Creating a home at UQ
Kev Carmody House creates
opportunities for regional students
When COVID hit in 2020 and Australians were thrown into lockdown, Darby Jones, like many people, started reassessing his career.
A Kamilaroi man from the regional Queensland town of St George, Darby was working in Brisbane as a hair colourist at the time and started contemplating how much he regretted not going to university.
“I had written off university as something I wasn’t able to do,” he said. “During COVID I was looking into the future and wondering where my career should go from here. I decided I should be going back to uni and do what I love.”
That spurred him to enrol at The University of Queensland to study arts, majoring in writing and anthropology.
And with the help of a scholarship, he has found a home at UQ’s Kev Carmody House.
Making university more accessible
UQ’s new student residential building, named in honour of Kev Carmody, offers independent living for an additional 610 students at St Lucia campus.
“Kev Carmody House is a new purpose-built facility that is providing independent living for students, and complements the rich history and offerings of 10 residential colleges on our St Lucia campus,” said UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Deborah Terry.
“It has been designed to be as affordable as possible, and there is a strong focus on the wellbeing of students and providing a vibrant community.”
The opening of a new student residential building is the first of many steps UQ is taking to increase the participation of domestic undergraduate students from low socio-economic, remote or regional backgrounds. UQ also wants to help remove the barriers that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students face accessing university.
“Helping talented young Queenslanders to pursue their passion of a university education, regardless of their background, location or financial circumstances, is a key priority for us,” Professor Terry said.
The building was named after UQ alum and Australian First Nations singer and songwriter Kev Carmody to honour his remarkable life, contributions to UQ and passion for access to education.
In another first for the University, Kev Carmody House is also the first building at UQ to be named after an Indigenous person.
There is also a new scholarship named in his honour – the Kev Carmody Scholarship – that will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who are experiencing financial hardship or are in need of residential accommodation support.
Kev completed his postgraduate study in education in 1981.
“Kev’s beliefs that learning and education can be an empowerment and strength for cultural identity through oral history is something we all embrace,” Professor Terry said.
“We are thrilled to have named the new student residence building, and this new scholarship, to honour Kev’s contributions to UQ – its teaching, students and broader community.”
Kev said it was a privilege to have the new building named after him.
“This building is a place where we celebrate what unites us as a human society, and as a family – building on ideas of respect, culture and education,” he said.
“My journey to formal education started a little later than most. I didn’t learn to read and write until I was 10, but once I started to dive deep into the written and spoken word through music – including during my studies at UQ – the world took on a new meaning for me.
“I hope my story can help inspire students at UQ to follow their passions, to embrace and respect each other and to express their imagination in its fullest capacity.”
There are currently 17 scholarships that help students cover accommodation costs at Kev Carmody House.
Image: Justine Walpole
UQ student and Kev Carmody House resident Darby Jones
UQ student and Kev Carmody House resident Darby Jones
“Scholarships have completely changed my life”
Darby is receiving the Peter Høj and Mandy Thomas Indigenous Student Scholarship, which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who have a passion to create change in their communities and in the world.
Like many students from regional areas, Darby faced hurdles moving away from his home and support network when he finished school, such as finding a place to live and a way to support himself financially.
“I had originally considered coming to UQ when I finished high school, but felt overwhelmed by all the changes that came with moving to the city. That’s when I started a career as a hair colourist, which was a wonderful 10 years, but I’m also so glad I took the plunge to pursue my passion for writing.”
Darby said receiving the scholarship cemented his path to UQ, and he is now one of about 1600 students who are receiving financial support through a scholarship.
UQ student and Kev Carmody House resident Darby Jones
“Getting a scholarship has completely changed my life.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the generous support from the donors and UQ Scholarships. I feel fortunate to be able to put so much time and energy into my studies—time and energy that would otherwise have been spent working overtime to cover the cost of living. It has changed my life. Now, anything is possible.”
Regional health a driving force
Miah Hickman, a Wiradjuri woman who graduated from school in Toowoomba last year, is also living at Kev Carmody House and said she felt incredibly blessed to be receiving the Peter Høj and Mandy Thomas scholarship.
“To be honest, I don’t think I would be here if it wasn’t for the scholarship,” she said. “It’s made a monumental difference, and I’m able to focus on my studies.”
Miah Hickman, a UQ student and Kev Carmody House resident
Miah Hickman, a UQ student and Kev Carmody House resident
Miah is a medicine student and is currently completing her undergraduate nursing degree. Having just begun her seven-year studies, she said her passion for changing access to healthcare for people in regional and rural areas was the driving force behind her passion.
“Being from a rural area, I know all about the health disadvantages people in those areas face, and I want to help communities access better health care. Just because of where you live shouldn’t determine what level of health care you receive.
“If we can close the gap, it would make a huge difference to people’s lives, and I’d love to be a part of something like that.”
Being a First Nations woman, she said there were barriers facing prospective university students, but she wanted to spread the message that higher education is achievable.
“I think the barriers facing First Nations students is entwined with those from regional and remote areas, but if my story can help other curious students achieve their dream to come to UQ, then that would be great.
“If this is what I can achieve, then there is nothing to say you can’t either.”
From Longreach to UQ
Aiyahna Browning, also a resident at Kev Carmody House, completed high school in her home town of Longreach last year.
She completed a high school subject in psychology and fell in love with the brain, which led her to pursue a psychological science degree at UQ.
“UQ was my goal, and I decided to push myself for it,” she said.
Kev Carmody House resident Aiyahna Browning
Kev Carmody House resident Aiyahna Browning
“My home town is 1200km away, so it was a huge move to come to uni. The first few weeks were such a financial burden with all of the moving and settling in. Having a scholarship has really helped to relieve some of that burden.
“I feel that due to our location, rural students can feel that university is out of reach, or inaccessible, but scholarships help remove those barriers and show that you can go to uni and you can study what you’re passionate about.”
Scholarship helped cement path to UQ
Ben Hyson’s first exposure to UQ was in Year 5 when he came to campus as part of the Opti-MINDS school program.
Originally from Goondiwindi, he said attending UQ had always been a goal and that he had his sights set on studying engineering since he was in Year 9.
Ben joined UQ’s Young Achievers Program in high school, and he said that helped him cement his path to UQ.
UQ student and Kev Carmody House resident Ben Hyson
UQ student and Kev Carmody House resident Ben Hyson
He is also lucky enough to be receiving another scholarship to help cover his accommodation at Kev Carmody House.
“Being the first in my family to attend university, that extra support has been amazing,” he said.
“The experience with the Young Achievers Program made it so much easier to come to university and much less daunting.”
Media: communications@uq.edu.au; +61 (0)429 056 139.
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