Dare to dream scholarship Finalist: India’s story

Aspiring paediatric psychologist India (Indy), 17, has been named a finalist in the 2025 Redkite and Coles Dare to Dream Scholarship.  

“Going to Melbourne University to study paediatric psychology is my dream.” 

Indy, from Victoria, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at four-and-a-half years old, on Christmas Day 2012.  

After months of being unusually tired with body aches and pains,  and a week of being particularly unwell, doctors put a lot of Indy’s illnesses down to end of year exhaustion, ear infections and tonsilitis. They went to the doctors and hospital several times, including on Christmas Eve, and were sent home. 

“We got up on Christmas Day, and I’ve never seen a little girl so miserable. She was just going on and off the couch to sleep, was growing quieter and quieter, wasn’t really interacting with us very much at all,” mum Jodie said.  

“I got the food on the table, sat down, got Indy off the couch, and I noticed that her skin was starting to go a mottled blue colour and literally just put my fork down and said, ‘We need to get to the hospital.’” 

Indy arrived at hospital in critical condition and started chemotherapy within a few days. As she was so young, it was mostly quite a blur. 

“The only thing I remember about hospital is this vivid image of lying on the bed in emergency, and I remember people rushing around everywhere, seeing the rainbow strap in the hospital for the bloods. I remember putting it on and I was scared, but my body wasn’t moving,” Indy said. 

Coming from a close, tight knit family, Indy recalls her younger sister Evy being her number one supporter.  

“I remember waking up from theatre and she was lying on the bed next to me, and we’d go through periods where, I wouldn’t be able to see her, and after those periods of time, we would sprint down the hallways at each other and it was like we hadn’t seen each other in years.” 

Indy’s treatment lasted 27 months, finishing February 2015.  

Indy’s Inspiration

Indy’s love for psychology comes from her lived experience of having cancer.  

“I’ve always liked psychology, but very specifically I found that when I share my story with people, they always feel a sense of empathy, but they don’t understand.  No one can really understand unless they’ve experienced it themselves.”  

Indy wants to help other children and young people going through cancer find their voice and share their story, to make sure they have strong mental and emotional support.  

“I want to be that person that has real-world experience, for that deeper sense of understanding.” 

“I want to be the person I needed when I was going through treatment—someone who listens, understands, and truly sees the kid behind the illness.” 

Indy is looking forward to the bright future ahead of her.  

“I’m excited to see how our family dynamic changes with Evy and I graduating soon. I’m excited about possibility, for the big life events and how that shapes my family too.” 

Indy’s Dream

Being named a Dare to Dream finalist means Indy can access more support to help her achieve her dream.  

“It’s boosted my confidence at school because I know that I have the opportunity to get tutoring, and I know that’s going to help me next year. It has brought me a sense of relief – it’s one less barrier, and I’m just over the moon.” 

“I’m very hard on myself academically, so just to know that I have something that will help me, just it relieves a lot of stress. My dream was to get some funding for a laptop and tutoring.” 

Sharing her story has given Indy a better understanding of how important it is to have a voice.  

“I know everyone has different experiences, but this is my individual one, and I think knowing that what I went through was really hard and quite traumatic for me, especially because I was quite young, I just feel proud knowing I got through that and that it’s a story that I can share now.” 

“Sharing your story can be a big thing, because you don’t want it to define you, but it’s also a really important part of your life,” Jodie said. 

Indy wants other young people to think about the Dare to Dream Scholarship as a step towards achieving their dream. 

“I feel like Redkite offers an opportunity for us to share our stories. They are there to listen and acknowledge them so other applicants can feel really proud of their stories and what they’ve gone through.” 

Since 2013, Redkite and Coles have awarded 450 Dare to Dream Scholarships worth over $800,000 to support young Australians whose aspirations and goals have been impacted by their cancer diagnosis.