Support for future leaders

Indigenous Scholarship

Gail Brennan is a proud Ngarrindjeri and Adnyamathanha woman, passionate about making a difference in the community and giving a voice to First Nations people.

She has wanted to be a lawyer since she was 12 years old and in 2016 began a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice at Flinders University. But Gail faced a range of financial and logistical challenges that made it difficult for her to focus on her studies.

Growing up in regional South Australia, Gail spent the first two years of her degree commuting from her hometown of Mannum to attend university each day. The two hour daily drive made it difficult for Gail to spend the time she needed to complete her course work.

Gail applied for a $5,000 Indigenous scholarship to relieve her financial pressures, including the money she needed to make the move to Adelaide to reduce her excessive travel time. She was also able to buy a laptop and textbooks – essential to completing her degree.

"Having support from the University's donors through the Indigenous Scholarship meant that I could pour myself into my studies and keep my degree as a priority," says Gail.

"I am very thankful for the support of the scholarship, it allowed me to strive for my personal and professional goals," says Gail Brennan.

"A number of unimaginable opportunities opened up to me through attending university and receiving the scholarship support, including being a mentor, working as a student ambassador and law tutor, studying abroad, and doing law internships across four states."

Gail graduated in 2020 and is now the First Nations Solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre in Sydney, where she represents and advocates for First Nations people in the local community, building empowerment through legal education.

She is also a member of the Uluru Statement from the Heart Youth Dialogue and plays an active role as an ambassador, raising awareness of the First Nations Voice to Parliament.

At Flinders University, Indigenous Scholarships make a real difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, helping them to meet the costs of essential study resources, accommodation and travel to lectures and placements.

We need your support so that even more First Nations students like Gail can take control of their present, develop goals for the future, and make a difference for generations to come.

100% of your tax-deductible donation will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at Flinders University.

Donate today

_{Published 2019, updated August 2023. Author: Lynda Allen.}

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