Kalyna Markwell, a proud Narungga woman, has always known she wanted to help others – and now, with support from the CQUniCares SAMCo Renewable Energy Scholarship, she’s turning that passion into a career in clinical psychology grounded in community and culture.  

The scholarship is supported by Stanwell Asset Maintenance Company (SAMCo), a Queensland-based provider of operations and maintenance services for clean energy generation and storage.   

Designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Central Queensland, the scholarship reflects SAMCo’s commitment to investing in local talent and helping build stronger, more inclusive communities where it operates.  

“For us, it’s about more than energy,” says SAMCo General Manager Steve Clark. “It’s about creating opportunities for young people in the areas where we operate and giving back to the communities that support us. A diverse pipeline of talent is essential to SAMCo’s future, and to Queensland’s.”  

For Kalyna, the scholarship is both a practical and personal turning point.  

“It eases the financial pressures of full-time study, which means I can invest more time and energy into my coursework and thesis,” she says. “But more than that, it makes me feel like someone believes in me and the positive impact I’ll have in my community. For that, I’ll be eternally grateful.”  

Kalyna’s interest in psychology began early. At 11, she started seeing a counsellor herself – and by the time she was 12, her family had begun fostering children with complex emotional needs.  

“Becoming an older sister to children with such diverse psychological needs guided me to who I am today,” she says. “It gave me patience, empathy, resilience, and a deep interest in trauma and child development.”  

Now in her third year of a Bachelor of Psychological Science at CQUniversity, Kalyna is working towards clinical registration. Her goal is to provide culturally informed mental health support for communities across Central Queensland, particularly in First Nations communities.  

“There’s a real shortage of services in those areas, and so many barriers to accessing help,” she explains. “As someone who is part of the Stolen Generations, I have a personal interest in healing – through both clinical and cultural practice – to help break cycles of intergenerational trauma.”  

Professor Adrian Miller, CQUniversity Vice-President (Indigenous Engagement), says the scholarship reflects a shared commitment to lasting impact.  

“We’re deeply grateful to SAMCo for their generous partnership in establishing this scholarship,” he says. “Support like this empowers First Nations students to pursue their goals and helps drive meaningful change for future generations.”  

Kalyna says she hopes to one day collaborate with other First Nations psychologists and organisations to create more inclusive, community-focused models of care.  

“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health,” she says. “We need services that are effective, respectful and grounded in culture, especially when working within our own communities.”  

She credits her family, particularly her mother, as her biggest source of strength and inspiration.  

“My mum keeps going no matter what life throws at her, and she’s always helping others,” Kalyna says. “I just hope I can follow in her footsteps and make her proud.”  

With SAMCo’s backing, she’s well on her way.