Stawell Secondary College year 12 student Tanisha Lovett completes Nura Gili Winter School program for indigenous students at the University of New South Wales.

Ms Lovett took part in the week-long indigenous Nura Gili Winter School program where she experienced art and design courses, as well as life on campus.

The program allows indigenous students from years 10 to 12 an opportunity to experience life at a university in Sydney.

Its aim is to encourage indigenous students to continue their education after high school.

Ms Lovett lives in Halls Gap and is part of the Gunditjmara Wotjobaluk.

“I thought the university was amazing,” she said.

“It definitely gave me an insight and kind of motivated me to want to keep going throughout the year.”

Ms Lovett said she spent three days at the art and design building.

“We did a different thing each day,” she said.

“The first day we did painting and sculpting, the second day we did etching and the last day we did stop-motion animation.

“I really liked the people and the support system they had up there.”

Teacher Riana Tatana acted as Ms Lovett’s mentor and helped organised her participation.

“I attended the University of New South Wales where the program is held,” she said.

“I’m an indigenous woman, I’m Bundjalung, and if you are an indigenous student at the university you get the opportunity to be a mentor as part of the Winter School.

“For the full week the students pick subjects or a course that they might be interested in studying for a career.”

Ms Tatana said the students were fully immersed in the university.

“They basically become university students,” she said.

“They sleep there as college students and each day they did activities.

“Tanisha experienced all different genres of art, which will help allow her to decide which field she would want to enter if she did a degree at the university.”