Photo: Hermann Kollinger | Pixabay
Life started rough for Brendan Murray, a Palawa man living on the island of Tasmania. Murray’s mother belonged to the Stolen Generations and struggled with mental health issues. A tumultuous home environment and repeated childhood moves took a serious toll on Murray’s ability to learn how to read and write. When he found himself unable to complete a job application at the age of 26, Murray decided to take an adult literacy course at a local TAFE, which provides vocational education and training to Australians. However, going back to school was no picnic. "There were a lot of tears and I went back into that world of self-loathing," said Murray, who felt a lot of shame starting at a 10-year-old reading level. However, with support from his partner, he overcame the challenges and difficulties, including avoidance and self-doubt. “She was just egging me on, and just being there to listen to me and give me a cuddle when it all got a bit hard for me," expressed Murray. Today, Murray is enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at the University of Tasmania and is hoping to pursue a doctorate. His story of courage and perseverance shows that it’s never too late to learn.
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