More than 100 people including families from regional communities enjoyed a day of sporting and cultural inspiration to celebrate the ongoing relationship between the University and the Murlpirrmarra Connection.

"UWA has a longstanding connection with regional WA communities to ensure that bright, motivated and passionate students have the opportunity to kickstart their careers at university."

UWA Director of Future Students Trish Rechichi

Murlpirrmarra Connection is a not-for-profit organisation that provides educational opportunities for Aboriginal youth in the regional WA communities of Wiluna, Leonora and surrounding regions.

UWA sponsored the 15th Annual Cultural Weekend at UWA’s Perth campus, and University ambassadors from the School of Indigenous Studies and School of Molecular Sciences provided a unique program of educational and sporting activities.

The event, coordinated for UWA by Dr Nic Taylor and Associate Professor Iyer Swaminantha, included a meet-and-greet, a chemistry magic show by Emeritus Professor Allan McKinley and PhD student Matthew Graneri, a BBQ sponsored by the School of Molecular Sciences and a football kick-around on James Oval between players from the Wiluna Martu Eagles, Mount Magnet Miners and the Dalkeith Nedlands Junior Football Club.

UWA Director of Future Students Trish Rechichi said the cultural day further enriched the University’s valued partnership with the Murlpirrmarra Connection.

“UWA has a longstanding connection with regional WA communities to ensure that bright, motivated and passionate students have the opportunity to kickstart their careers at university,” Mrs Rechichi said.

“We will continue to support incredible educational opportunities such as Murlpirrmarra Connection’s programs to equip students with the skills they need to succeed.”

Bee Ashwin is one of a number of students who attend UWA as part of the Murlpirrmarra education program and said the support had shaped her early education.

“I’m a proud Murujuga woman from Mount Magnet. I moved to Perth in 2019 to commence further study in high school at Clontarf Aboriginal College and then did a traineeship at a law firm for 12 months, which inspired me to go to university,” she said.

“I’ve been part of Murlpirrmarra since 2019, so they’ve basically been supporting me throughout school and they’re still supporting me today.”

The Honourable Fred Chaney AO, a UWA graduate and brother of former UWA Chancellor Michael Chaney, is a patron of the Murlpirrmarra Connection.