Worawa students on the Voice to Parliament

Worowa is not your average school. Although based in Victoria, students primarily hail from remote communities in central and western Australia and when The Point visited recently, student attendance numbers at the boarding school were down, for good reason - small planes couldn’t land to pick up pupils because of extensive flooding. 

Although most students at the school won’t be able to vote, the referendum on the Voice is of interest to all of them. 

Shantay Morris and Teigan Ricky told The Point that the Voice would ‘make a change for Black people’. Shantay is from Walpiri country in the Tanami Desert, northwest of Alice Springs, but she’s been living in Darwin. Teigan is from Elliott, a town halfway between Alice Springs and Darwin. 

They said one of the big issues a Voice could help with is alcohol in Aboriginal communities. Drinkers cause fights and despite going outside dry communities to drink, they put themselves and others in danger when coming home. 

Teigan and Shantay believe the Voice would mean ‘local knowledge could be used to provide support and advice’ for communities struggling with such issues and enable more input into decision-making which affects them. ‘They (politicians) don’t have experience with our laws… We have our own Elders who make our own laws. We have to follow those as well.’ 

They believe the Voice could provide outsiders with a greater understanding of how their communities function. 

The girls want teachers elsewhere in Australia to learn about Black culture and ‘spread awareness’ of what Indigenous people have been through due to colonisation. They say more Aboriginal history and culture needs to be taught, because ‘if it remains hidden people will never learn’. 

‘That’s where you can start to make a better world, when you teach.’ 

Shantay points to her Country

Shantay has dreams of becoming a veterinarian while Teigen wants to train as a police officer. They are making the sacrifice to learn far from home to develop skills they will use to help their families and communities upon their return. 

Such dedication sets Worawa apart – education and personal growth here have a direct and positive effect on communities thousands of kilometres from the campus. Worawa demonstrates the commitment Aboriginal people have for each other and for a better future – students here see education as the key to making changes, personally and for entire communities. 

Teigan and Shantay hope a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum will also help. 

Teigan points to her Country

When the possibility of a No vote is raised, their warm smiles dissolve. They will be angry if the referendum doesn’t get a Yes vote; they see this as a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

‘Things won’t change unless you take an action. It’s a cycle that just goes over and over again. 

‘It’s the first step. 

‘A small step.’