The 2021 recipient of the Arcadia Indigenous Landscape Architecture Scholarship has been announced. Laree Barney, a proud Kalkatungu woman with connections to Winnam has been awarded the honour after impressing the panel with her deep passion for design and mature perspective.

As Laree shares: “I was drawn to this degree because I am passionate about sustainability, design, and the ongoing Care of Country using First Nations knowledge.”

I am honoured to have been awarded Arcadia’s scholarship while I’m studying Landscape Architecture at QUT.”

Laree has already commenced her first year of Landscape Architecture studies at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The scholarship offers support and mentoring from the studio’s Queensland team throughout her studies.

Arcadia Landscape Architecture has offices in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and first established the scholarship program in 2017. Partnered with eight universities across Australia, Arcadia launched the program when Principals Alex Longley and Michael Barnett recognised that there was poor representation of First Peoples in the industry.

The intention is to encourage Indigenous students to consider a career in landscape architecture, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the industry has proper representation. It is in this way landscape architecture can create meaningful spaces which truly care for Country and consider authentic custodianship and shared knowledge.

All Indigenous students enrolled in AILA-accredited Landscape Architecture programs are invited to apply for an Arcadia scholarship. Each scholarship will provide support to each student for the duration of the course.

Portrait photo by Nikita Pere