Campion College Australia’s 2024 graduates had the opportunity to hear Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price as she shared her experiences and words of wisdom in an Occasional Address at the college’s 17th graduation ceremony on 17 December.
Located in Old Toongabbie, in the Diocese of Parramatta, Campion College is an independent institution of higher education. It offers an undergraduate liberal arts program including theology, history and philosophy subjects, and considers social, spiritual and residential life as part of the fabric of a complete higher education experience.
Speaking to the graduating class, Senator Price challenged students to embrace their education as both a privilege and a responsibility to live lives of courage, conviction, and service.
“Your education gives you freedom – freedom to choose, to contribute, and to build something meaningful,” Senator Price told the graduates.
“Not everyone in this world has had the chance to receive what you’ve been given, and it’s now your responsibility to give back.”
Drawing on her mother’s powerful story, Senator Price shared how education became a lifeline, transforming her mother’s life from one defined by cultural limitations to one of success and influence.
“Raised in accordance with traditional Aboriginal customs, my mother stared down the barrel of a polygamous marriage at just 14 years old. But education changed everything. It empowered her and gave her choices. She never took that freedom for granted – and neither should you.”
Addressing the challenges of today’s culture, Senator Price encouraged graduates to stand firm in the values they have learned at Campion College.
“Far from being ashamed of our heritage, we should recognise that it has shaped what is best about Australia and the Western world. These values – freedom of thought, equality before the law, and respect for the dignity of every person – are what have allowed our society to flourish.”
In a world often divided by identity and ideology, Senator Price called on students to embrace their role as future leaders.
“Whether or not you hold a formal title, you have a role to play. You are the future of this country – parents, teachers, employers, and politicians. The world needs people who are willing to speak the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. If you say nothing out of fear of upsetting others, you’ll end up saying nothing of weight or significance at all.”
Senator Price’s words resonated deeply with graduates, who celebrated their achievements in the college’s new academic centre, marking both the culmination of their studies and the beginning of their next chapter.
Colin Shah, who was awarded the College Medal for academic excellence, expressed gratitude on behalf of the Class of 2024 for the education and formation they had received and echoed Senator Price’s sentiments on the duty to give back: “We leave here armed with the wisdom of 2,500 years of the Western tradition. Though the world may resist these values, we are called to live them out with courage and conviction.”
As the ceremony concluded with a blessing from Rev Fr Conor Power – a graduate of the Class of 2008 and principal celebrant of the graduation Mass that took place beforehand – the graduates were reminded of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Senator Price’s parting words served as both encouragement and a call to action: “The world needs people who are willing to stand firm in the truth. Don’t underestimate the importance of saying what needs to be said and doing what must be done.”
Through collaborative partnerships, cultural awareness initiatives, pastoral support, and advocacy for justice and reconciliation, the Diocese of Parramatta endeavours to honour and respect the unique cultural heritage of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities while promoting unity, understanding, and mutual respect. Read more about First Nations support on the Diocese of Parramatta’s website.
