BSSC Year 12 student, Millah Goulden, is a proud young Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman.
She’s deeply grateful for her education. However, the last few years have included some tough times due to persistent bullying at her 7-10 college.
Millah describes moving to BSSC as a relief and says the college continues to be an inspiring influence in her life and she often recommends it to others.
“BSSC has given me opportunities I could not have had at other schools. The way students are supported here is amazing and the freedoms build our self-confidence, and prepare us well for uni and life in general.
“The main challenge coming to BSSC was adjusting from a rigid system to one where I was welcome—even encouraged—to be myself.”
Alongside this have been truly wonderful experiences as her appreciation for the incredible ancient wisdom held by First Nations People—her People—has grown.
“Many Australians still consider Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islanders to have failed to develop their resources—or to ‘progress’,” Millah says, “The opposite is actually the truth!
“First Nations Peoples have been so successful when it comes to living sustainably. They cared for this land amazingly well for tens of thousands of years. On a school trip last year—visiting Ballarat, Warrnambool, and Melbourne—I learnt so much about this.”
Still, Millah has personal insight about how pervasive racism remains in Australia.
Mocking comments about Aboriginal people—not necessarily directed at her specifically—show her people don’t understand how offensive, and ignorant, such comments are.
More direct racism came from school bullies.
“I believed them when they told me I wouldn’t be able to do what I wanted,” she says. “One even told me that because of my Culture, I could never be as successful as them.
“I’ve proved them all wrong!”
Millah greatly appreciates strong connections with her BSSC teachers and the benefits of the Scholars Hut.
“The Scholars Hut is wonderful. We share, listen, and connect through our stories. I feel completely understood there. The tutors are fantastic, and Eboni helps us see how our education can be such a positive thing for Culture too.”
Millah’s study techniques depend on what she’s trying to learn.
‘Brain dumping’ helps her identify gaps in her knowledge. Teaching others, and using ‘flash cards’, are ideal for practicing recall—and her parents and boyfriend are happy to help with this.
“I also find connecting what I’m studying to my everyday life is great for learning concepts in Psychology, and decorating my notes makes them more memorable.”
Like many VCE students, managing stress is part and parcel of most weeks.
Millah has taken this seriously and put in place good practices and the support she needs to make the most of her final years at school.
“I think positive self-talk is important, and keeping strong connections with people you are close to—encouraging people can make such a difference!
“I love to cook and this is great for my mental health too.”
Her mum and BSSC’s First Nation’s Program Coordinator, Eboni Kerr, are two inspiring mentors supporting her education and helping her grow knowledge about her heritage, giving Millah a strong sense of belonging, and confidence about her future.
Both her parents impress her with their resilience and persistence and Millah describes being in her family as, “a privilege because we all get along so well, and I know I can count on their support.”
Her father’s family did not tell him about his Aboriginality, fearing he would be taken away, as so many have been.
“I guess his family were trying to protect him,” Millah acknowledges, “but it destroyed his capacity to connect with Culture until very recently, and he missed out on so much.”
Millah’s mum is a social worker based with BDAC (Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative) and the whole family is benefitting from her daily contact with their local Aboriginal community.
Millah is learning as much as she can about her Culture, but also understands she has an important ongoing role.
“I recently watched a documentary about Eddie Mabo. It was just terrible to see how we were treated, and he still inspires me to do my bit to keep my Culture alive.”
In future Millah plans to study Nursing at La Trobe Bendigo, and was delighted to discover part of the course includes exploring First Nations’ approaches to health.
“While nursing is a Western tradition, I hope to always work in a space with good connections to First Nations people.”
Millah’s favourite subjects support her future career plans. They are Psychology, Biology, and ¾ Health and Human Development—which she completed in Year 11.
If, by some miracle, Millah could give her younger self some advice, she would tell herself, “Firstly, don’t study so hard in Year 9. Loosen up. Find ways to enjoy yourself more at school.
“I’d also say; ‘Don’t put yourself down to the level someone else wants to drag you down to. You’re better than you think you are’.”
