Visionary Bunbury student selected for national competition

A Bunbury woman’s passion to see education transform indigenous communities has seen her selected as one of 20 to go forward in a national magazine’s Women of the Future competition.

Rebecca Roberts was interviewed by Women’s Weekly this week as part of their Women of the Future competition, open to women aged between 18 and 28 who have an inspirational dream which will benefit others.

The filmed interview will be viewed by a panel of prominent Australian women who will decide which 15 women should progress to a public vote.

Two winners — one chosen by the public and one by the judges — will win $20,000 each to put their dream into action.

Mrs Roberts, who is studying in Perth to become a teacher, said she had seen the way education could transform communities when she visited Africa in 2007.

In 2011, Mrs Roberts visited Wyndham in the Kimberley as part of her teaching degree and has since wanted to help alleviate disadvantages in indigenous communities.

“If I was selected I would use the money to run a school holiday program for some of the kids that I met when I was in Wyndham,” she said.

“It’s something I would really like to do but I haven’t had the money or resources to do it yet.”

The semi-finalists from the competition will be announced on July 31.