuing her engineering degree.
As Shanara prepares to start her graduate program in Brisbane, she reflects on the importance of the support system she built during her time at UQ. "It's uplifting and empowering to be surrounded by mob," she said.
The ATSIS Unit and the Goorie Berrimpa Indigenous Student Collective at UQ play a pivotal role in fostering this sense of community for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. By providing academic resources, organizing cultural events, and promoting opportunities for connection, these initiatives have enabled students like Shanara to excel both personally and professionally while staying deeply connected to their culture and community.
