| University of Canberra Objectives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Education
The Ngunnawal Centre is the Indigenous Australian
higher education centre within the University of Canberra. The Centre is a dynamic
learning community dedicated to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
through education. Our focus is the development of culturally appropriate learning,
teaching, and research. We acknowledge and respect the inherent worth of Australia’s
First Nations.
Our objectives are stated as follows.
Community
To enhance the learning of Indigenous students
and provide social and cultural support whilst at University
To create links with the local and wider
Indigenous communities
To foster links with the academic community of
the University of Canberra and other Australian universities and establish international
connections
To ensure the future employment of our students
by developing relationships with the professional community in the ACT and beyond
To welcome all University students and staff to
learn about and experience Indigenous culture
Environment
To establish a purpose-built Centre
To encourage the use of the Ngunnawal Centre for
academic and research purposes
To have appropriate human and material resources
for effective operation within a higher education environment
To maintain a safe environment for all who use
the Centre
Staffing
To appoint appropriately qualified and
culturally sensitive staff to the Centre
To provide quality academic and administrative
support
To facilitate social and cultural pathways that
lead to mutual respect and understanding
Research
To initiate research projects with the
Indigenous community, other University personnel, or appropriate members of the wider
community
To formulate policy that affects Indigenous
research practices, procedures, and policies within the University
To develop a Research Management Plan cognisant
of the University of Canberra policy for research and the needs of Indigenous
communities—locally and nationally
Funding
To develop a Financial Strategic Plan detailing
the specific requirements of the Centre which correlates with the Ngunnawal Centre
Management Plan (1998), the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Plan, and the
Research Plan
To achieve increased levels of funding
maintained by the financial plan
Strategies and Performance
The 1997 Report of the Review of the University of
Canberra’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Activities made a number of
recommendations (on the Ngunnawal Centre’s structure, roles, focus and scope,
involvement with communities, and links with other organisations) and was accepted by the
University Council on the advice of Academic Board and the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory
Committee. Central to the effective implementation of the recommendations was the
appointment of an Indigenous Director at the Associate Professor level, which occurred in
February 1998.
Strategies are being developed for adoption and
support by appropriate bodies within the University in line with time scales being
progressively agreed. The following strategy statements summarise progress to mid-1998.
Community
Meet with appropriate authorities to ascertain
opportunities for accommodation for Indigenous students (individual and family)
Investigate opportunities for the Ngunnawal
Centre to liaise with Aboriginal communities of the South Coast (NSW) region for the
purposes of delivering educational programs
Establish and maintain an Indigenous community
organisation and branches of government departments list
Nominate and invite appropriate role models from
the Indigenous community to the Ngunnawal Centre
Develop and maintain a home page for the
Ngunnawal Centre on the World-Wide Web
Establish the position of Indigenous
artist-in-residence
Establish an Indigenous council as the peak
advisory body for the University
Employ appropriate elders to provide cultural
support as a service to students
Incorporate opportunities for ‘Indigenous
Think-Tanks’
Environment
Employ appropriately qualified people to ensure
that the objectives of the Ngunnawal Centre are achieved (continuous in-service training
is an aspect of this achievement)
Redesign the current location to effect a fully
resourced and appropriate workplace environment
Utilise University (and other) processes for the
development of an architecturally designed building for the Ngunnawal Centre
Establish a code of conduct for the Centre
Staffing
Clarify roles of staff
Academic staff to contribute to the profile of
the Ngunnawal Centre through individual assistance to students, and through the provision
of undergraduate and postgraduate courses
General staff to provide effective
administrative support for activities of the Ngunnawal Centre
Academic staff to provide training opportunities
(eg cross-cultural) within and beyond the University
All staff to receive training pertinent to the
efficient operation of the Ngunnawal Centre
Consider staffing profile of the Ngunnawal
Centre relative to the activities of the Centre
Establish position of Chair for the Ngunnawal
Centre
Establish Adjunct Professor position for the
Ngunnawal Centre
Research
Develop an Indigenous research plan and
implement as policy for the University
Participate in conferences and other
presentations of research
Appoint Ngunnawal Centre representative to the
Research and Ethics Committee of the University
Develop and implement a mentoring program for
supporting Indigenous students at the postgraduate level
Identify and access research funds for projects
Institute a Visiting Fellow Program that
involves negotiation with Faculties and other Centres
Establish The Ngunnawal Lecture series with
publication of related lectures
Establish an Indigenous Research Committee as a
sub-committee of the Indigenous Council
Funding
Develop a Financial Strategic Plan for the
activities of the Ngunnawal Centre
Submit for funding beyond existing DEETYA and
University funds
Incorporate the Ngunnawal Centre
Create sponsorships through private enterprise
funding
Develop fee paying courses (eg Summer/Winter
Schools)
Performance
Equity Performance Indicator Projections for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students
| |
Access |
Participation |
Success |
Retention |
| 1995 (Actual) |
1.3% |
1.13 |
0.78 |
0.76 |
| 1996 (Actual) |
0.99% |
1.88 |
0.84 |
0.81 |
| 1997 (Actual) |
1.88% |
2.2 |
0.69 |
0.78 |
| 1998 (Actual) |
1.7% |
1.41 |
N.A. |
0.80 est |
| 1998 (Plan) |
1.2% |
2.0 |
0.80 |
0.80 |
| 1999 (Plan) |
1.3% |
2.1 |
0.80 |
0.80 |
| 2000 (Plan) |
1.4% |
2.2 |
0.80 |
0.80 |
| 2001 (Plan) |
1.4% |
2.2 |
0.80 |
0.80 |
Participation based on:
1997—0.5% of people in State are Indigenous
1998—0.8% of people in State are Indigenous
Contact Officer
Associate Professor Tracey A. Bunda
Director—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Telephone: 02 6201 5028
Email: bunda@science.canberra.edu.au |