By Benjamin Millar
It’s a long way from Humpty Doo to West Footscray.
Jaydah Turner, a young Marranuggu woman who moved almost 4000 kilometres from the small Northern Territory town to Melbourne to study, was drawn by the promise of a vibrant city full of opportunities.
Ms Turner, 19, heard about Victoria University from her uncle, who recently completed his studies at the uni.
“I came down and did a tour and met some staff members of the uni and I was very certain that this uni is where I wanted to complete my studies,” she said.
Juggling work and study has posed a challenge, along with not knowing anyone her age in Melbourne when she arrived.
However Ms Turner has now met “lots of wonderful people” and takes pride in having made the move at such a young age, drawing on the guiding strength of her Marranuggu heritage.
“To me being a Marranuggu woman is to be strong, respectful of my culture and hardworking,” she said.
“Also to do my best at university and make the most of every opportunity that presents itself to me and represent my culture at all times.”
The second year youth work student is living out the theme of this year’s Naidoc Week (July 7-14) of working together for a shared future.
“Working within schools with Indigenous young people would be something I would like to do, although I’m still not 100 per cent sure,” she said.
Ms Turner sees Naidoc Week as an opportunity to help people reflect on the reforms set out in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which highlights the importance of voice, treaty and truth.
Ms Turner said this means having a voice within your community whether you’re young or old, and being able to speak openly about issues that affect you.
“By having a Treaty it allows us to be recognised as the sovereign people of this land and protect our rights,” she said.
“Truth goes hand in hand with treaty – by having the true history of colonisation in Australia spoken we can then move forward as a country.”
