Anniversary of Charles Perkins’ University Graduation Ceremony

11 May 1966

An education milestone

On 11 May 1966, Charles Perkins attended his graduation ceremony at the University of Sydney. The university identifies this date in its photograph of Perkins with his family and its account of the fiftieth anniversary.

This calendar marks the ceremony. Reports of completing degree requirements and the formal graduation event can carry different dates; they should not be treated as the same milestone.

Education alongside activism

Perkins entered the University of Sydney in 1963 and studied for a Bachelor of Arts. The university recognises him as the first Aboriginal man to graduate from an Australian university. This wording should not erase the separate achievements of Aboriginal women.

While a student, he helped lead the 1965 Freedom Ride, which challenged racial discrimination in regional New South Wales. His education and activism developed together, rather than belonging to unrelated stages of his life.

The Charlie Perkins Scholarship Trust describes the determination and work involved in his studies and his sporting background. His graduation was also a family achievement, reflected in the photograph used by the university to remember the occasion.

Opportunity, responsibility and institutional change

The anniversary provides an opportunity to recognise achievement while asking what conditions made university access difficult for Aboriginal people. A pioneering graduate’s success should not be taken to mean that barriers had disappeared.

Perkins went on to contribute to Aboriginal affairs and public administration. His legacy includes challenging institutions as well as working within them. The Freedom Ride has its own calendar entry; this date gives education a clear place in the story.

For school or workplace learning, connect the historical milestone with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students’ aspirations today. Explore scholarship programmes, community support and the role of universities in recognising Indigenous knowledge and leadership.

Use the ceremony date accurately, credit photographs and avoid presenting one person’s experience as the path every student must follow. Education achievements are part of a wider history of families and communities creating opportunities and expecting institutions to change.

Sources and further reading

• Graduation photograph and anniversary account, 11 May 1966 — University of Sydney
• History of Charlie Perkins — Charlie Perkins Scholarship Trust
• Who is Charles Perkins? — University of Sydney

Our related products and resources

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