It is with great pleasure that we share the news that the third Missionary Sisters of Service scholarship, to be granted to a young First Nations woman, has been awarded to Alarna Page from Tasmania. This is a beautiful link with our MSS foundation and mission over 81 years. Alarna will undertake a Master of Theological Studies through the University of Divinity in Melbourne.
Alarna went to St James Catholic School in Cygnet, studied to be a teacher, and presently works as the Principal Aboriginal Consultant at CatholicCare in Hobart. Her work takes her across the state. Upon receiving the scholarship and having met with Stancea Vichie MSS and Bernadette Wallis MSS, Alarna shared the following words:
As a proud Melukerdee woman from lutruwita/trowunna/Tasmania, I carry with me the strength, stories, and responsibilities of my community. My life—both personal and professional—has been shaped by a deep commitment to cultural preservation, truth-telling, and reconciliation.
Over the years, I’ve served as a Primary School Teacher, Aboriginal Key Teacher, and now as the Principal Aboriginal Consultant at CatholicCare Tasmania. In this role, I lead cultural training, policy development, and community engagement initiatives. I also represent Tasmania as the Proxy Councillor for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) and contribute to reconciliation efforts through other church groups.
Receiving the Missionary Sisters of Service Scholarship to undertake a Master of Theological Studies through the University of Divinity is a significant milestone in my journey. This opportunity will enable me to deepen my understanding of theology and my passion for Aboriginal spirituality and strengthen my identity as an Aboriginal Catholic woman—an identity that has often felt like walking between worlds.
This study will affirm and nourish my faith journey while equipping me to inform and inspire others. I intend to use this learning to drive meaningful change within my organisation and beyond, fostering culturally safe spaces where Aboriginal Catholic people feel seen, heard, and spiritually supported.
This scholarship is not only an investment in my education, but in the future of cultural understanding and spiritual integration. It affirms the vital role of Aboriginal women in leadership, faith, and theological reflection. I am deeply grateful to the Missionary Sisters of Service for recognising the value of this journey, and I look forward to sharing what I learn with my community – continuing to walk the path of reconciliation with courage, compassion, and faith.
Stancea and Bernadette will spend some time with Alarna when they visit Hobart in August and carry with them the blessings of all the MSS community.
‘All of the MSS are thrilled for Alarna,’ says Stancea. ‘Together with our previous scholarship- recipients, Geraldine Vytilingam and Monique Saywell, Alarna is amongst this inspiring group of rising new leaders.
‘We look forward to keeping in touch and in sharing Alarna’s progress with our sisters, and our wider community.’
Photo courtesy Alarna Page.