Kellis is one of our 2020 Leadership Competition winners. You can check out her winning entry here and her bio below.
Age: 16 years old
Grade: Year 10
Home Community/Town: Ernabella/Pukatja community
Why did you enter Country to Canberra’s Leadership Competition?
I entered the C2C competition because I care about empowering girls and keeping my community strong. Indigenous people have important stories to tell and for Australia to hear. This competition is a good place for this.
What do you hope to get out of C2C on Screen?
I am excited to meet new people and to learn more about the trip to Canberra next year.
Who is your role model and why?
My role model is my mum because she cares for me and supports and teaches me to be strong and a leader in my community.
What’s your favourite thing about living in rural Australia?
I live in the outback, it is a beautiful place. Living here I can learn about culture and go on bush trips. When we go on trips we go hunting for tinka and ngintaka (goanna), malu (kangaroo), and kalaya (emu), and dig for maku (witchetty grubs) and tjala (honey ants).
What’s your main goal or ambition (right now, or in the future)?
My main goal right now is to finish school and complete SACE, no-one has completed SACE in my community since 2006. After I have completed school, I would love to become a midwife because it is a great job, I would be able to support mothers and babies.
Tell us a couple of things you do to relax or have fun?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, we tell stories and laugh together. I also enjoy watching movies and going for afternoon walks around community.