Ryan St John, a proud Gamilaroi man and former St Columban’s College Caboolture student, has recently added another accolade to his impressive academic journey.
As a current student at Australian Catholic University (ACU) and a recipient of the Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teaching Scholarship (2022), Ryan has recently been awarded ACU’s prestigious St Francis Xavier Conaci Scholarship.
This scholarship has enabled Ryan to travel to Italy this month, where he will study at ACU’s Rome campus and also represent First Nations people during NAIDOC Week in Rome, hosted by Ambassador to the Holy See Her Excellency Chiara Porro.
Ryan, who aspires to be a Religious Education and History teacher and Indigenous Liaison Officer at St Flannan’s School in Zillmere, said the experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"I feel really proud to represent First Nations people during NAIDOC Week in Rome," he said.
"Being part of the world’s oldest living culture is a tremendous honour and responsibility.
“I am eager to share my rich heritage and traditions with a global audience and learn from the diverse perspectives I'll encounter there."
Ryan’s travels will also see him complete a core subject ‘Justice and Change in a Global World’ which is offered at ACU.
Ryan said as he prepared to graduate as a qualified educator at the end of this year, he hoped to use this experience to enrich his teaching.
“As a Gamilaroi man I am passionate about social justice and fostering pride in culture at school,” he said.
"I am driven to inspire my students to think critically about the world around them, understand the significance of social justice, and appreciate the diverse cultural backgrounds that shape our local and global communities.
"As I step into my role as an educator next year, I am committed to promoting cultural awareness and working closely with First Nations students.
"My goal is to be a teacher who builds respectful relationships with students and offers advice and help when needed.
“I aim to foster a culture of empathy, respect and pride in diverse cultural identities within my future classroom, empowering students to engage actively and thoughtfully with the world around them."
About NAIDOC Week:
NAIDOC WEEK celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.