Kristyn Comino
26 March 2014: Summing it up as an "incredible trip" University of Canberra law and politics student Michael McCagh was one of just 17 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students chosen for the 32-day Aurora Indigenous Scholars International Study Tour in October last year, which has inspired him to make a difference in the legal industry.
Visiting universities including Stanford, Columbia, New York, Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge, Mr McCagh said he saw snow on campus in Boston, admired the jarrah wood and marble of the Australian High Commission in London and stood in awe at the scale of a Manhattan law firm.
"There were too many highlights of the tour to name one favourite," he said. "Just seeing the universities themselves was incredible and it was really helpful to meet with their top academics and students, who provided guidance on how to apply for such highly regarded institutions."
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UC student Michael McCagh described the Aurora Indigenous Scholars International Study Tour as "incredible". Photo: Cameron Murray |
Mr McCagh is now considering applying to study at one of these top universities, after recently completing his five-year Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Canberra.
"It is a relief to be finished, it's been a long road but well worth it. To be a successful student isn't easy and involves a lot of hard work and late nights, but the best kinds of students should be challenged, and want to be challenged."
The 27-year-old is already cementing himself as a bright young mind in the Australian legal field, having returned to his home state of Western Australia to work as an associate to Justice Andrew Beech in the Supreme Court. He has also secured a position for the following year as a Victorian Government Solicitor. Mr McCagh's personal life is also busy, as he is engaged to fellow Indigenous University graduate Caitlyn Hogan, who studied education.
Originally from Perth, Mr McCagh was raised by his mother as his father passed away when he was three years old. He looked up to his Indigenous grandfather, of the Yued people, who passed away when he was a teenager, describing him as "the father figure in my life."
His grandfather was a former athletics coach, and Mr McCagh himself has represented Australia as a race walker in Canada, Russia and Germany in the World Walking Cup, World Under 18 Championships and World Walking Challenge, before retiring in 2007. He originally moved to Canberra as part of a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport before deciding to study at the University of Canberra.
"The University helped me develop as a person, and prepared me with practical skills that have helped in the workplace, such as teaching me how to write a client letter, practising mooting in the e-Court and the team work activities."
Mr McCagh decided to focus on a career in law because: "I recognised that it opens up so many avenues and would be useful to have if I want to do something big, something significant."
"Law is an area where Indigenous people aren't well-represented. Large law firms don't have Indigenous leaders and there's only one Indigenous judge in the whole country. Hopefully I can help change that," he said.
"The more people who reach positions of power, the more likely it is that young Indigenous children will think one day they can too."
The study tour ran from 27 October to 28 November 2013 and is part of The Aspiration Initiative (TAI), supported by the University through the Aurora Project. The TAI includes a variety of projects and scholarships aimed at increasing opportunities and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Read more in our previous online article on Michael McCagh and in the upcoming printed version of Monitor which will be available on campus soon.
