College welcomes First Nations Learning Support Officers

With so many new faces at St Mary’s College this year, it’s lovely to see some familiar alumni retuning to their old stomping ground to give back to the SMC community.

Ella Berresford (class of 2019) and Caitlin Marr (class of 2022) are delighted to be returning to St Mary’s College this year as our inaugural First Nations Learning Support Officers.

Bringing youth and enthusiasm to their new role, Ella and Caitlin will provide support to First Nations students from Kinder to Year 12.

With a vision to make the College Meeting Place a central and welcoming space for the SMC community, the pair are excited to draw on their unique knowledge and skills to support our First Nations students as they progress on their cultural and academic journey.

Caitlin will be juggling her time at St Mary’s with undergraduate study as she commences her degree in Medical Research at the University of Tasmania this year.

‘I’m excited to play a role in offering First Nations students at the College the opportunities that we didn’t have as students, and to be a part of that change,’ the proud Gamilaraay woman says.

A Wiradjuri woman, Ella says she feels ‘honoured’ to be stepping into this new role.

‘Being entrusted to help these students is really exciting,’ she says. ‘By providing them with a safe space to explore their own cultural journey, we can help students to thrive in further areas of their studies.

As College alumni, Ella and Caitlin recall firsthand the progress SMC has made in recent years in supporting First Nations students and responding to their needs – wellbeing, cultural and academic.

We are so excited to welcome Ella and Caitlin back to SMC in their new positions and we cannot wait to see what they have planned for our First Nations students in 2023.