Walking Together: Embedding Cultural Inclusion in Residential College Life
In Australia, cultural inclusion within residential colleges must engage meaningfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of this country. It cannot be delivered through programming alone. It must be visible in everyday life, in leadership, in shared spaces and in the voices that shape community.
At St Catherine’s College, Dandjoo Darbalung has shaped this work for more than a decade. Since 2012, it has supported more than 400 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to pursue higher education within a culturally safe residential environment. Today, nearly 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students call the College home, representing 10 per cent of the residential community. Nationally, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students account for approximately 2.2 per cent of all university enrolments across Australia (Department of Education, 2024).
Statistics matter. But lived experience matters more.
Dandjoo Darbalung is grounded in Culture, Community and Belonging. The purpose-built Banksia Building and Cultural Centre provide spaces for study, gathering and cultural practice. The rooftop fire pit hosts Yarning Circles with Elders. Cultural Immersion Workshops during Orientation and NAIDOC Week are delivered by Dandjoo students themselves, positioning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices at the centre of the residential experience. Closing the Gap Formal Halls create further opportunities for shared learning and reflection across the College.
For some students, inclusion begins with transition.
Braeden Taylor, a former Ranger Coordinator from the Kimberley now studying a Bachelor of Marine Science at UWA, describes returning to study after years in the field as a significant shift.
“Moving from hands-on work in the Kimberley to full-time study was not easy,” he said. “But having support at College and through Dandjoo Darbalung helped me adjust and build new skills. It gave me the confidence to take on opportunities, like speaking at an international conference in Peru about Indigenous fire management and completing a 12-week summer placement with Woodside’s environmental team.
“I also make the most of the tutoring support available and try to be a role model for younger Dandjoo students where I can. If you have been through that transition, you understand how important that support is.”
Academic success is reinforced through tailored mentoring and tutoring within a residential community that understands diverse educational pathways. In 2024, pass rates reached 87 per cent, reflecting sustained academic momentum. Beyond graduation, outcomes remain strong: 68 per cent of alumni are employed and a further 16 per cent continue their studies. Graduates are now contributing across medicine, marine science, law, education, policy, corporate leadership and the arts.
For Reilly Cockburn, studying Economics at UWA and recipient of the 2025 Geoff Rasmussen Scholarship, cultural strength and academic ambition are inseparable.
“Studying Economics has shown me how systems shape opportunity. I want to use what I learn to contribute to structural reform that benefits our communities. Being part of Dandjoo and living at St Catherine’s has reinforced that my academic goals and my cultural identity are not separate. They strengthen each other.”
Leadership extends beyond academic achievement. Residents compete in Indigenous Nationals, serve as Residential Advisors, represent the College publicly and lead outreach visits to secondary schools across Western Australia.
Taleah Ugle, studying a Bachelor of Science at UWA, reflects on the leadership opportunities she embraced during her time at College:
“While completing my degree, I took on several leadership roles, including Women’s Officer for the UWA Student Guild and Co-Chair of the Referendum Working Group. Those experiences showed me how powerful advocacy and collaboration can be in shaping better outcomes for our communities. Being part of St Catherine’s College gave me a strong network of peers walking similar paths. The friendships and shared experiences I have built here will become lifelong connections and, I hope, a network of future Aboriginal leaders. Receiving the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM Student of the Year award at the 2025 Premier’s Science Awards was an incredible honour. It recognised not only my academic work, but the communities and mentors who have guided me.”
The influence of Dandjoo Darbalung extends well beyond College life. Students deliver mentoring and cultural workshops on campus and in secondary schools, strengthening pathways into higher education. Through internships and professional placements across corporate, government and community sectors, they build career trajectories while contributing to meaningful change.
For Emmanuel Richardson, studying a Doctor of Medicine at UWA, that collective support is foundational.
“Dandjoo Darbalung is not just an initiative. It is a community of advocates and allies. No matter where you come from, whether the desert, the bay or the bush, you begin your university journey knowing you have a network behind you that is genuinely excited to see you grow. People want to see you thrive, not only at College or university, but as a person stepping into a new chapter of life.”
For Maxine Brahim, Dandjoo Darbalung’s Director of Culture and Community Engagement and proud Ngarluma women from the Pilbara region of Western Australia, academic outcomes are inseparable from cultural strength:
“Dandjoo Darbalung was established to provide comprehensive support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, but its impact lies in how culture is embedded in residential life,” she said. “When students see their identity recognised as a strength within higher education, confidence grows. That confidence translates into academic success and leadership.”
As Diego Rico, Dean of Culture and Community at St Catherine’s College, adds:
“Cultural inclusion benefits the entire residential community. At St Catherine’s College, approximately 30 per cent of residents are international students, representing 38 countries. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership strengthens shared understanding and respect. Dandjoo Darbalung does not sit alongside residential life. It shapes it.”
In 2026, Dandjoo Darbalung expanded to the College’s Curtin campus, extending this commitment across both communities.
Dandjoo Darbalung offers one model of how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership can shape not only individual outcomes, but the culture of an entire residential community.
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