Mikayla King achieved her dream of becoming a teacher with the support of a scholarship from ECU
Applying for a scholarship can be the first step towards your future
Edith Cowan University (ECU) has scholarships to help students access higher education and achieve their study goals by providing essential financial support.
Early childhood education graduate and Kalkadoon and Indjalandi-Dhidhanu woman Mikayla King achieved her dream of becoming a teacher with the support of the ECU Vice Chancellor's Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Scholarship.
Ms King is proud to be the first in her family to graduate university.
Supportive learning environment
Ms King, who now works full time as a classroom teacher at Moorditj Noongar Community College and owns her own Aboriginal consultancy business, praised the quality teaching and support offered by ECU.
"I formed really great two-way relationships with my lecturers. They all came from teaching backgrounds, so were able to pass on knowledge from their own experience of classrooms and early learning settings," Ms King said.
"As the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Scholarship recipient, my lecturers and my school deans took the time to listen to any feedback I had on how teaching Aboriginal students was integrated into the course, which showed me that ECU cares about providing accessible and equitable learning opportunities for everyone."
Gain confidence through experience
The integration of practical placements and in-classroom teaching allowed Ms King to put theory into practice.
"My practical placements reinforced what I had learnt during lectures and tutorials," Ms King said.
"In my final practicum, I took on a full-time teaching load, which allowed me to get into a good routine of working within a classroom. This gave me the confidence to walk straight into a teaching role at the end of my degree."
Ms King gained full-time employment straight after her final practicum placement with ECU.
Since receiving her scholarship, Mikayla was awarded the 2019 Midland NAIDOC Education and Arts Person of the Year and the Early Childhood Australia Barbara Creaser Young Advocate Award for her work as an educator and with the community through her business, Aboriginal Education Solutions.
Excellent student support
ECU offers a variety of support for students throughout their studies, from the helpful staff at the Student Hub to a range of services including peer mentoring, career advisers, volunteer programs, student success, health services, counselling, equity, diversity and disability services, study overseas programs and Kurongkurl Katitjin, a dedicated Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research.
A range of scholarships offered by ECU can be used to cover the costs associated with university, including textbooks, travel and other expenses.
To find a scholarship that suits you, visit ecuworldready.com.au/scholarships
Quality teaching
- ECU's focus on putting students first has been recognised by the 2023 Good Universities Guide, which awarded the University a five-star rating for teaching quality for 16 years in a row - one of only two public universities in Australia to achieve this.
- ECU was also rated five stars and the best in Western Australia for overall experience, skills development, student support and learning resources.
