Since graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor of Laws from CQUniversity, we check in with Margaret Hornagold on what she has been up to since graduating and how an Arrow Energy Go Further Indigenous Scholarship positively impacted her studies.
Can you tell us a little about you?
I am an Aboriginal woman who has two adult children and two grandchildren. I am also a Traditional Owner of the Barada, Kabalbara and Yetimarala people from Central Queensland on my fathers’ side. I hold a Bachelor of Law, a Bachelor of Arts and several other Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.
I completed my Bachelor of Laws at CQUni in 2015. The course was done online, and I enjoyed studying it this way.
Why did you choose to study the Bachelor of Law? Was there anyone inspired or motivated you? What did you enjoy most about your course?
Law has always interested me and when the opportunity arose to study, I took it. I enjoyed being able to return to full-time study some 30 years since I had done my first degree and being able to keep pace and master new study modes and the rigour of law.
Are you the first person in your immediate family (parents, siblings, and children) to attend university?
Yes, I am the first person in my family to attend university.
What made you choose CQUni? How has studying changed your life?
I lived in Rockhampton and given my previous associations with CQUni; I chose to study there. Study has enabled me to gain qualifications and skills and enabled me to be competitive with other people in the job market.
Can you share with us what reason/ circumstance made you apply for an Arrow Energy Scholarship?
The scholarship assisted with the costs of textbooks and fees and when the chance arose to apply, I took it. These opportunities don’t come around too often, and I decided to have a go and I was fortunate to get the scholarship.
How did receiving an Arrow Energy Scholarship positively impact your studies/ family life?
It provided an immediate impact in that I could purchase the textbooks needed and I could get on with my study. There was a waiting list for second-hand textbooks at the CQUni Bookshop and the Library for the books relevant to my course of study and this put a lot of students behind in their preparations and assignments. It also meant that I could focus on my studies and not worry about having money for general living.
To what extend did it help you to give more time and attention to your studies?
It helped significantly whereby it enabled me to focus entirely on my study and not have the additional worries or stress about where money might be found to help me study and learn.
What are your hopes and aspirations for the future? What have you been up to since graduating?
I now work with Legal Aid Qld in Brisbane as a Senior Advisor in Policy and First Nations issues. Holding a law degree certainly helped in applying for a job at Legal Aid Qld where I was initially engaged as a Community Legal Education Officer.
Although I was not able to do my PLT to move to admission as a solicitor due to my husband’s health, the knowledge and understanding of law has assisted me in working with legal practitioners at LAQ.
“Arrow Energy are to be commended on their support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through the scholarship. I found the staff at Arrow Energy to be helpful and supportive and I hope that the partnership between tertiary institutions and Arrow Energy continues and grows.”
The CQUniCares Scholarship program changes lives and we are so grateful to partner with organisations like Arrow Energy who share our passion for making a difference in the lives of our students, their families and our communities.
Students are encouraged to check out the many scholarships currently OPEN for Term 1, 2021. Visit www.cqu.edu.au/scholarships for further details, including individual eligibility criteria and upcoming closing dates.
