Sarah Neal at work in her cadetship role with IBA.

Who: Sarah Neal

From: Newcastle, New South Wales

Her story: Sarah is a young Gamilaroi woman in the final year of her degree in Social Science at the University of Newcastle. Sarah works 20 hours a week at a local restaurant, is an active member of the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council, and is on the steering committee of ‘Liveable Communities’, an initiative of New South Wales Health assessing Indigenous people’s access to health services in the Newcastle region.

And once a week since January 2009, Sarah has been making a six hour return trip to Sydney to complete a cadetship with IBA. Cadetships provide Indigenous university students with practical work experience to complement their tertiary studies and help them prepare for their chosen career.

At 21 years of age, Sarah represents a new generation of Indigenous Australians passionate about determining their own future. Here she shares her thoughts on the importance of finding, using and trusting your voice.

1. On education: ‘I see education as a right, a freedom that opens doors to all sorts of possibilities’.

My Nan was part of the Stolen Generation and was denied an education. The importance and value of education was passed down by Nan to my Mum, and now to myself, my brother and sisters.

I see education as a right, a freedom that opens doors to all sorts of possibilities. It all starts with education. But many young Indigenous people still don’t think of further study or training as an option. And I think we really need to work on raising those aspirations and expectations for Indigenous youth around apprenticeships, training or tertiary study.

I’m involved with the School to University Pathways Project at the University of Newcastle. We hold open days for Indigenous high school students. Always, at the start of the day these guys will say things like ‘I’ll never get into uni’ or ‘I’ll just do what everyone expects me to do, have loads of kids, be unemployed’. And by the end of the day many of them will have realised that further study really is within their reach, and that there are all sorts of support systems available for them to achieve that. Being a part of putting that idea into their head is a really rewarding experience for me.

2. On social activism: ‘This stuff isn’t just a yarn, this really happened’.

Mum always made sure we were aware of our family and our Aboriginal history, from the Stolen Generation through to land rights and black deaths in custody.

But I think it was when I was doing Aboriginal Studies in Year 12 that the depth of the injustices our people have faced – and are still facing today – really hit home. At that point I realised, wow, this stuff isn’t just a yarn, this really happened. It’s easy to think it’s ancient history, but it’s only forty or so years since the 1967 Referendum. You know Mum wasn’t classified as an Australian citizen until she was nine years old, and my Nan couldn’t vote – that’s a reality.

I came out of high school wanting to have a positive impact on my community and culture. I’ve nearly finished my degree at uni, and hope to use it to change perceptions and opinions about Indigenous Australians and culture. I want to work at a level where I get to influence policy and programs for Indigenous people.

3. On finding her voice: ’I wanted to have input to the decision making processes within my community’.

Because of my family’s involvement with the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council I was dragged along to meetings and community events from an early age! But in my final year of school I decided for myself that I wanted to get more involved, so I applied for membership when I was 18. I wanted to be a voting member, to have input to the decision making processes within my community.

Now I vote alongside other Awabakal members on issues that affect our community economically or socially, and on the appointment of board members. By being involved in that decision making I get to hear from my elders about the background and history to the issues we are voting on, which is really important.

I’m currently working on a youth forum that’s aimed at getting more young people involved as active members of the Council, educating them about their rights and responsibilities within the community.

4. On using her voice: ‘You can voice concerns and tell people things, but you also need an evidence base’.

Because of my studies in social research and my involvement with the Local Aboriginal Land Council, I was invited to join the steering committee for ‘Liveable Communities’. It’s a joint initiative between NSW Health and local Indigenous stakeholders. I’m interviewing local Indigenous people about what sort of access they have to health services, healthy food, housing and other resources. We’re also looking at safety and security issues in the area.

I didn’t fully understand the importance of social research before I started my degree, but I have come to appreciate that it can help create change. Collecting accurate information can reflect what is really happening in a community. You can voice concerns and talk to people about issues, but a strong evidence base can provide a platform from which to lobby for change to policies and program development.

5. On trusting her voice: ‘Being at the Garma Festival reinforced that I’m on the right path’.

In August this year I went with a group of uni friends to the Garma Festival in north east Arnhem Land. It’s all about sharing Indigenous knowledge and culture. I was really inspired to hear talks by human rights lawyers, and guys like Noel Pearson who have fought the fight before us. Being at the festival reinforced that I’m on the right path, and there is meaning to all the work I’m doing now.

A local Indigenous woman gave me a painting of her totem to thank me for making the journey all the way up there; that was really special. I was also inspired by other young people I met there who grew up in remote communities, went away to study and have now gone back to their communities to apply their skills. I can’t imagine leaving my home, but they’ve had the determination to do it.

6. On juggling her many commitments: ‘I’ve got some really strong role models…’

The stories about my Nan’s strength, determination and ability to get things done have inspired me. Both Nan and Mum fought the fight that has enabled me to have the opportunities I do. Mum raised four children on her own with that same determination. So I’ve got some really strong role models who have shown me that hard work pays off. They instilled in me that if you want to achieve something, you just do what you have to do.

I’ve also got a supportive partner and network of friends who understand my commitments, but also make sure I don’t ignore the fun and social part of my life. I do Pilates and exercise to keep fit, and like to hit the town with friends…and then of course there’s coffee!

7. On her future: ‘I’m excited about the unknown…’

I haven’t ruled out further study down the track; maybe a Masters in Education. Meanwhile I have been accepted into the graduate development program at the Australian Bureau of Statistics. I’m going to be working on population statistics, immigration, health, education and housing issues. I’m really proud that I’ve achieved that through my own merits and hard work.

I’m excited about the unknown, both the opportunities ahead of me in my immediate future and the possibilities I don’t know about yet. But whether I’m in a professional position or not, I think I’m always going to want to be involved in advocating for social justice.