Southern Cross University

Broad Objectives

Southern Cross University (SCU) has the following three broad objectives for Indigenous education:

Consult with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in all relevant areas of operation at Southern Cross University.
Ensure equitable access, participation, and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in education and employment at the University.
Provide an awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in education and employment at Southern Cross University.

To achieve these broad objectives SCU established the College of Indigenous Australian Peoples (CIAP). The College provides student support services for Indigenous people through the Gungil Jindibah Centre (GJC), undergraduate programs in the form of a degree and two associate degrees through its Academic Section, and consultation, general promotion, and overall administration through the College Directorate. The College is advised by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee which meets three times a year.

Achievements against Targets for 1997

Generally SCU is achieving the objectives and targets that it is setting for Indigenous education. More Indigenous students are enrolling in programs and graduating and more non-Indigenous students are taking Indigenous studies.

Access, Participation, Success and Retention

Table 1 Performance indicators for Indigenous students at SCU

Year	Access	Participation	Success	Retention
1995	2.38	1.74	0.82	0.77
1996	1.57	1.30	0.82	0.80
1997 target achieved	1.4 2.4	1.0 1.17	1.0 0.8	1.0 0.77
1998 projected	2.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
1999 projected	2.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
2000 projected	2.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

GJC continues to reach and exceed our targets for Access and Participation (see Table 1 above) . To ensure that this trend continues GJC has adopted the objectives set out below.

Success and retention rates continue to hover around the 0.8 mark. There is room for improvement in this achievement through continual refinement of the delivery of Indigenous student services by GJC (see below). There are, however, factors beyond the control of SCU and GJC that continue to hinder achievement of specified targets, including delays in ABSTUDY payments to students, insufficient ABSTUDY benefits, and general community attitudes, etc.

Specific Objectives, Strategies and Predicted Outcomes for 1999–2001

Objective	Consolidate the Indigenous students services section of the College of Indigenous Australian peoples
	Strategy	Provide minimum base funding for Indigenous student services from the full use of support funds
	Outcome	Continuity and refinement of Indigenous student services leading to improving rates of access, participation, success, and retention.
Objective	Provide the highest quality culturally appropriate support services to Indigenous students.
	Strategy	GJC will continually plan, evaluate, and refine the provision of support services on a weekly and biannual basis
	Outcome	Continually improving Indigenous student support services resulting in improved rates of access, participation, success, and retention
	Strategy	GJC staff undertake regular staff development and training
	Outcome	More skilled and highly professional staff leading to improved provision of services to students therefore improving rates of access, participation, success, and retention
	Strategy	GJC will receive continual updates from the central Student Administration on Indigenous student access, participation, success, and retention.
	Outcome	Clearer process of evaluation of GJC strategic plans
	Strategy	GJC will continue to maintain close contact with regional DEETYA officers
	Outcome	More efficient delivery of DEETYA services to students
Objective	To increase Indigenous access and participation to agreed performance indicator levels.
	Strategy	GJC will develop, implement, and evaluate annual promotions plans that will target schools, TAFE, and Indigenous communities and organisations
	Strategy	GJC has a designated promotions officer to implement the promotions plan
	Outcome	Increased awareness of SCU courses and therefore an increase in Indigenous applications and enrolments
	Strategy	GJC has a designated enrolments and admissions officer to assist new and continuing students
	Outcome	increase in Indigenous admissions and enrolments
	Strategy	CIAP (Academic Section) will continue to develop culturally appropriate courses of study for Indigenous peoples
	Outcome	increase in Indigenous enrolments
Objective	To increase Indigenous student success and retention to agreed performance indicator targets.
	Strategy	GJC provides two full-time tutoring positions from its budget
	Outcome	Improved academic performance by Indigenous students leading to increased success rates
	Strategy	GJC provide students with ongoing access to the Aboriginal Tutorial Assistance Scheme
	Outcome	Improved academic performance by Indigenous students leading to increased success rates
	Strategy	GJC staff monitor and report on the progress of Indigenous students on a weekly basis
	Outcome	Early detection of students requiring support with subsequent assistance intervention therefore increasing retention rates
	Strategy	GJC to provide access to cultural support and counselling
	Outcome	Increase in retention rates
Objective	General SCU students services to be more responsive to Indigenous students needs
	Strategy	Coordinator of GJC to meet regularly with the Director of SCU student administration
	Strategy	GJC to run workshops for student administration on the special needs of and problems faced by Indigenous students
	Outcome	Overall improvement in the provision of services to Indigenous students
Objective	Consolidate the functions of Academic Section of the College of Indigenous Australian Peoples
	Strategy	Provide minimum base funding for Academic activities of 160 EFTSU with moderate increase based on achievement of targets
	Outcome	Continuity of the College’s academic programs in teaching and research
Objective		Academic section will develop and deliver Indigenous studies courses and units
	Strategy	Offer Bachelor of Indigenous Studies with majors in health, law, education, and environment
	Strategy	Develop 6 core units on Indigenous studies for all students at SCU
	Strategy	Offer majors in the Bachelor of Indigenous Studies specifically designed to meet the needs of Indigenous peoples
	Strategy	Develop Indigenous studies units for delivery in external mode by the Internet
	Outcome	An increase in the number of students taking Indigenous studies leading to an increased understanding of Indigenous issues by all students
Objective	The College will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented strategies through a process of planning and review
	Strategy	The director of the College will receive evaluations of the performance of each section (GJC, Academic Section, and Directorates) of the college to be used to modify existing strategies.
	Outcome	General improvement in the overall performance of the College against specified objectives

Contact Officers

College Directorate
Associate Professor Stephan Schnierer
Director
Telephone: 02 6620 3959
Facsimile: 02 6620 3438
Email: sschnier@scu.edu.au

Academic Section
Errol West
Coordinator
Telephone: 02 6620 3955
Facsimile: 02 6620 3958
Email: ewest@scu.edu.au

Gungil Jindibah Centre
Lee-Ann Emzin
Coordinator
Telephone: 02 6620 3950
Facsimile: 02 6620 3438
Email: lemzin@scu.edu.au

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