Lumen Autumn 2017 - Flipbook - Page 33
story by Kelly Brown
When Lumen featured alumnus Shouwn Oosting in 2003, he was
graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce while breaking new ground
as the University’s 昀椀rst Indigenous mace bearer. Since then Shouwn
has leveraged his education to pursue what he is really passionate
about – improving outcomes for Aboriginal people.
A
s an Aboriginal person, Shouwn
Oosting is only too aware of the
struggles of his elders to create
opportunities and improve outcomes for
Aboriginal people. Shouwn’s mother is
a member of the Stolen Generation and
through the story of her upbringing and
the challenges she faced, he realised early
on that you need to grab opportunities in
life – and that includes a good education.
Shouwn commenced a Bachelor of
Commerce in 2000 and a year into the
degree applied to take on a Bachelor of
Laws and complete a double degree.
“I thought commerce and law would
provide me with a really robust education
and help me develop critical thinking
which would be a nice fit with the career
pathway that I had in mind. So I put my
hand up for it and got in … I started the
double degree in 2002,” says Shouwn.
During the double degree, Shouwn
made a successful application to
participate in an Indigenous Cadetship
Program with the Crown Solicitor’s Office
within the Attorney General’s Department.
The cadetship was strongly connected to
the law program so he could practically
apply what he was learning.
“The cadetship program was very
structured and a lot of the placements I
did within the Crown were directly related
to what I was studying.
“I honestly believe that the cadetship
was the difference in me completing
the law program.”
At the time he was studying, to practice
law in South Australia graduates were
required to complete the Bachelor of Laws
and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
as well as a practical placement with a
registered law firm. In 2006 Shouwn had
a couple of electives left of his law degree,
he had started the graduate diploma,
he was working full-time and raising a
young family. Life was hectic.
“It was quite challenging – but I had a
very clear goal,” says Shouwn.
Near the end of his cadetship, Shouwn
identified an employment opportunity with
the Department of Health, as a Senior
Project Officer within the Aboriginal Health
Workforce Development unit. This role
really appealed to Shouwn because it
provided an opportunity to work in a very
important area. It was a difficult decision
to make and would mean, for the time
being, moving away from the legal sector.
“My manager at the Crown Solicitor’s
said to me, ‘so what do you really want
to do? What is the thing that really drives
you?’ And I said, ‘this role really interests
me’. So he encouraged me to have a
crack at it.”
Shouwn still finished his law degree
and the Graduate Diploma in Legal
Practice, and in 2009 gained admission
as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme
Court of South Australia.
Since 2010, Shouwn has been working
at the Department of State Development
(formerly the Department of Further
Education, Employment, Science and
Technology) as a Principal Consultant.
Much of Shouwn’s current role is
around policy coordination and strategy
development, supporting implementation
of the State Government’s policy to
improve employment outcomes for
Aboriginal people.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of rewarding,
challenging work – and there’s still
plenty to be done and I’m keen to keep
chipping away.
“At the moment I’m doing what I love
doing. I get out of bed excited about the
day ahead and that’s a really powerful
position to be in.”
Another area that Shouwn is passionate
about and actively involved in is
Reconciliation. He is the Chairperson of
Campbelltown Council’s Reconciliation
Above: Shouwn Oosting with his three children,
Jerome (back), and twins Joshua (left) and Isaac
at graduation in 2003
Left: Alumnus Shouwn Oosting
Photo by Russell Millard
Advisory Committee, a volunteer position
that he finds very rewarding.
“I love being involved in the
Reconciliation movement because I
think that’s where we are going to see
generational impact and generational
change – but we need to bring all
Australians on the Reconciliation journey
to be effective.”
In addition to Shouwn’s dedication to
improving outcomes for Aboriginal people,
Shouwn is also devoted to his family. His
eldest son is now 17 and in year 12, and
he has twin boys in year 10.
“My kids are certainly at the top of my
agenda and particularly now it’s about
making sure they make the best possible
decisions to give themselves lifelong
opportunities. In many ways, it’s doing
what my parents did – it’s role modelling
and setting strong values around
education and work.”
The University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 31
