Mikaela Richardson may have some fun with goat racing each year but she's also serious about making the most of her studies as a BMA Community Scholarship holder...

Mikaela is one of CQUniversity's students who have gained assistance from the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) Community Scholarship program* aimed at encouraging students from mining areas who are interested in 'non-mining' disciplines.

LINK also to BMA scholarship holders recognised during student awards 

BMA's Mary Bulger with Community Scholarship recipient Mikaela Richardson

Originally from Barcaldine (where she was school captain at the local state school) and more recently from Blackwater (where she worked a gap year job for a company called RBK as an operator at BMA Blackwater), Mikaela is now based at the student residences on Rockhampton Campus and is enrolled in the Bachelor of Environmental Science.

"My year in Blackwater has made me interested in coming back after uni, especially to be involved with the environment and land rehab," she says.

"I am also very interested in just working in rural areas as well. Then in later years I would like to be more involved with animals and habitats and conservation. I would even like to have my own business one day but we will see.

"The best features of my degree so far have been the content I have been learning, especially in my ENVR11011 class which outlines all environmental issues and the way things work and so on," Mikaela says.

Mikaela (pictured in white) winning a heat during the goat races held each May Day weekend as part of the Tree of Knowledge Festival in Barcaldine

"I would like to obtain further certificates/degrees in something like wildlife management or marine science."

Mikaela's key milestones include completing a Certificate 2 and 3 in Community Recreation while still in school, becoming a pool lifesaver and Austswim teacher, completing a gap year in the mines as an operator, moving away from home and now starting her university challenge.

"Outside of study my hobbies include netball, touch football, horse riding, waterskiing when I can, photography, guitar, road tripping, bush walking, and hanging out with mates.

"I'm interested in joining community conservation/wildlife associations and I am thinking of applying for the Volunteer Eco Students Aboard program.

"I just competed in the Australian goat racing championships in Barcaldine and came third on my goat named Buddy. It's my fourth year racing goats."

LINK for more BMA scholar presentation photos

* Each of the scholarships provide up to $5000 per year to cover educational expenses for the duration of the recipients' study programs. The BMA scholarships were designed to alleviate skills shortages and build capacity in key service areas throughout the communities in which BMA operates. They encourage increased enrolments from people with disabilities, those who are female, those of low socio-economic status, those who are rural or remotely located, or those who identify as being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. Details are available at www.cqu.edu.au/bma .