As a previous resident of the Far North Coast (FNC) of NSW, I have fostered many links with my local community. I have been involved with many of the community activities and groups throughout my schooling. Within Lismore I have participated in a number of cultural events, namely the Lismore Lantern Parade where I helped design, build, and carry many of the lanterns, including the Bundjalung Rainbow Serpent and fish floats. As the commercial and cultural centre point of the FNC, the Lismore Lantern Parade celebrates the area’s rich involvement in the arts and proud engagement with our Indigenous heritage, in which I believe founded my values. Residing in the extremely small community of Tregeagle, I have consistently helped with conservation efforts regarding native flora and fauna. This has been in the form of flora control (planting native trees and removing noxious weeds particularly camphor laurel) as a participant of the Tregeagle Land Care Group - a small section of the Richmond Land Care Group. In terms of native fauna conservation, I have aided my family in monitoring Koala populations for the Friends of the Koala group; which has also included the planting of ‘buffer’ trees to help aid Koala health. Through this communal volunteer work I have learnt hard work, endurance and team work is key when completing such jobs. On a personal level, my relationship with our family mare espouses my connection to home. In 2011 my family received an abused and maltreated horse, in which I was able to help in the re-establishment of a trusted relationship. This represented a growth period in my life where, after numerous injuries and diligence, we achieved a rapport that has endured since. This is important to my country identity, as it represents to me a certain strength and perseverance that I developed, and since carried into my studies and extracurricular. In addition to these ties I have also shown a preparedness to engage in rural communities on a larger scale. In 2014 I volunteered with the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation (ACF) and travelled to Kiribati. Before my travels, I rose awareness and money for HPV vaccines, and upon arrival I refurbished and built an extension of the Women’s Health Centre. My experiences in Kiribati reflect my willingness to converse with rural communities in all contexts; even on a transnational basis. However, whilst I have grown up in close proximity to nature and the Australian bushland, I also had the opportunity to attend boarding school in Brisbane, Queensland. Having to live in a communal area from the age of 13 has instilled in myself a strong belief in family values and, as such has shaped character into a strong, independent young woman. More recently I moved to Sydney to complete a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Fine Arts at UNSW. Studying both degrees, although conflicting at times, has shaped and improved my creativity, problem solving, and overall perception.