Objectives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education

The University of Adelaide 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 1998–2002. 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 training, 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 the University of Adelaide 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; and

• 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 the University of Adelaide.

The University’s key, targeted program interventions in pursuit of these objectives are:

• a foundation year and Associate Diploma in Aboriginal music and culture delivered through the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM);

• a Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation Course;

• a Science Foundation Course;

• administration and coordination of the Aboriginal Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ATAS);

• support for several courses in Indigenous subjects, including Indigenous Land Management, Kaurna Language, Aboriginal History, and a new subject in Anthropology; and

• access, educational support, and social and cultural support for Indigenous students delivered through the University's Aboriginal Programs Support Unit, Wilto Yerlo.

A key activity for 1998–99 will be the development and implementation of a University-wide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Strategic Plan which arises from the recommendations of the recent Review of Wilto Yerlo. The Plan will address all aspects of the access, participation, retention and success of Indigenous students.

Strategies and Performance

Access Strategies

Goal

• To have a minimum of forty-five new students each year.

• To attract students capable of performing well at university.

Activity to Achieve Goal

• Produce publicity material of a high standard to attract students.

• Visit schools and communities in metropolitan, rural and remote areas to encourage Indigenous students to consider university.

• Arrange advertising and media stories about Wilto Yerlo and Indigenous student success at the University.

• Do a national mail-out to Aboriginal organisations advertising the University of Adelaide.

• Profile Indigenous education at the University of Adelaide open days.

• Make contact with school counsellors and Aboriginal Education Workers.

• Participate in annual Skills Expo.

• Publicise merit equity scholarships.

• Liaise with secondary and tertiary education providers on strategies to encourage Indigenous students to complete school.

• Establish and encourage links with Aboriginal communities.

• Continuously improve pre-entry counselling and provision of course information and advice.

• Investigate possibility of developing foundation courses in remote areas.

• Ensure staff working with prospective students are briefed on how Indigenous students are catered for at the University.

• When preparing course material/advertising material, include references to Indigenous students and Wilto Yerlo’s services.

Evaluation

• Successfully recruit and retain Indigenous students of high quality.

Retention, Success, and Participation Strategies

Goal

• To have Indigenous students’ retention, success, and participation rates equal those for non-Indigenous students.

Activity to Achieve Goal

Student Support Strategies

• Provide a residential orientation program, including an introduction to university study and to the support services available and the development of social networks.

• Provide a student common room and support for student social activities.

• Liaise with academic staff across University.

• Monitor students where possible and follow-up with students who look like withdrawing (eg low attendance, poor performance, etc).

• Follow-up with students who have withdrawn to determine if the causes are systematic and advise on any recommended changes.

• Assist in dealing with personal issues such as ABSTUDY, housing, travel, budgeting, and emergencies.

• Refer students to other support services.

• Advocate for students in University and externally.

• Support Mattanya residential college.

• Support the Wilto Yerlo Students’ Association.

• Ensure all Indigenous students are aware of the support available through Wilto Yerlo.

• Ensure all relevant staff have access to cultural awareness training.

Academic Support Strategies

• Continue to offer the Science Foundation Course, including the new component ‘Indigenous Science’; and to offer the Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation Course.

• Continue to offer the Foundation Year as an essential component of the CASM program.

• Upgrade the Associate Diploma in Aboriginal Studies in Music to Diploma.

• Investigate the possibility of offering a degree in Aboriginal Studies in Music, including coordination with other Indigenous courses offered in other Faculties.

• Provide basic study skills and basic computing skills; and provide computer access.

• Ensure appropriate use of ATAS.

• Ensure all Indigenous students are aware of the support available through Wilto Yerlo.

• Ensure all staff have access to cultural awareness training and are aware of ATAS.

• Be aware of, and adopt teaching strategies which are sensitive to, Indigenous students’ needs.

Aboriginal Community Relations Strategies

• Convene an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee to support the Director, Wilto Yerlo.

• Further develop advisory panels with strong community representation to advise on curriculum and community links for CASM and the Indigenous Environment Management course.

• Continue regular field trips for students of Wilto Yerlo in their respective courses.

• Adopt a reconciliation statement.

• Investigate options for recognising the Kaurna history of the land.

• Seek to include Aboriginal community members in University committees, such as Council.

Evaluation

• Steady improvement of performance against participation, retention, and success indicators.

• Institution-wide Commitment to Indigenous Education

Goal

• To have Indigenous issues recognised and included in all parts of the University.

Activity to Achieve Goal

• Raise profile of Indigenous culture, the Aboriginal Education Strategy, and the services provided by Wilto Yerlo in University academic community.

• Continue to have regular meetings of the Academic Advisory Committees for the three academic programs at Wilto Yerlo.

• Provide advice and support to other faculties about course content and teaching strategies to increase Indigenous involvement.

• Develop an Indigenous Education Strategic Plan for the University of Adelaide through wide consultation inside the Institution and benchmarking with other tertiary institutions.

• Develop database of research on Indigenous subjects at the University.

• Continue to provide cultural awareness programs for staff.

• Encourage Indigenous staff to engage in research and to gain external funding for this.

• Encourage more courses on Indigenous subjects across the University.

• Develop a major sequence in Arts in Aboriginal Studies.

• Continue to encourage the employment of Indigenous staff.

Evaluation

Full integration of decision-making and management process for Indigenous education and support services, into mainstream organisational processes.

Research and Research Training

Goal

Training Indigenous students in research skills in a culturally appropriate manner.

Offering encouragement for Indigenous students to enter postgraduate research.

Activity to Achieve Goal

Wilto Yerlo will:

• continue to offer ‘Research Studies’ in the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music;

• continue to encourage students through ATAS and student support to embark on successful research projects; and

• liaise with faculties to assist lecturers to teach research skills in a culturally appropriate manner.

The University of Adelaide will:

• consider offering research scholarships for Indigenous students;

• encourage all faculties to identify Indigenous students with potential for postgraduate study; and

• provide assistance to Wilto Yerlo academic areas to develop their research base. Publicise widely through Wilto Yerlo and the faculties, and encourage applications to, the Australian Research Council (ARC) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Researchers Development Programme.

Evaluation

This strategy will be evaluated on the numbers of Indigenous students completing research-based undergraduate courses; the number of Indigenous students entering postgraduate research; and applications to the ARC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Researchers Development Program.

Comment

Performance against the access indicator has increased, and is significantly higher than the proportion of the population. This reflects the emphasis placed on targeted marketing and community liaison. Similarly, performance against the participation indicator is also higher than the SA state average. That said, the University’s performance against the success and retention indicators needs to improve. Implementation of the above mentioned strategies will guide the achievement of a better performance in this regard. Concentrated effort is being put into providing the support required by Indigenous students once they commence their courses.

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