www.firstnationstelegraph.com
Gifted Dubbo student for Youth Parliament, then Switzerland by Bruce Andrews 24 May 2014
A
high-achieving Charles Sturt University (CSU) student will participate in the National Indigenous Youth Parliament 2014 next week before heading to Switzerland in 2015 as an exchange student. Ms Angel Towney (pictured), a student from Dubbo, NSW, who is studying a double degree Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science / Bachelor of Business Studies at CSU in Bathurst, was recently selected for the week-long leadership program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 16 to 25. Ms Towney has already met Mr John Cobb, MP, the Member for Calare, to discuss her participation at the National Indigenous Youth Parliament, and she says she is looking forward to learning more about the leadership of our nation. “I am a representative for NSW, I am hoping to meet many other students who are passionate about Indigenous community empowerment and development,” she said. “My aspirations are
to empower, inspire and motivate young people. I come from a fairly underprivileged background, so I am hoping to take a career path which enables me to develop communities. Whether that will be in politics, I am not too sure yet.” At CSU Ms Towney is the Indigenous representative on the Mitchell Student Guild (the student representative body). She also formed and is chair of the Bathurst Campus Indigenous Student Body, which is raising funds to attend the 19th Indigenous Tertiary Students Game in Perth from 21 to 25 September. “I have always participated in sport in
one form or another, and my passion has been in martial arts,” Ms Towney said. “I have represented Australia internationally in karate and kickboxing, but now that I am focusing on my studies and career I just play soccer for the CSU Vixens.” Having travelled to the USA, Japan, China, and Thailand for international martial arts competitions, Ms Towney is now looking forward to doing a one-year exchange program at the University of St Gallen, in the city of St Gallen, Switzerland, before graduating from CSU at the end of 2015. “I’m really looking forward to the cultural exposure and insight into the Swiss study culture,
as well as my personal development and growth - something I regard as very important in life,” she said. “My subjects haven’t been matched yet, but I hope to undertake management courses, as well as a German language course.” Reflecting on her time at CSU, Ms Towney said, “I have loved every minute of my studies at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst”. “We have a great Indigenous support centre here, and the best part of uni is the social environment because it is so easy to meet people and make friends. I have always found my lecturers to be passionate about their teaching, and they have always gone above and beyond to help me get through. The highlight of my studies so far has been attending the National Indigenous Tertiary Education Student games in Penrith in 2013.” The National Indigenous Youth Parliament 2014 runs from Wednesday 28 May to Tuesday 3 June and will be held at the Museum of Australian Democracy at the Old Parliament House, Canberra.
Find out more Page 1