The University of Newcastle services the diverse Aboriginal communities of the Hunter and Central Coast regions of New South Wales including the traditional lands of several Aboriginal tribes: the Awabakal (Newcastle), Worimi (Port Stephens), Darkanjung (Wyong), Birapi (Taree, Forster), Wonnarua, Dhanghatti, and Dharug peoples.

The commitment to the provision of high quality educational and employment opportunities for these communities and the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from across the nation has been manifest in the following significant developments over the past year:

• the establishment of The University of Newcastle Board of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Training. The Board is dominated by high quality Aboriginal members who will provide direct advice to the Vice-Chancellor;

• the creation of the Department of Aboriginal Studies as an independent academic body of the Faculty of Arts and Social Science and the Discipline of Aboriginal Health in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences;

• the allocation of $2.5m in the University’s major building works program to design and build a specific purpose Aboriginal facility which will house the three key academic units of Wollotuka, Discipline of Aboriginal Health, and Umulliko; and

• the appointment of a distinguished Aboriginal educator as Professor and the inaugural Chair in Aboriginal Studies and Director of the recently established Umulliko Postgraduate Research Centre.

Objectives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education

• The University’s overall objectives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education include:

• valuing the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the everyday operations of the University;

• developing research in areas of interest to, and application by, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and becoming one of the leading centres for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research;

• the promotion of community knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues through research and the publication of outcomes;

• enhancing participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in University committees and inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content and issues in University courses and activities; and

• improving access to university study through the offering of enabling courses and the provision of effective support systems of both an academic and pastoral nature to minimise attrition and encourage continuation of studies and graduation.

Three key centres are responsible for implementing and managing the University’s Indigenous education objectives: Wollotuka, Umulliko, and the Discipline of Aboriginal Health. Specialist Aboriginal advisory groups have been established for each of the three centres to enable wide consultation with Indigenous communities and organisations.

Strategies and Performance

1. Wollotuka

Wollotuka, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Centre, provides academic, cultural and administrative support for Indigenous students and staff. Its Strategic Plan includes the following specific goals and strategies to address the University’s objectives:

• to provide an environment that nurtures the unique cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and that ensures the growth of knowledge and awareness for all Australians by:

• increasing the level of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community involvement through participation in community-based activities; strengthening associations with groups such as the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and the Aboriginal Higher Education Network; the publication of a newsletter; Aboriginal representation on University committees; the development and continuation of appropriate courses for the broader community; the employment of skilled and qualified staff; maintaining professional networks with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and encouraging Wollotuka staff to participate in staff development activities and to foster links with other Indigenous peoples throughout the world by implementing student and staff educational exchange programs; and

• continuing to encourage enrolment and successful outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in courses offered by the University by providing ongoing cultural, educational, and emotional support to Indigenous students; the offering of enabling programs and merit-based equity scholarships; the promotion of the University as a supportive environment; the provision of career advice; and work with other organisations to develop joint activities, such as the current project with the Department of School Education to develop a proposal to offer senior school scholarships to potential Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with high achievement records (for implementation in the year 2000.

Performance will be evaluated through feedback on involvement in decision-making processes and the level of participation on committees. With regard to student enrolments performance will be measured: by assessing the success of a recruitment plan which is to be developed and implemented; by meeting DEETYA minimum enrolment targets; by student feedback of their successful educational experience; and by graduations and successful employment outcomes;

• to obtain endorsement for articulation arrangements from the TAFE Diploma of Aboriginal Studies into the proposed Bachelor of Aboriginal Studies with eighty credit points and the provision of an exit point from the Bachelor of Aboriginal Studies at the Diploma level;

• to develop a strand in the proposed Bachelor of Aboriginal Studies to attract honours level students; to expand the current offerings of Aboriginal perspectives throughout the courses of the University; and to develop a subject in Aboriginal Studies for the University’s enabling courses; and

• to follow up on the recommendations of an external review of Wollotuka to be undertaken in 1998.

2. Umulliko

The Umulliko Postgraduate Research Centre, the Indigenous Higher Education Centre, which focuses on postgraduate training, particularly research training, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, commenced operations in 1998. Its goals for the 1999–2001 Triennium are similar to those which were proposed in the University’s Aboriginal Education Strategy for the 1998–2000 Triennium. The goals of Umulliko are:

• to be a centre of excellence in research and postgraduate training for Indigenous Australians;

• to identify issues of importance to Kooris within the field of health utilising the strengths of the University in the areas of public and community health, clinical epidemiology, and preventative health;

• to develop new areas of research and postgraduate training in aspects of the law and environmental management which recognise the culture, traditions and rights of Koori people;

• to develop research programs which will inform undergraduate programs and ensure that undergraduate students are at the forefront of knowledge and understanding of Koori culture;

• to develop existing undergraduate programs involving Koori people to provide a focus for recruitment to postgraduate research and coursework programs;

• to develop complementary national and international links which involve members of Umulliko with other national and international centres with a similar mission;

• recognising the possible cultural limitations of research findings, to disseminate the research findings for the benefit of all;

• to improve the qualifications and experience of Koori people and so enhance employment opportunities;

• to ensure the outcomes of research and postgraduate programs of the Centre are used to improve the conditions within Koori communities; and

• to ensure the acceptance of Umulliko as a major source of advice to local, State, and Commonwealth government agencies concerned with policy matters affecting Koori communities.

Performance of each goal will be evaluated by the demonstration of progress toward achieving the desired outcome. Surveys of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students will be undertaken to ensure services and support provided are meeting their specific needs.

The recruitment of the first Aboriginal Doctoral candidate on a dedicated Indigenous research scholarship occurred in 1998.

3. Discipline of Aboriginal Health

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences supports its Indigenous students through its Discipline of Aboriginal Health and its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students Liaison Office.

Specific goals and strategies are:

• to strengthen the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences’ relationship with Aboriginal communities through a five year collaborative research project;

• to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student enrolments in all courses offered by the Faculty by 10% of course intake by 1999, unless a quota exists, by: establishing an enabling program for its students (to be implemented in 1999); developing appropriate publicity material; reviewing current admission procedures; and expanding the special entry program to all seven health science courses in 1999;

• to provide appropriate academic and personal support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the Faculty and to retain and progress Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the Faculty by: reviewing and developing strategies to provide appropriate support including orientation activities, access to resources, additional financial support, clinical and knowledge skills, study technique training, Aboriginal Tutorial Assistance Scheme support, computer training, and a mentor program; establishing a network of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the Faculty to meet on a regular basis; organising camps for first year Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students; and establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Club within the University for all interested students;

• to review and broaden the delivery of Aboriginal health content in relevant courses and subjects offered by the Faculty;

• to promote the discipline, the Faculty, and the University in schools, relevant organisations, and in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by: participating in relevant community functions and committees; developing appropriate publicity material; and participating on appropriate committees and evaluating the participation;

• to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academic staff in the Faculty and their participation in relevant staff development activities including: conducting one-day Aboriginal Cultural Awareness workshops for staff and students in the Faculty; developing a portfolio for each staff member which lists their skills and the skills they would like to acquire; ensuring staff maintain a balance of Discipline activities; and revising and prioritising teaching commitments; and

• to encourage staff to: further their education and qualifications and participate in research relating to Aboriginal health; publish articles; gain external funding to support research, staff, and special initiatives projects by increasing grant applications; assist in supervision of research students at a Masters’ and PhD level; and develop a publication/authorship policy for Discipline staff.

Evaluation of each goal and strategy can be measured in a variety of ways. Firstly by an increase in enrolments and retention and completion rates. Australia-wide there are approximately twenty-seven Aboriginal medical graduates: fourteen of these are from The University of Newcastle. At present, there are twenty-five students enrolled in the Bachelor of Medicine course while the total from all nine Australian universities with such courses is approximately thirty-five. Early in the program a number of students withdrew and pass rates were low. Retention has now improved to nearly 100% and pass rates have also substantially improved although to a lesser extent.

The curriculum contains a strong focus on Aboriginal health according to recommendations from the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Report and National Aboriginal Health Strategy. Senior academics and practitioners are developing an increased involvement in Aboriginal health. Practical contributions to Aboriginal health within the Hunter Region have been achieved and are expected to continue and expand.

Contact Officers

Professor John Lester
Chair in Aboriginal Studies
Director, Umulliko Indigenous Higher Education Centre
Telephone: 02 4921 5388
Facsimile: 02 4921 6933
Email: jlester@mail.newcastle.edu.au

Associate Professor Laurel Williams
Head, Department of Aboriginal Studies
Director, Wollotuka Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Centre
Telephone: 02 4921 5900
Facsimile: 02 4921 6995
Email: lwilliam@mail.newcastle.edu.au

Ms Gail Garvey
Director
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students Liaison Office
Discipline of Aboriginal Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Telephone: 02 4921 5640
Facsimile: 02 4921 6984
Email: ggarvey@medicine.newcastle.edu.au