A kindergarten dream turns reality for University of Newcastle law graduate
With a dream to become a lawyer since kindergarten, Sapphire Dawson persevered to pursue a Law degree, overcoming the initial setback of not meeting the necessary entry score.
With assistance from Yapug, a University of Newcastle pathway program designed to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people gain skills for undergraduate degrees, Sapphire, who is a Yuin Indigenous woman earned entry into her dream degree.
Sapphire will celebrate another milestone achievement at graduation, being the first in her family to graduate.
“I have shown my cousins that they can do it too and inspired them to also go to university,” she said.
Sapphire’s kindergarten dream recently came full circle when she relocated to Canberra to join the legal team at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Sapphire will graduate from the Faculty of Business and Law at a ceremony on Friday 13 April at 2pm.
Related news
- Blak Excellence Learning Exchange – “From the Sea to the Desert”
- Wukul Yabang Recognised as Finalist in the Indigenous Governance Awards
- Australia’s social media age restrictions show limited early impact, new research finds
- Women in engineering shine at University of Newcastle’s Callaghan graduation
- University of Newcastle ranked in the top 30 globally in the 2026 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.