The University bases its Indigenous Education Strategies on its Statement of Intent. The following stated objectives and strategies to meet those objectives are long term and, as such, will be implemented over a period of years.

Objectives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education

During the next three years the objectives of the University for Aboriginal education include:

• establishing the Yunggorendi First Nations Centre for Higher Education and Research as a nationally recognised research, teaching, and learning centre for the development of Indigenous knowledge;

• increasing access and participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in higher education courses with emphasis on Bachelor and higher degrees and in particular the discipline areas of Education, Humanities, Law, and Health Sciences;

• improving the success rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students both in individual subject results and retention rates by the provision of additional and focused support services;

• promoting a greater understanding between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and non-Indigenous Australians, through a range of awareness raising and staff development programs, through course development, and through a review of curriculum to find ways of integrating Aboriginal perspectives across the curriculum;

• increasing the number of Indigenous teaching staff in faculties by facilitating the appointment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to both academic and administrative positions in the University;

• developing more appropriate policies in areas of Indigenous research ethics; and

• developing and maintaining partnerships with Aboriginal community organisations and individuals.

Strategies and Performance

Objective 1

Strategies

Yunggorendi aims to meet this objective by continuing to:

• apply for research grants in the areas of Indigenous education, humanities, law, and health;

• design and deliver academic topics in the areas of education, humanities, law, and health sciences;

• employ Indigenous people;

• plan for an Aboriginal Studies minor/major sequence which can be taken in conjunction with topics from the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide;

• deliver guest lectures in a variety of courses across campus; and

• encourage individual development of Indigenous academic staff within the Centre.

Performance

To date the Centre has been successful in securing research grants to a total of $215,000. Research projects have been undertaken in the areas of education and health. Academic staff in the Centre will continue to apply for research monies in their fields of expertise and develop our research capacity further by negotiating with various government agencies and community organisations about relevant research.

Academic staff coordinate and teach five topics at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the areas of education, health, law, and English. In addition to this teaching load, staff of the Centre deliver guest lectures in some twenty other topics. It is anticipated that over the next triennium the Centre will take control of a further five topics across the areas of education, politics, and cultural studies and have input into the development of some seventeen other topics.

Academic staff are actively encouraged to undertake professional development. It is proposed that all staff within the Centre will possess a minimum qualification of a Master’s degree. Out of the five Indigenous academic staff within the Centre one has a PhD, one is near completing his PhD, two have Master’s degrees, and the remaining staff member will be undertaking her MEd in 1999.

Objective 2

Strategies

Yunggorendi aims to meet this objective by:

• encouraging students to enter mainstream courses across the range of discipline areas;

• visiting secondary schools regularly to liaise with teachers and Aboriginal Education Workers to provide pre-entry course advice and encourage continuation with higher education;

• attending all careers, employment, and training functions to make personal contact with Indigenous students, and work in collaboration with the Career Aspirations Program of the SA Department of Education and Training;

• ensuring that quotas are established and maintained in all undergraduate courses;

• promoting scholarships and cadetships to increase the participation of Indigenous students in postgraduate study;

• working towards the articulation of TAFE and University courses and establishing a network with the Aboriginal Education Programs in the TAFE sector to encourage transition;

• expanding on our traditional contact with Northern Territory institutions to establish credit pathways and cooperation; and

• continuing to collaborate with the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia for cross institutional advertising/recruiting for enrolment and support for all Indigenous students in South Australia/Australia.

Performance

Annually, the staff in Yunggorendi undertake a recruitment drive which involves visiting all South Australian public and private schools with Indigenous Year 12 students. Recruitment drives are also undertaken in major areas in the Northern Territory. This has resulted in a 30% increase in Indigenous student numbers since 1997, with a total enrolment of 83 students comprising 20 postgraduates in 15 courses and 63 undergraduates in 18 courses. This trend is expected to continue.

Objective 3

Strategies

Yunggorendi aims to meet this objective by:

• continuing the appointment of the two academic advisers;

• ensuring that the academic advisers meet the pastoral care, tutoring, academic advice, and advocacy needs of the students; and

• liaising with students to see if their needs are being met.

Performance

Retention rates have markedly improved since the establishment of Yunggorendi First Nations Centre. This trend is expected to continue for the coming triennium.

Objective 4

Strategies

Yunggorendi aims to meet this objective by:

• collaborating with the University’s Staff Development and Training Unit to develop appropriate staff development workshops for university staff;

• ensuring there is Indigenous representation on appropriate course committees;

• continuously reviewing the relevance and content of topics and courses across the University;

• liaising with academic staff from other disciplines in the development of topics with an Indigenous component;

• developing specialist First Nations Courses of study, particularly in the area of postgraduate Aboriginal Education; and

• inviting high profile Indigenous persons to contribute their expertise to our growth by become visiting fellows of the University through Yunggorendi.

Performance

Preliminary discussions are under way with the Staff Development and Training Unit to address the issue of cultural awareness training. It is anticipated that over the coming triennium a comprehensive plan will be implemented.

Yunggorendi now has representation on various course committees and is having practical input into the development of courses with an Indigenous component. The development of an Indigenous major is still being discussed.

Objective 5

Strategies

Yunggorendi aims to meet this objective by working with Human Resources on implementing a comprehensive Indigenous Employment Strategy within the University.

Performance

Detailed proposals have been prepared to enable the implementation of the strategy over the coming triennium.

Objective 6

Strategies

Yunggorendi will work with the University committees to develop and implement Indigenous research ethics procedures for all staff and students.

Performance

An agreement has been made to do the above.

Objective 7

Strategies

Yunggorendi aims to meet this objective by ensuring that its staff:

• actively participate in community activities;

• are actively involved with community organisations and committees; and

• continuously consult with Indigenous individuals and communities in order to meet their needs.

Performance

Staff in Yunggorendi are currently members on seventeen Indigenous committees ranging from the Tandanya Board to Neporendi Community Council. This commitment will continue over the next triennium to ensure Yunggorendi continues to be aware of different community needs.

Contact Officer

Associate Professor Paul Hughes AM
Director, Yunggorendi First Nations Centre for Higher Education and Research
The Flinders University of South Australia
Telephone: 08 8201 3033
Facsimile: 08 8201 3935
Email: paul.hughes@flinders.edu.au