Uni student to go bush to inspire next generation of Indigenous kids

A country kid turned university student and mentor aims to head bush to inspire the next generation of Indigenous kids to follow the same path.

Student Zane Ratcliff is studying a Bachelor of Education at Australian Catholic University and wants to help kids in remote Queensland schools. Picture: Richard Walker

A First Nations representative, tick. From the regions, tick. And male, tick. Statistically speaking, Zane Ratcliff was at long odds to ever attend university.

Mr Ratcliff grew up in Gayndah, about three hours northwest of Brisbane, where he attended Burnett State College with his five siblings.

While many of his classmates went straight into full-time employment after graduating, Mr Ratcliff left his home town at 17 for university.

The 22-year-old is now halfway through a double teaching degree at the Australian Catholic University where he aims to inspire the next generation of Indigenous students.

“I tick all the boxes as someone unlikely to go to university,” Mr Ratcliff said, under no illusion of the challenges people of his demographic face.

Student Zane Ratcliff is studying a Bachelor of Education at Australian Catholic University. Picture: Richard Walker

According to a 2018-19 national survey by the Statista Research Department, just 8.1 per cent of all First Nations Australians aged between 20 and 64 had attained or were studying a bachelor degree.

Indigenous Australians are also far less likely to complete Year 12 than non-Indigenous Australians, according to the government’s Closing The Gap Report 2020.

The National Year 12 attainment rate for Indigenous students was about 60 per cent, compared to more than 90 per cent for non-Indigenous students, and the likelihood of attaining a Year 12 Certificate decreased further with remoteness, the report found.

“The Year 12 attainment rate is 85 per cent in major cities compared with 38 per cent in very remote areas,” it read.

While Mr Ratcliff wasn’t the first in his family to continue on to higher education, having followed older sister Brydon, he said he could have easily been lost through the cracks.

“Financially it was hard. I hadn’t got my licence and had a lot of struggle getting into work and uni which not all kids have to worry about,” he said.

“Plus finding a place to live. Things like that but the university did help out a lot.”

The dedicated young man, who works part time at Marist College Ashgrove, already knows where his post-university future lies.

ACU student Zane Ratcliff plans to teach in remote parts of Queensland when he graduates. Picture: Richard Walker

He wants, in true trailblazing fashion, to go into the very depths of where Queensland’s teacher shortage is hurting the most – the bush.

“I want to go give back to the remote parts, Far North Queensland and inland as well,” Mr Ratcliff said.

“They are really in need of teachers up there and I think I can take my best attributes. Convince them that there is a pathway (to university).”

It is something he has already embarked on in mentoring teenagers.

“Once they hear what it’s actually like, they can be really keen on it,” he said.

“I get such a kick out of it too. I think I have a bit of a rapport with some of them which helps.”

Tracey Sanders, ACU’s Queensland head of the School of Education, said the university supported those who may not have a family tradition of tertiary study.

Dr Sanders said the university took pride in having an inclusive learning environment and offering pathways to encourage student diversity.

“Universities have a key role to play when it comes to supporting students from a variety of backgrounds to enrol, upskill, pursue their career goals, contribute to society in diverse ways, and reflect diversity in the workplace,” she said.

“In teaching, for example, it sends a very powerful message to a child when they see teachers who come from a wide range of backgrounds. It inspires them by showing them what’s possible.”