Skip to:

Jasmine Russell

Mission Possible

Bachelor of Social Work undergraduate Jasmine Russell wasn’t on a pathway to university when as a student at high school in Mudgee, she was in the self-confessed “middle” academically. Told she would never manage university or keep up with her studies, her life changed when she was accepted into the Senior girls’ leadership camp through the Oorala centre at UNE. This encouraged Jasmine to prove her doubters wrong and to work harder towards being accepted into UNE.

Arriving at Earle Page College, Jasmine threw herself into everything she could, making numerous new friends along the way. Some of her non-academic activities included the Earle Page choir, the musical “Legally Blonde”, mixed volleyball and netball and the UNE Indigenous Students’ Association, of which she was later elected President.

A prime example of someone who disregards naysayers and through sheer determination achieves their goals, Jasmine has also benefitted from financial assistance through a Max Schroder scholarship, which has eased her financial concerns, and support from family in Mudgee and at UNE, friends, Earle Page College and the Oorala Centre.

Jasmine is clearly on a path to future success and hopes her degree will translate into working to support vulnerable Indigenous people. Her words of advice can be summed up with:

“Never take any notice of negative comments or feedback. If you want something enough, work for it. Nothing is impossible.”

Wise words indeed from first in family UNE undergraduate Jasmine Russell.

The University of New England respects and acknowledges that its people, courses and facilities are built on land, and surrounded by a sense of belonging, both ancient and contemporary, of the world's oldest living culture. In doing so, UNE values and respects Indigenous knowledge systems as a vital part of the knowledge capital of Australia. We recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of the Aboriginal community and pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future.