Rewriting the narrative  

Growing up as a First Nations child, Tracey heard the same message again and again – that university “wasn’t for us”. While that belief initially held her back, today, she stands proudly a proud James Cook University (JCU) alumna, and shares her expertise with Sunwater as a First Nations Engagement Specialist in our Townsville office. 

In late March 2026, Tracey experienced a powerful full‑circle moment, delivering the Occasional Address at the JCU College of Arts, Society and Education graduation ceremony in Townsville – where she herself graduated two years ago with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English and Indigenous Studies. It is an honour she says she will carry with her for a very long time. 

Stepping onto the graduation stage felt surreal. “The pursuit of knowledge has always been my driving force – even when the world tried to convince me it wasn’t meant for me,” Tracey reflects. 

She credits her family with shifting her trajectory – reminding her that First Nations stories, intellect and voices belong in every room, including academia. Their belief helped her rewrite the narrative she had inherited. 

Now, she’s unstoppable. With her degree behind her, Tracey is already dreaming bigger, with plans for further study in ecology or environmental science – driven by a deep responsibility to protect Country, especially water, our lifeblood and sacred inheritance. 

Here’s to lifelong learning, to Country, and to rewriting the stories we were once told about who we can be.