| The Australian National University Objectives The Australian National University’s overall objectives for Indigenous Education were incorporated in Volume 2 of its Strategic Plan 1995–2004, under ‘Teaching and Learning Management’. With the benefit of experience, the objectives have since been refined and are as follows:
Strategies for 1999–2001 Triennium and Performance Detailed strategies for implementation over the period 1995–2004 have been specified and the University remains committed to them. For the period 1999–2001 particularly, the strategies to be emphasised are as follows: Recruitment, Selection and Admissions Recruitment, selection and admissions policies and strategies are being further developed in 1998 for implementation in 1999, with the aim of improving access and participation of Indigenous Australians. An Indigenous Australian students’ recruitment strategy is implemented by the Head of the Jabal Centre and monitored and evaluated during the year, as necessary. Wherever possible the Jabal Centre participates in the main University recruitment campaign working closely with the ANU Students Recruitment Office. The University will continue to operate its ANU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admissions Scheme, which was initiated in 1990. Following a review in 1996, the University has implemented measures to strengthen the already successful scheme within the admissions procedures for the whole University. The scheme will continue to be monitored, evaluated and improved as necessary. The Jabal Centre will continue with its successful pre-orientation and orientation programs for new ANU Indigenous Australian students, with improvements, as necessary, from time to time. Academic Support and Development Initiatives The Jabal Centre Academic Coordinator advises students on an individual basis as to course structure and the skills necessary for each unit. The Coordinator monitors each student’s progress and discusses areas of concern with relevant academic unit coordinators. This is a vital function of the Centre and will be continued in the coming triennium. Since 1994 the Jabal Centre has funded two part-time Law Faculty Academic Coordinators to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, resulting in a corresponding success in retention and graduation rates for Indigenous Australians studying Law. As a result of negotiations between the Jabal Head and the Dean of Law in 1997, the Law Faculty has agreed to fund one quarter of the salary and on-costs of these part-time positions. From July 1997, the Jabal Centre funded a part-time position in the Arts Faculty to enhance the academic support to students within that Faculty, where the majority of ANU Indigenous students are enrolled. This University and the University of Canberra received bulk funding from DEETYA to facilitate an Aboriginal Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ATAS) program from 1995. In 1998, DEETYA commenced funding a separate ANU ATAS Scheme at the Jabal Centre. The Jabal Centre has commenced a data file to enable better monitoring of the relationship between ATAS support and student outcomes. Experience indicates that ATAS has a tremendous effect on students’ abilities to cope with the content of their studies and it is believed that it increases the potential of students to achieve success at higher levels. The University will take every opportunity to expand specific academic interests that have particular relevance to Indigenous Australian scholars and students. New initiatives over the last six months are described below, together with others planned, each aimed at expanding opportunities for Indigenous Australian students. The School of Resource Management and Environmental Science (SRMES) in the Faculty of Science has successfully completed a six to eight week visiting fellowship for an Indigenous person to explore how Indigenous Australian resource management issues can gain a greater platform in the teaching being offered within the School. The main objective of the fellowship was to improve the courses currently being offered by SRMES to make them more inclusive of Indigenous Australian resource management issues and practices. Not only is it expected to broaden the knowledge base of all students studying resource management and environmental science at this University, but this initiative should make what is offered by the School more relevant to prospective Indigenous Australian students and thus attractive to them. The Department of Forestry continues to offer an Indigenous Australian scholarship, worth $1000. Together with the expected benefits arising out of the fellowship within SRMES, of which the Department of Forestry is a part, the Jabal Centre hopes to attract suitable Indigenous Australian applicants who are looking to improve their career prospects. Since 1992, the presence of the Institute of Arts (ITA) within the University has provided opportunities for broadening the degree options of relevance to Indigenous Australian students. To date, three Indigenous Australians have graduated from the Institute. In 1997 two Indigenous Australians were studying towards Bachelor degrees in the Canberra School of Art, while two commenced Diplomas. In 1998 Indigenous Australian representation within the Institute of the Arts increased to eight, with the enrolment of one postgraduate and three undergraduate students. Discussions continue between the Jabal Centre and ITA, with a view to providing more inclusive admissions procedures and greater support for Indigenous Australian applicants. Discussions continue within the Law Faculty to incorporate more Indigenous content into the compulsory Law units offered by the Faculty to increase prospective lawyers’ awareness of Indigenous Australian issues. The graduate program in Law continues to offer three units with an Indigenous Australian focus. To raise the awareness of postgraduate opportunities, the Graduate School provides one scholarship each year for award to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student to undertake a PhD, Masters degree or Graduate Diploma course. The scholarship provides a tax-free living allowance which is reviewed each year and amounts to $15,888 per annum in 1998. Fares to Canberra and an establishment allowance are also provided. Two recipients of the scholarship graduated in 1997, one with a PhD in History and the other with a Master of Environmental Management and Development. The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH) has introduced a new stream in the Master of Applied Epidemiology course, aimed at improving Aboriginal health. Eight students have been recruited into a pilot program in 1998. The field placement of these students will be in Aboriginal health policy units in State health departments or community-controlled health services. NCEPH also supports three Indigenous Australian PhD students and one student in the Graduate Diploma in Population Health course. NCEPH is seeking to initiate an Indigenous Visiting Fellows program, which will aim to facilitate public health research and training by Indigenous Australian health professionals and scholars. Other Support Initiatives During early 1998, the Vice-Chancellor approved a matching grant of $100,000 from the University’s Endowment for Excellence to the Nugget Coombs Forum for Indigenous Australian Scholarships. ANU Indigenous Australian undergraduates and postgraduates will benefit from these new scholarships from 1998. The new North Australia Research Unit (NARU)/JABAL Aboriginal Undergraduate Fieldwork Program, to be launched during 1998, will be funded from the Nugget Coombs Forum for Indigenous Australian Scholarships. This program will involve ANU Aboriginal undergraduates travelling to the Northern Territory to undertake research and fieldwork from NARU, Darwin. The Jabal Centre will continue to provide suitable social, administrative, and academic support, recognising the intimate relationship between this kind of support and the academic progress of students. The Head of Jabal Centre continues to investigate new cultural and educational activities. The Jabal Centre is investigating the provision of appropriate and affordable family and single accommodation for ANU Indigenous Australian students on campus and in the Canberra region. Three principal mechanisms are in place for the planning, review and evaluation of Indigenous Australian education goals and strategies at the ANU. These are the Jabal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Academic Consultative Committee, and the Jabal Advisory Committee. Relevant details on each of these mechanisms has been provided to DEETYA. The University considers the continuing appropriateness of these mechanisms from time to time. A copy of the Jabal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre Annual Report for 1997 has been forwarded to DEETYA.
Performance Indicators The following figures are based on the Lin Martin indicators.
Contact Officer Mr N G Perkins, Head of Jabal Centre |
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