Uplifting a community, one young person at a time
CQUniversity Bachelor of Social Work student Bree-Anna Saltner is committed to using her education to empower others and be an advocate for First Nations youth in regional Queensland.
As a proud Ghungalu and Wulli Wulli woman, Bree-Anna said she was guided by the experiences of her own upbringing which inspired her from a young age to uplift others.
“My passion for social work stems from my personal experiences and having positive family role models that taught me about the sense of community and helping others,” Bree-Anna said.
“I want to be that support for others who might not know where to turn.”
Bree-Anna said she was first introduced to CQUniversity through her previous role as Program Manager with the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) - an organisation that partnered with CQU to host on-campus program days.
“I spent time on the CQU Gladstone campus through my work with AIME, and I always felt welcome there. The staff were supportive, the energy was positive and I knew it was the right environment for me to pursue my degree,” she said.
“Studying has been hard at times, but the support from my family, friends and mentors has been amazing.
“The CQU Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Program, alongside my tutor Jennifer Perry, have been especially instrumental. Connecting with others in my course has also helped me push through.”
Bree-Anna also received support with a CQUniCares CQID Vocational Education and Training Scholarship in her first year of study, and subsequent CQU Dare2be Deadly (D2BD) scholarships which provided financial aid particularly throughout her mandatory field placements.
As she prepares to complete the last placement of her degree, Bree-Anna has clear goals for how she hopes to make an impact on the lives of those around her.
“I’m committed to helping people in my community, particularly by working with young people, to build social and emotional wellbeing skills,” she said.
“My goal is to help them unlock their full potential and create lasting, positive change.”
This commitment was recently recognised with Bree-Anna receiving a 2025 Gladstone NAIDOC Award in the Education category.
The award recognises individuals who make a difference in the lives of First Nations peoples.
“I didn’t even know I’d been nominated! It is such an honour. It feels good to know that people can already see the value in the work I’ve been doing,” she said
“The work I’ve done has always been a team effort. None of this is done in isolation.
“One of the most rewarding parts has been working in high schools - teaching students about the true history of Australia, about identity and giving them tools for emotional resilience.
“It’s all about authenticity, truth-telling and creating safe spaces where young people feel heard. That’s how we start to see real change.”
