26/11/2025. By Carmelle Wilkinson.
For William Peucker, discovering graphic design wasn’t just about finding a career – it was about coming home.
A proud Bardi man from the Pender Bay region in Western Australia, Will is in his final semester of a Bachelor of Design at Curtin University.
Thanks to the generosity of a stranger and the support of a Curtin Moorditj Maaman Scholarship, he’s been able to fully dedicate himself to his studies – and to a future grounded in art, healing, and community.
“Growing up, I never imagined I’d be in the position I am today,” Will said.
“University has been life-changing. It’s given me the tools to express who I am and to heal through my art.”
Raised in Esperance after spending his early childhood travelling around Australia, Will grew up disconnected from culture.
“My connection comes from my dad’s side, but my parents weren’t really connected to it either. I didn’t grow up knowing that part of myself,’’ he said.
That began to change when he arrived at Curtin and joined St Catherine’s College Dandjoo Darbalung program – a unique initiative supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through culturally safe accommodation and community.
Will with Program Coordinator at Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Brendon DeGois at the 2025 Curtin Scholarships Event.
There, Will found more than a place to live.
He found mob who embraced him with open arms – regardless of how strong or recent his cultural connection was.
“That’s where my journey of reconnection really began,” he said.
Last year, that reconnection deepened with a powerful return to Country.
Travelling to back to country in the Dampier Peninsula, Will experienced a profound sense of belonging.
“Driving into Country… it just felt different. You feel at home,” he said.
“It was healing being able to reconnect to country and meet my Aunty who was so warm and welcoming.”
Will with Aunty saving a pelican on Country.
It was actually at sunrise on the shores of Pender Bay in Dampier, that Will proposed to his partner.
“I knew I wanted to propose on Country. That place represents so much of who I am – and who I’m becoming.”
Will proposing to his partner on Country.
Will’s journey into design wasn’t straight forward.
Like many young people, he initially followed the path others had mapped out – enrolling in engineering under the growing push for STEM careers.
But something didn’t feel right.
A gentle nudge from his partner to consider graphic design ended up the shift he needed, and from the first semester on, he knew he’d found his purpose.
Today, Will’s design work is shaped by culture, lived experience, and an unwavering commitment to uplift others.
His style is bold, honest and deeply personal – and eventually he hopes to build a platform that gives voice to other Indigenous creatives.
“It’s not just about my art – it’s about giving back,’’ he said.
Will said the Moorditj Maaman Scholarship had been more than financial support – it’s been the freedom to breathe, focus, and thrive.
“It’s taken so much pressure off,” he says.
“Not worrying about rent or food means I can show up as my best self – in class, in life, in everything.”
That support helped him excel last semester, finishing with a course-weighted average of 79.79 and 90 in a core unit.
Now, with just one unit left, Will is focused on building his portfolio and entering the design industry ready to make a difference.
After graduation, he and his fiancée plan to move to Denmark in WA’s Great Southern – a quiet, creative town where he hopes to establish a collective to support and collaborate with other First Nations artists.
Will on the jetty.
He also plans to return to Country every year to continue learning from Elders, family, and the land –carrying forward the stories and responsibilities entrusted to him by his aunties.
“To anyone who feels like they’re too disconnected or it’s too late – it’s not. It’s never too late,” Will said.
“Opportunities like this scholarship can change your life. Just go for it. You never know where it might take you.”
To learn more about Curtin’s scholarship opportunities, please contact give@curtin.edu.au .
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