Women taking action for reconciliation

Sophia Indigenous Scholarship

One of Flinders University’s longest running, donor-funded scholarships is driven by a community group’s call for reconciliation.

The Sophia Women’s Centre connects women through a shared focus of embracing diverse spiritual traditions and working towards an equitable society. In their pursuit of equity, members of the Centre, and close friends, have taken action for reconciliation through education.

In November 1996, Maree Spence walked alongside Ngarrindjeri women protesting the building of the Hindmarsh Island bridge. As a physiotherapist, she provided the walkers with the practical support of massages. Along the way stories were shared on the cultural importance of Hindmarsh Island, and strong bonds were formed between the women.

Inspired, Maree initiated ‘Around the Kitchen Table’, a sharing circle for Ngarrindjeri Aunties to share their traditional culture. Moved by her learnings in the circle, Sophia Women's Centre member Jenny Wightman created the Sophia Reconciliation Group.

Sophia Reconciliation Group L–R: Maureen O’Connell, Maggie Nicholls, Rosanne DeBats, Fiona Johnston, Peter Lee, Jenny Wightman, Libby Cooper, Trish Fairley, Annie Gleeson, Pauline Small, Tess Gibson. Absent: Judith Condon, Ros Gill, Annette & Geoff Jarrett, Erica Jolly CUniv, Celia Karpfen, Margaret Kennedy, Elaine Lee, Cecily Orenstein, Louise Portway, Maryanne Sanders.

Jenny says, “I learnt about the barriers these women faced in accessing health and education, and realised that we need to show more care for Indigenous people and their culture.

“We have so much to learn from Aboriginal people and so much to understand about their struggles to fit in with our imposed culture. They have wisdoms that our culture hasn’t even glimpsed.”

In 1999 the Sophia Reconciliation Group committed to driving change in a real way by establishing the Sophia Indigenous Scholarship at Flinders University. The annual scholarship supports an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student to access resources needed to achieve their degree.

Each year, members contribute what they can to the scholarship. Jenny says, “It is a way for ordinary women to provide ongoing support for Indigenous students.”

Across 25 years, the scholarship has supported 25 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and has recently grown from $500 per year to $5,000 – to create a transformative impact for recipients.

Nursing student Isis Kartinyeri received the scholarship in 2023 and says the support helped her to buy textbooks and equipment needed for her degree.

“I want to express how thankful I am for the support and how much I appreciate it. It has pushed me to keep aiming to achieve this degree at my highest ability,” says Isis.

With such positive feedback from the recipients, the Sophia Reconciliation Group know their efforts are working to close the gap, and they encourage others to also act in a spirit of reconciliation.

Jenny says, “I am hopeful that the wider Australian society is on the brink of recognising the wisdom of Indigenous peoples.”

^{Published April 2024. Author Lynda Allen}