Edward Tudor recognised for helping Aboriginal students from across nation

What happens when a mergers and acquisitions lawyer takes a year off to help Aboriginal kids? Three years on, Edward Tudor is steering Australia’s most successful and pioneering integrated education programs for indigenous students.

EDWARD Tudor was a mergers and acquisitions lawyer who took a year off to focus on an initiative to help Aboriginal kids.

Three years on he has helped steer what has become Australia’s most successful integrated education program for indigenous students.

PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA MEDALS AWARDED TO INCREDIBLE VICTORIANS

THE TACKLE: TIGERS CHIEF REFLECTS ON PREMIERSHIP

A little support from the reigning AFL premiers has also helped.

Mr Tudor said it was the decision by Richmond Football Club chiefs to provide a space for the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School that helped seal the deal.

But other supporters say it’s the tireless commitment from the executive director that ensure the concept became a reality.

Mr Tudor has been nominated for Pride of Australia award.

MITS provides a bridging year for about 22 Year 7 students who now share the hallways at Punt Rd with some of footy’s biggest stars.

Pride of Australia nominee Edward Tudor with students Chris, 13, and Naomi, 12. Picture: Alex Coppel

The students, who live together in a boarding house nearby, are given the opportunity to continue their education through scholarships with a string of partner schools.

“It’s about providing a sense of connection for the students and ensuring they still feel a connection to home despite being more than 4000 kms away,’’ Mr Tudor said.

“They are able to return home at anytime to fulfil cultural obligations and are not forced to stay if the find life in the city too tough.

But Mr Tudor said since the school began participants had built a better sense of what defined them.

“The school has become a place of cultural expectation and celebration strengthening student’s cultural ties,’’ he said.

There have been critics — but Mr Tudor said he hoped the results spoke for themselves.

“It’s easy to look at it and feel uncomfortable about it from the historic context of children being removed from their community.

“But the difference here is that the parents of these students and community leaders want them to be here.’’

Edward Tudor has been nominated for his work with the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School at Richmond Football Club. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Mary Wodidj, a mother of a student from Nganmarriyanga in the Northern Territory said the school had provided an important link.

“We feel proud to think about kids from Nganmarriyanga finishing school,’’ she said.

“We feel happy that maybe our kids can go to university.

“We feel happy and proud to see these kids here today, standing tall for their community.’’

Richmond Football Club chief Brendon Gale said the success of the program was a reflection of the commitment from Mr Tudor and other MITS staff.

“Ed has demonstrated a tireless commitment to a new and challenging concept,’’ Mr Gale said.
“It’s underpinned by a strong family commitment to indigenous Australia that goes back many years.

“Ed saw the value of bringing the MITS concept into an elite sporting environment and as a result our partnership has been a great success.

“He is a very caring and good natures person but underneath all that is a steely resolve and determination to deliver the concept.’’

[e-mail]

prideofaustralia.com.au