Charlie Kellahan, a proud Wiradjuri man from West Wyalong, was a successful recipient of the Woolyungah Accommodation Scholarship (WAS). Charlie learned about the scholarship through the October 2024 Indigenous Admissions Program intake.
Reflecting on the experience, Charlie shared, “The process of applying was easy and straightforward.” He was actually on his way home from Sydney after playing in the Pacifica Youth Rugby Cup when he received the email announcing his scholarship success. Sitting in the car with his mum, Charlie recalled how thrilled they both were to get the news — “We were over the moon.”
Charlie and his parents attended the Welcome to WAS event on Sunday, 9 February. Charlie described the event as exciting and said he felt incredibly welcomed. The smoking ceremony, in particular, left a strong impact on him, helping him feel grounded and connected.
Now living on campus at Kooloobong Village, Charlie shares a unit with three other identified Aboriginal students he met when he started university, all living off Country. They share household chores to keep their space clean — Charlie’s responsibilities include taking out the rubbish twice a week and wiping down the kitchen benches.
Charlie says he feels very settled at Kooloobong. He’s enjoying the many facilities available to residents, such as the indoor and outdoor cinemas, games and music rooms, and the small study spaces around. Despite these great amenities, Charlie spends most of his time at Woolyungah, where he feels most at home.
Living off Country for the first time, Charlie has embraced university life. He’s also joined the UOW Bulls rugby league team, where he’s enjoying making new connections beyond the Woolyungah community.