Kambala is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievement of Old Girl and proud Yolngu, Yawurru and Kidja woman, Kayla Baker-Peris (2018 cohort), who has been awarded a New Colombo Plan Scholarship and singled out for a First Nations Fellowship. This prestigious recognition reflects not only Kayla’s academic and professional excellence, but also her deep commitment to respect for culture, community and learning, a value that sits at the heart of Kambala life.
The New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program supports Australian undergraduate students to strengthen Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy through extended programs of study, language learning and internships. Its intended outcomes are to develop globally capable Australians who can engage thoughtfully with the Indo-Pacific region, contribute to Australia’s strategic interests, and maintain long-term connections with the region through continued learning and engagement.
Being selected for a New Colombo Plan Scholarship is a highly competitive achievement. Kayla’s selection, alongside her recognition through a First Nations Fellowship, highlights her capacity to engage respectfully with diverse cultures and perspectives while bringing a strong sense of identity, responsibility and leadership to her work. The Fellowship recognises her commitment to honouring First Nations knowledge and voices, and to strengthening cross-cultural understanding through lived experience and meaningful engagement. From April this year, Kayla has continued her studies in Gifu Japan, where she will complete her Honors Double Degree in Communications and International Studies.
Kayla’s journey to this point began at Kambala, where she spent six years as a boarder through a Yalari scholarship. As the second Indigenous student to graduate from Kambala, she carries this milestone with humility and purpose. From the outset, she demonstrated a profound respect for opportunity and education, embracing the challenges of boarding life with determination and gratitude.
For the past three years, alongside her full-time study, Kayla has returned to Kambala as a Boarding Supervisor, where she leads with empathy, integrity and care. She honours each boarder’s individual story, creating an environment where girls feel supported, valued and encouraged to be themselves. Her leadership reflects the understanding that respect is lived through listening, consistency and compassion.
Kayla’s achievements align strongly with Kambala’s mission to challenge and nurture every girl to realise her full potential while embracing diversity and fostering inclusion. Kayla has lived her journey openly, ethically and with purpose.
Her story stands as a powerful example to the Kambala community of how respect, when practised with authenticity and courage, can open pathways, strengthen communities and create meaningful impact well beyond the school gates.