Maddy Sealey Reflects on the 2024 US Study Tour

Madelaine (Maddy) Sealey is a proud Wurundjeri woman who is passionate about education and advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In April 2024, she was a participant on the Aurora US Study Tour and explored the opportunities available for her to pursue her PhD in public policy and community development. Travelling to Arizona, Boston, and New York, Maddy  met with academics, immersed herself in the culture of different cities and universities, and gained invaluable insight into what undertaking postgraduate study in the US is like as an Indigenous student.

This is the first time Aurora has taken scholars to Arizona as part of the US Study Tour. We made the decision to introduce the University of Arizona (UoA) to the tour because of the extensive support they offer First Nations students with its pastoral programs and its academic options, which are run through the Native Nations Institute. For Maddy, the University of Arizona gave her an opportunity to explore PhD research streams that are aligned with her interests. She reflected:

“As a result of my meetings [with academic staff], I learnt about two PhD programs which would allow me to undertake research in my preferred focus areas relating to regional and national development processes and First Nations communities. Each of the academics I met with provided helpful feedback in relation to how to tailor my research proposal and application to ensure a successful application for future study at the University and in their programs. They were enthusiastic about my areas of interest for future research… and were happy to be listed as potential PhD supervisors, if I were to apply for a PhD program at UoA.”

The University of Arizona also presented scholars with a unique opportunity to visit the Tohono O’odham nation. Maddy described this as her favourite part of the Arizona leg of the Tour: “I felt incredibly blessed and privileged that we were invited onto the Tohono Oʼodham reservation. We were given a tour of the reservation and oral presentation of the services and provisions of the Tohono Oʼodham nation. It was inspiring to see the level of autonomy and self-determination the nation has in managing its own services on the reservation. Strong parallels were also evident in terms of certain shared experiences for both the Tohono Oʼodham people and Indigenous Australia.”

Maddy participating in a workshop at the University of Arizona.

The Study Tour then travelled to the East Coast, where their first stop was to New York City to visit New York University and Columbia University. Maddy spent her time speaking with academics and university admissions staff, exploring the city’s infamous sites, and meeting current Aurora scholars studying and living in New York.

“The New York leg of the tour was amazing. I went to shows, had dinner with current Aurora scholars, and explored some of the sites. Because we had more free time to explore, I got a better sense of the New York lifestyle and subway system and could see myself living in New York as a postgraduate student. Meeting with the scholars already living there was particularly helpful for understanding what life would be like in New York.”

The scholars finished the tour in Boston, where they visited Harvard and MIT. Maddy found the last leg of the tour to be the most relaxed, and she had more opportunities to explore the city. For her, the best part of going to Boston was visiting the university campuses and taking a walking tour of Salem, which helped her envisage herself as a postgraduate student living in the US.

“Harvard had an amazing village feel with plenty to offer students and visitors alike. It felt like a very welcoming and inclusive university environment despite its reputation as one of America’s most prestigious institutions. We had an opportunity to visit MIT, which is at the forefront of science and technological research and development initiatives. It was fascinating to see the work they are doing in A1 technology, robotics, stem cell research, engineering, architecture, and more.”

As Maddy considers her next steps for postgraduate study in the US, she shared some words of encouragement for other First Nations scholars looking to pursue higher education overseas:

“For anyone thinking about applying for the tour, do it! The Aurora Study Tour is an incredible way to explore your overseas study options in a highly supported way. I loved sharing this experience with other tour participants and have made valuable connections and new friends as a result of the tour. By experiencing the different universities and cities first hand, I got a sense of how everyday life would look like as an international student living in the US, through my personal experiences on the tour using the subways, visiting places of interest in each city, engaging with academics and attending lectures at the different Universities. I was also able to learn a lot from Aurora scholars currently studying in the US based on their experiences. I now feel equipped to make an informed decision and am excited for the next steps!”

The Aurora International Study Tour is a unique overseas program that takes First Nations students to the UK and the US to explore their opportunities for postgraduate study at some of the world’s most prestigious universities. The US Study Tour is held in March/April and includes visits to Columbia, Harvard, and New York University. The UK Study Tour is held in October/November and includes visits to Cambridge, University College London, and Oxford.

Applications for the 2024/25 Aurora Study Tours are currently closed. You can learn more about the program here.