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Indigenous Education Strategies in Higher Education 2001-2003

The University of Adelaide

• Objectives
• Consultative Mechanisms
• Current and Continuing Activities
• Planned New Activities
• Performance and Review
• Report on Expenditure
• Contact

An extensive process of consultation and negotiation with all faculties, departments and sections across the University in 1999 resulted in the development of a more comprehensive Indigenous Strategy. The new plan addresses all aspects of the access, participation, retention and success of Indigenous students. Key objectives of the Indigenous Strategy are articulated within the University’s Strategic Plan and Operational Plan 2000-2004. A summary of the main elements of the Indigenous Strategic Plan is given below.

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Objectives

Adelaide University sees educational quality and equity of access for all equity groups and Indigenous Australians in particular, as being interdependent. Our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education is embedded in the values of the University Strategic Plan. Underpinning the University’s mission is its dedication to:

• the values of a humane and just society, including the principles of equal opportunity, social justice and cultural diversity;
• contributing to the intellectual, cultural and social life of the community; and
• integrating the principles of social justice, equal opportunity and cultural diversity in our quest for excellence.

These values provide direction and focus, and are central to the provision of teaching, research education, and other educational services, as well as the provision of student support services to Indigenous students.

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education objectives are:

• to enhance the accessibility and attractiveness of Adelaide University to Indigenous Australians;
• to recruit successfully Indigenous students of high quality;
• to foster a scholarly learning environment that values Indigenous Australian culture and the contribution it makes to the University community;
• to implement decision-management processes which ensure that all academic and student services managers are accountable for Indigenous student learning, learning support and other services;
• to implement effective mechanisms to manage, monitor and evaluate the University's Indigenous education programs so that they are effective in increasing Indigenous student access, participation, success and retention at Adelaide University;
• to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people employed across the University;
• to maintain formal consultative partnerships with Indigenous peoples and their communities; and
• to continue to increase the involvement of Wilto Yerlo in all student support programs.

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Consultative Mechanisms

• Attend meetings of South Australian Aboriginal Education Employment and Training advisory committee to present Adelaide University’s Indigenous Strategic Plan.
• Conduct social forums involving a broad representation of the Aboriginal community at least twice a year.
• Meet with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) zone commissioner and regional councils.
• Aboriginal community representation on various reference groups involved in course development, marketing strategies and program delivery.
• Promote and run workshops and forums with the involvement of the broader Aboriginal community during Reconciliation Week, "Sorry Day" and National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration (NAIDOC) Week across the University.
• Conduct a forum involving all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders to become involved in all programs and courses related to Land Care, Land Management and other associated Agricultural Science programs at the Roseworthy Campus.
• Meet on a regular basis with local traditional elders of the Kaurna nation to ensure programs, language courses and involvement of Kaurna people across the University is maintained.
• Meet three times a year through student forums and the Indigenous Students Association to discuss associated student and community issues as perceived by Indigenous students.

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Current and Continuing Activities

• Deliver a foundation year and Associate Diploma in Aboriginal Music and Culture delivered through the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM).
• Delivery of a Science and Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation Course.
• Administration and coordination of the Aboriginal Tutorial Assistance Scheme.
• Support for several courses in Indigenous subjects, including Indigenous Land Management, Kaurna Language, Aboriginal History and a new subject in Anthropology.
• Access, educational, social and cultural support for Indigenous students delivered through the University's Aboriginal Programs Support Unit, Wilto Yerlo.
• Continue to increase the involvement of Wilto Yerlo in all student Support Programs at both divisional and faculty levels.
• Establishment and implementation of a strategy to increase the participation of Indigenous and rural students within the Medical School’s program.
• Delivery of culture awareness training programs to various faculties.
• Allocation of resources to develop culturally inclusive material and curriculum in at least two mainstream University courses.
• Appointment of an Indigenous academic to develop and deliver an Indigenous Australian subject.
• Conduct a review of the University’s Indigenous Employment Strategy with a view to seeking further support for the Strategy.
• Further develop and implement collaborative arrangements with the other two South Australian universities on recruitment, orientation and selection activities of Aboriginal students from country areas throughout South Australia.

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Planned New Activities

• Development and delivery of a degree in Indigenous Music within CASM.
• Development and delivery of an Indigenous subject within at least two mainstream courses.
• Formation of an Indigenous Elders’ Council within Wilto Yerlo to enhance consultation with the Aboriginal community.
• Seek ongoing support to continue the recruitment strategy for Indigenous and rural students studying in the Medical School.
• Maintain collaborative and supportive arrangements with all faculties on the development and implementation of programs, activities and courses that are consistent with the goals and objectives of the University’s Indigenous Education Strategic Plan.

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Performance and Review

Summary of Adelaide University Indigenous Performance.

These data highlight gradual improvement in the University’s performance in relation to the Participation, Retention and Success indicators. There was a slight decrease in performance on the Access indicator of 0.14% between 1998 and 1999.

Adelaide University’s performance across these areas in comparison to national figures for 1999 include: Access up by 0.02%, Participation up by 0.12%

Success (1998) down by 0.12 and Retention down by 0.042.

The development of the University-wide Indigenous Strategic Plan and the stabilisation and implementation of support services across the University for Indigenous students have contributed to the increase in Indigenous performances across the specified indicators.

The University is committed to maintaining these trends during the year 2000 and beyond.

Report on Expenditure 

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Contact

Mr Roger Thomas
Director, Wilto Yerlo (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs)
Adelaide University, SA 5005 Australia
Tel: (08) 8303 3623
Fax: (08) 8303 4396

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