Islamic College of Brisbane offers five Indigenous scholarships as step towards reconciliation
One of the largest Islamic colleges in Queensland is strengthening its ties to First Nations people by offering five-year Indigenous scholarships for the first time since it opened three decades ago.
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One of the largest Islamic colleges in Queensland is strengthening its ties to First Nations people by offering five-year Indigenous scholarships for the first time since it opened three decades ago.
The Board of the Islamic College of Brisbane, at Karawatha on Brisbane’s southern outskirts, voted to introduce the new Secondary School scholarships as a way of “giving back to the oldest continuous culture on Earth”.
The college, which has 1600 students, will offer five scholarships, each worth about $15,000, to applicants in years 7 to 12 for 2024, with more to follow.
The college board made its decision to offer the scholarships to coincide with the national referendum held on the weekend.
College chief executive Ali Kadri said the Voice to Parliament referendum highlighted the benefits of a more unified Australia offering greater opportunities for everyone.
He said applicants for the scholarships, which will be offered in both academic and sporting categories, did not have to be Muslim.
“While all our students are all currently Muslims, more than half of our teachers aren’t, and our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are and what we do,” Mr Kadri said.
“The college wants to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students succeed and we’re excited about the opportunities these scholarships will provide.
“Islam emphasises the equality of all people, regardless of skin colour, and it’s a little-known fact that there is a long history between Aboriginal people and the Islamic culture and religion in Australia.
“Being so diverse, means our students can discover new ideas, new ways of living and new perspectives on what it means to be an Australian.”
Mr Kadri said the college, which opened in 1995, was already a “real United Nations” representing 52 different nationalities.
In March, it participated in a revolutionary swap program with six Islamic, four Catholic and two atheist students changing schools for a week.
Expressions of Interest for the 2024 Scholarships close on Thursday, November 30.
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