TERRY ROBERTS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:41): Can the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education advise on who the recipient is for this year's Terry Roberts Memorial Scholarship for Aboriginal South Australians?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:41): I thank the member for Ashford for the opportunity to advise the house on a matter that I know is very dear to her heart. She was very close to Terry and shared his passion for remedying the plight of our indigenous community.

Later this afternoon, I will have the welcome opportunity of presenting this year's Terry Roberts Memorial Scholarship to a remarkable young woman, Ms Jharny Love, the third recipient of the scholarship. Jharny is enrolled at the University of South Australia in the Bachelor of Nursing. Jharny has the talent and determination to develop into an influential role model and leader within her community and, indeed, the broader community, and this scholarship will help support her on her chosen path.

Jharny's long-term goal is to work in Aboriginal health as a registered nurse and to use her skills and knowledge to better develop health outcomes in the Aboriginal community. In her own words: 'I will have the knowledge base to share with my own community so that we as a community are informed and can make better health choices which, in turn, prevent bad health as well as heal.' Jharny and our other recipients will use the opportunity of the Terry Roberts' scholarship to make a difference within their community.

As many of you will know, this scholarship is given in honour of our late colleague the Hon. Terry Roberts, member of the Legislative Council. Terry was a dedicated minister for Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation and a passionate advocate for Aboriginal people, who won the admiration and respect of South Australia's Aboriginal communities. I know that his family is deeply proud that a scholarship in his name helps support indigenous young people in their chosen careers.

The scholarship is designed to assist indigenous people to undertake full-time undergraduate study at a South Australian University by providing financial assistance towards meeting living and study-related costs. Each recipient receives $2,000 per annum for up to four years, to a maximum of $8,000.

Both our previous recipients have been enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Adelaide, majoring in psychology. I know that the entrance TER score for psychology is very much at the upper end, and I think it is a great feat for indigenous young people to be getting into both the University of Adelaide and psychology. Both of these individuals hope to work in regional or rural South Australia to take their knowledge back to their own communities.

The scholarship is an important way to improve access and opportunity for indigenous young people and has the ability to transform lives. One previous recipient, for example, has recently returned from the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York. The Terry Roberts Memorial Scholarship is helping to transform the lives of indigenous young people by encouraging their participation in tertiary level education. I am pleased to advise the house of the latest outstanding recipient of the Terry Roberts Memorial Scholarship.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!