The
Yarning
Autumn 2024 | Edition #16
Circle
Artwork by Chris Edward (2010) Swimmy Creek [Mixed media on Latvian linen 100cm x 145cm Western Sydney University Art Collection Image in Western Red].
Acknowledgement With respect for Aboriginal cultural protocol and out of recognition that its campuses occupy their traditional lands, Western Sydney University acknowledges the Darug, Eora, Dharawal and Wiradjuri peoples and thanks them for their support for its work in their lands in Greater Western Sydney and beyond. Disclaimers The opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and contributors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the University or the organisation to which the authors are affiliated. Statements of fact are believed to be true as at the date of publication, and the University accepts no liability for the truth or accuracy of such statements. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following magazine may contain images or names of deceased persons. Publication Enquiries Please contact Matilda Harry at M.Harry@westernsydney.edu.au
Winning Design Team pictured from left to right: Thomas Sharp (JCB), Jane Irwin (JILA), Ché Wall (FLUX), Sarah Lynn Rees (JCB), Daniel Harmon (JILA), Fernanda Cabral (PSA), Tim Jackson (JCB). Not Pictured: Peter Stutchbury (PSA), Belinda Koopman (PSA). Photography: Sally Tsoutas.
Western Sydney University announces winning team of its Indigenous Centre of Excellence design competition Following a nation-wide design competition, Western Sydney University is proud to announce the winning team to design its new Indigenous Centre of Excellence. On the 15th of December 2023, Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AO, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Barney Glover AO, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership Professor Michelle Trudgett announced the winning design team as Sarah Lynn Rees + Jackson Clements Burrows Architects + Peter Stutchbury Architecture + Jane Irwin Landscape
Architecture. The team also includes Uncle Dean Kelly, Hills Thalis and Flux consultants. The winning design was chosen from submissions prepared by a shortlist of four teams. The design competition selection panel were impressed with the winning team’s design concept, which encapsulates the visionary and community-centred nature of the transformational new building and confirms its position as an Indigenousled project embedded in Country and in Indigenous knowledge. (continued overleaf)
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
(continued from previous page)
To be located at the University’s Parramatta South campus, on Darug land, the Indigenous Centre of Excellence will consolidate Western Sydney as a region at the forefront of Indigenous education, employment and research. The state-of-the-art facility will be accessible to people of all ages, abilities and interests, where they will learn more about the rich Indigenous culture and heritage of the Western Sydney region, explore its arts and cultural collections, and attend performances, talks and screenings. Purpose-built facilities will support the sharing and preservation of Indigenous Australian culture while informal learning spaces will provide opportunities for engagement and collaboration. It will also be a place for truth telling, teaching and learning, interdisciplinary research, and the exploration of creativity and innovation. The Indigenous Centre of Excellence is a key part of the University’s Indigenous Strategy 2020-2025 and will be a benchmark for Indigenous leadership and education. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership, Professor Michelle Trudgett, said: “Western Sydney is home to one of the largest Indigenous populations in the country, so it is only fitting that we create a place of such community and cultural significance where the community can learn more about the rich Indigenous culture and heritage of our region.”
Upcoming events Western Sydney University has planned a number of face-to-face and digital events in the coming months to showcase Indigenous knowledges, success and stories plus empower networking and learning opportunities across all teams and Schools. All events may be subject to change. Please follow the link for updates on Western’s calendar and upcoming events: www.westernsydney.edu.au/ aboriginal-and-torres-straitislander/events 2
Design Competition Selection Committee pictured from left to right: John Choi (CHROFI), Carol Go Sam (Dyirbal gumbilbara bama) (University of Queensland), Dillon Kombumerri (Quandamooka / Yugambeh) (Government Architect NSW), Sebastian Goldspink (Darug) (Curator and Writer), Professor Michelle Trudgett (Wiradjuri) (Western Sydney University), Dolla Merrillees (Western Sydney University), Professor Liz Cameron (Darug) (University of Newcastle), Kieran Wong (The Fulcrum Agency). Photography: Sally Tsoutas.
“I would like to sincerely congratulate Sarah Lynn Rees and team on their successful submission. Their design is absolutely beautiful as it centres Country in such a thoughtful, respectful and innovative manner. This iconic landmark building will provide a place for Indigenous culture and people to thrive for many generations into the future. I’m extremely excited and looking forward to working with this stellar team to create something that will be celebrated for many years to come.”
Chair of the Design Competition Selection Committee, Dillon Kombumerri, said: “The winning scheme is an outstanding, Country centred design that promotes First Peoples’ leadership, knowledge sharing, creative skills and living cultural practices. As well as being an iconic destination that the Western Sydney University and the communities it serves can be proud of, the facility will be a welcoming place for everyone who visits, ensuring its enduring legacy”.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover AO, said: “This iconic building will be an important gathering place to connect people and place and celebrate tens of thousands of years of Indigenous knowledges and histories. The Indigenous Centre of Excellence is testament to the University’s commitment to advancing Indigenous education, leadership, and engagement. Our longstanding relationship with our Indigenous communities is foundational to who we are as an institution.”
Winning team spokesperson, Sarah Lynn Rees, Senior Associate of Jackson Clements Burrows, said: “We are so genuinely thrilled to have been selected as the design team for the Western Sydney University Indigenous Centre of Excellence. It is not very often that you have the opportunity to respond to a brief that is seeking to holistically embed and care for Country, culture and community. We could not be more excited for the next stages, walking side by side with Western Sydney University, Darug Ngurra (Country) and the Community to realise a place that shows the world how powerful mob can be when we are allowed to be.”
Chancellor, Professor Jennifer Westacott AO, said: “This important initiative is a generational opportunity for us to intensify our engagement with the community at such a critical time for Indigenous Australians. Working together with our Indigenous communities we aim to drive positive change – increasing Indigenous participation in higher education and striving towards a sustainable future that fosters and supports emerging Indigenous leaders for decades to come.”
The winning design for the building will be shared with the community in conjunction with the NSW Government, at a special launch event in early 2024. For more information about Western Sydney University’s Indigenous Centre of Excellence, please visit the Centre’s website: www.westernsydney.edu.au/ western-growth/ICOE
Welcome to the Autumn 2024 The Yarning Circle, the first edition for what will no doubt be a fantastic year. One of the key changes already implemented in 2024 is the establishment of the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership. This change signals Western’s commitment to elevating Indigenous education through governance structures, something that is very much welcome. The newly established Division has already hit the ground running and prepared a suite of events for staff, students, and the broader community throughout the year.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all Indigenous students – both new and returning. The incredible team at the Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education is always available to provide you with excellent advice and guidance to ensure that you have the best chance of success. I strongly encourage you to get in touch with the team early in the year and have a conversation about how they can support your individual learning journeys. I would also like to welcome back Indigenous staff and thank you each of you for your continuous commitment to Western, together we are making a difference in our communities. I trust that 2024 is going to be a year full of stories of celebration and success for Indigenous people at Western Sydney University, many of which will be shared in future editions of The Yarning Circle.
Professor Michelle Trudgett. Photography: Sally Tsoutas.
Professor Michelle Trudgett (BA, MPS, EdD) Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Leadership
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
MESSAGE FROM THE DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR, INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP
BOLD conversations Bradley Burns
The Bold Conservation segment encourages Indigenous staff and students to share their ideas to promote discussions in a culturally safe environment. They reflect the authors personal views and not that of the University. Bradley Burns.
Bradley Burns is a Kamilaroi man and current higher degree research candidate at Western Sydney University. His research is focussing on understanding how Aboriginal young people in out-of-home care would design the system if they could, by empowering them to have their voice and looking at how voice is translated into practice. Bradley’s background is in the out-of-home care sector where he currently works in a senior advisory position, within a large nongovernment organisation, to support the ongoing connection to culture and family for Aboriginal children in care and supporting the organisations reconciliation journey.
In the following segment, Bradley discusses the importance of your voice in advocating for change. He hopes this piece creates an open dialogue or motivates a refreshed lens when it comes to having your say.
The same from the old saying that children should be seen and not heard, however children and young people offer great insights into what they need and are able to tell us that when we create inclusive and participatory environments.
Creating change is fundamental to building a place we can all live in equitably. We should be involved in decisions that affect us or our mob or the groups we are a part of. In reflecting, to me it never makes sense that decisions are made by those that will not at all be impacted by the decision itself, especially without the voices of those who are affected. For a long time, we have heard the rhetoric that ‘Aboriginal people don’t know what is best for them’, but news flash, we do.
I do think this is slowly changing, emphasis on the slowly. Sometimes we are asked to participate in these discussions and decisions, although at times it can be quite tokenistic. I have seen time and time again that in certain sectors or systems there is an admission that change is needed, so they run some focus groups to hear the ideas directly from those that decisions will affect, but nothing ever changes. Rinse and repeat. (continued overleaf)
3
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
(continued from previous page)
Having a voice, and the ability to speak up when it is needed is crucial to ensure that services, programs and systems are fit for purpose. We know this, because us mob have often been on the other side of these systems and services, where our voices have not been included, or have been gathered in an effort to appease rather than to change. But is voice enough? If you think about a time when you haven’t been able to speak up, and have your voice, I am sure that felt quite isolating and perhaps frustrating. In opposition to this, those times where you did have a voice you probably felt great and empowered. When we talk about having a ‘voice’ what comes to mind? Are we just wanting an opportunity to speak, or are we wanting more, such as people to listen and act on what we say? If you think about those times when you have had a voice, but then the change that you wanted to create never came, perhaps feeling just as you would when you never had a voice, what more was needed to create that change. To me, voice is a catalyst to change but in order to transition voice to change there are three key elements – having a say, having an audience and having activists. That is, we need to have a voice, we need people to listen and act on what it is we say. That can be easier said than done though, we cannot necessarily make people listen or act on things. It is for this reason that we are often still voicing the same things we did ten years ago in many different settings. We could however shift our audience and find our activists, and if we keep speaking up, we will find these things and build a community of voices.
4
The moral of this is that you should always have your say, use your voice, share your ideas for change to help make this place we live better. Be brave in accepting that challenge. Change might not be created in a day, but keep pushing forward, find those that will listen, and find likeminded people to transform your voice into VOICES. I get it can be tiring, so build your community of activists around you for support. For those of you in a position to listen and act, do that, you have an obligation to ensure people are heard and that change can be created. Never sit back and think someone else will do it, otherwise you will find that day never comes.
Dr Stacey Coates graduated with PhD Western Sydney University is proud to announce that Dr Stacey Kim Coates graduated from her doctoral research study in November 2023. Dr Coates is a proud Wiradjuri woman and her doctoral research was entitled Walan Mayiny: Indigenous Academic Perceptions of Senior Indigenous Leadership in Higher Education. Her thesis aimed to identify the essential components of Indigenous Leadership within the Australian higher education system, from the perspectives of Indigenous academics within the academy. A particular focus was given to the roles and consequent impact of senior Indigenous appointments as well as current institutional belief systems and contributions to Indigenous outcomes. Prior to completing her PhD research, Dr Coates worked in the field of child welfare, before moving into the education sector. In addition to her PhD, Dr Coates completed her Bachelor of Social Science majoring in Psychology in 2008 and her Master of Teaching (Primary) in 2014. She has published several pieces of work that centres the voices of First Nations Peoples across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and North America. Furthermore, in 2019 Stacey successfully campaigned for the NSW Department of Education to introduce mandatory ‘Indigenous cultures and histories’ training for all public-school teachers. And obtained Support from the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultive Group As a result, the ‘Aboriginal Cultural Education – Let’s take the first step together’ mandatory online training module was rolled out across the NSW Department of Education in October 2021. Post-PhD completion, Dr Coates currently holds the position of Manager, Participation and Access, within the NSW Department of Education. As part of her role, she is responsible for leading a team with designing and implementing attendance boosting strategies into early childhood education for socially impacted populations. While she has enjoyed being back within the Department of Education and seeing how the institution operates from a corporate perspective, Dr Coates notes she has a burning desire to step back into the world of academia and research. “I have started reaching out to my fellow Indigenous academic brothers and sisters, whom I met along my PhD journey, to discuss future career
Dr Stacey Coates. Photography: Sally Tsoutas.
opportunities. Ideally, I would like to undertake local action research, in the form of post-doctoral research, that will result in delivering effective evidencebased strategies that improve higher education opportunities for mob and increase Indigenous leadership more broadly,” said Dr Coates. “I encourage everyone to continue studying, regardless of one’s age. Education is a life-long journey and important for feeding the thirst for knowledge. As they say, knowledge is power. As such, power can be used to make a positive difference to the lives of many. Keep studying! I would also like to thank Professor Trudgett and Professor Page for providing me with the opportunity to work on the Walan Mayiny project under their supervision. My thesis would not have come to fruition without the dedication, professional advice, guidance, patience and understanding you provided me,” said Dr Coates. Professor Michelle Trudgett, Deputy ViceChancellor Indigenous Leadership, said with immense pride I warmly congratulate Dr Coates on her recent graduation. “Your doctoral research transcends mere academic brilliance. The value of your thesis will continue to ripple outwards, impacting policies, sparking dialogues, and influencing sector wide change in higher education. As your supervisor, I couldn’t be prouder. This is just the beginning of your academic journey, go forth and create the change you so passionately envision,” Professor Trudgett. To read her doctoral research please access the citations in the research section of the magazine, and to learn more about Western’s research opportunities, please follow: www. westernsydney.edu.au/content/wsucorporate/au/en/home/research.html
Western Sydney University’s Ignite Indigenous Traineeship Program is delivered by the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership and provides a vocational pathway for Indigenous participants to gain paid experience in university operations as business administration trainees. The program offers a one-year fixed term of employment in combination with enrolment into a Certificate III in Business Administration traineeship. This program was launched in 2022 by the Division of the Deputy ViceChancellor of Indigenous Leadership in collaboration with Western Sydney University Registered Training Organisation (RTO) The College. This initiative has been a cornerstone of our commitment to nurturing Indigenous talents and providing them with the skills and knowledge to excel in this large diverse organisation. Since launching the program, we have seen involvement from multiple schools, divisions and institutes at Western to host an Ignite Indigenous Trainee. We would like to celebrate the three trainees who have completed their traineeship in 2023. Their dedication, hard work, and enthusiasm have undoubtedly contributed to the program’s success, and we are excited to witness the impact they will make as they embark on the next phase of their professional journeys.
Jordan Janson, a proud Indigenous woman and trainee, said the Ignite Traineeship Program has completely changed her life. “Before I started in this program I was entirely lost in life, now I have a stable, set future and I’ve made amazing connections. My host unit was the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment. I learnt so much being surrounded by the environmental researchers who took me to different sites and lectures, while also learning the administration skills taught by the Ignite program. Thanks to the amazing Ignite Program I have really found my footing in life, feeling encouraged and confident to undertake a Bachelor of Education in 2024 at Western,” said Jordan Janson. The Division of the Deputy ViceChancellor Indigenous Leadership is excited to share that the Ignite Indigenous Traineeship Program will continue in 2024. This year Badanami, Learning Futures, Finance, MARCS, Teaching and Research Technical Services, School of Humanities and Communication Arts, School of Law, and School of Social Science will all be involved in the program. We would like to collectively thank the participating schools, divisions and institutes for supporting the creation of entry-level positions for the Indigenous community. We wish the best of luck to the 2023 cohort as they venture into the university as staff and to the 2024 cohort as they start their traineeship journey.
The Health and Physical Education team, Dr Sarah Kennedy and Associate Professor Andrew Beenie.
Excellence in Indigenous Research and Teaching are celebrated at the 2023 Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
Ignite Traineeship Program continues to support Indigenous success, learning and employment
On Thursday the 7th of December 2023, Western Sydney University celebrated the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards Ceremony at Parramatta South Campus. The awards provide a platform for the University to showcase some of the outstanding work being carried out in teaching, postgraduate research and supervision, professional service, engagement, sustainability, and leadership. In 2022, Western introduced two new awards namely the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) Learning and Teaching award for Excellence in Indigenous Teaching, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research, Enterprise and International) Research award for Excellence in Indigenous Research. The Excellence in Indigenous Teaching Award focusses on the development of curricula, resources, and services that embed Indigenous knowledge and understanding in meaningful, valuable, and engaging ways. There were two recipients of this award. We would like to congratulate the INSPIRE Team and Health and Physical Education Team for winning, and Dr Kathleen Openshaw who received the Highly Commended Award. Both recipients have actively worked to transform student learning through the application and engagement of Indigenous Australian philosophies and ethical praxis.
IGNITE trainees of 2022 and 2023 with Gabrielle Talbot-Mundine and Professor Michelle Trudgett.
(continued overleaf)
5
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
(continued from previous page)
The INSPIRE team received this award for their creation of learning packages that educate, support and transform clinical educators who mentor Western Sydney University’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous students when on placement. The Health and Physical Education team were awarded for their work in decolonising the Health and Physical Education curriculum through engagement with Indigenous knowledges and communities during student learning experiences. The Health and Physical Education team were humbled to receive the award along with the INSPIRE team. “Together, we have worked for nearly two and half years in an undergraduate Health Science program which majors in HPE. Our goal is to broaden students’ curricular choices because within tertiary HPE programs, Indigenous knowledges have occupied a limited part of the curriculums and often focus on deficit discourses. We intentionally prioritise Indigenous knowledges through curricular choices and contributions to broader university learning experiences, to create a more inclusive, meaningful, and safe space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to learn about First Peoples’ histories within the University. As academics, we can make a major contribution to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, doing so through a strengths-based approach to demonstrate our dedication to respecting
and prioritising Indigenous knowledges through diverse teaching and learning practices,” said the Health and Physical Education team.
Award for ‘Emergency Communication – Research’ (2022), and was the most popular resource on the Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC website in 2022.
The Excellence in Indigenous Research award recognises the research undertaken by an academic staff member or team who have significantly contributed to the University’s Indigenous Strategy and broader Indigenous Australian society. Associate Professor Jessica Weir received this award and the ‘Dalarinji- My Story’ Project with Professor Karen Doldatic, Professor Corrinne Sullivan, Professor Linda Briskman and Dr Kim Spurway were awarded highly commended.
Associate Professor Weir said she could not be more humbled and delighted by the recognition.
Associate Professor Jessica Weir is a non-Indigenous scholar who works collaboratively with Indigenous scholars, First Nations groups and public-sector agencies on land management issues across Australia. Her recent work has documented and challenged assumptions about Indigenous knowledge, authority and fire management practices. Always learning from Indigenous leaders, Associate Professor Weir unpacks complex issues of land tenure and Indigenous peoples’ rights in order to better manage landscapes, achieve disaster justice and improve climate change outcomes. Her Cultural Burning in Southern Australia, an edited collection of stories by Indigenous leaders, won the national Emergency Media and Public Affairs
Western Sydney University would like to congratulate Aunty Fran Bodkin, D’harawal Elder and member of Western’s Indigenous Elders Advisory Committee, on recently receiving the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Scholars Medal from the Royal Society of New South Wales. On the 29th of November at the 1318th Ordinary General Meeting of the Society, Aunty Fran was acknowledged for her meritorious contributions to knowledge and society.
Aunty Fran Bodkin. Photography: Sally Tsoutas.
Aunty Fran Bodkin is awarded the Royal Society of New South Wales Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Scholars Medal 6
Aunty Fran has made significant contributions to Aboriginal knowledge across multiple disciplines, including medicine, linguistics, the environment, and psychology. Since her first publication in 1986 on native and exotic plants in Australia, Aunty Fran has contributed to 36 different works spanning fields of knowledge such as native flora and fauna, environmental sustainability, Ancestral knowledge, climate, D’harawal Language, medicine,
“I wish to thank all the Indigenous people who have generously mentored me on this journey, and acknowledge our ongoing work together,” said Associate Professor Weir. Professor Barney Glover, Vice-Chancellor and President, highlights how these awards are an important platform for the University to showcase some of the outstanding work being carried out across the University. “Western Sydney University’s Excellence Awards celebrate the significant achievements of our staff and students. I would like to congratulate the INSPIRE Team, the Health and Physical Education Team and Associate Professor Jessica Weir on their success and to thank them for their contributions to the University. The Excellence Awards are an important opportunity to publicly acknowledge the outstanding endeavours and accomplishments of our staff and to reward their achievements,” said Professor Glover. Western Sydney University would like to congratulate all who received and were nominated for the Excellence Awards.
and psychology. Her D’harawal Pharmacopeia consists of 1,885 pages of native plants prevalent in D’harawal Country (the Sydney region), their medical uses, and associations with other native plants. Aunty Fran has dedicated herself to teaching others in higher education, schools, and community organisations, and to documenting her knowledge in literature for future generations. Without the contributions of Aunty Fran, Western Sydney University and the Royal Society of New South Wales, recognise that undoubtedly a significant amount of Indigenous cultural knowledge would have been lost. The Royal Society of New South Wales has long recognised distinguished achievements in various fields of knowledge through its Awards. To learn more about the awards and other recipients, please follow: www.royalsoc.org.au/awards/recentwinners#atsimedal
The Painted River Project is an art, science and cultural initiative that creates space for diverse community members to share knowledge and build understanding of how we live with the natural world. The Project was devised by Dr Leo Robba, Associate Dean in Western’s School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Associate Professor Ian Wright, Western’s School of Science and Professor Tony Capon from Monash University. It aims to nurture transformative thinking and collective action around one of Australia’s most contested topics - water. The Painted River Project highlights how important healthy water catchments and rivers are for the future of the region and communicates this message through creative community interactions at selected sites. The Painted River Blue Mountains Rare Upland Swamps Project explores the swamps of Greater Blue Mountains UNESCO World Heritage Area, in particular the Leura Swamp and Garguree (The Gully) in Katoomba. These swamps play a vital part in maintaining the water flows in the creeks and waterfalls in the Blue Mountains, by storing water and slowly releasing it over time. The Swamps also act as filters, purifying water prior to the release into creeks, whilst also providing vital habitat for threatened plant, insects, and animal species. Traditionally, swamps were significant sites for different cultural reasons across tribes and clans. Several events have been held to invite community to come and reimagine place through art making.
The community day at the Garguree for the Painted River Project. Photography: Sally Tsoutas.
Many artistic creations have been exhibited from this project, including features from Lucy Culliton, Chris O’Doherty, Euan Macleod, Adrienne Richards, Dr Leo Robba and Kelsie King, Gundungurra artist and Executive Officer to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership. Dr Leo Robba, the Associate Dean Engagement of the School of Humanities and Communication Arts, plays a leading role in the Painted River Project. He has worked to establish partnerships with local governments, community groups and other institutions to facilitate art and science research field studies, public events, and a wide range of educational programs. He said the Painted River Project was created to help communities and our students better understand issues related to water health, water ecology and natural system. “I developed the Painted River Project in response to the lack of hope that young people have for their future. It’s a way of encouraging active participation in addressing environmental challenges. The way we teach and learn is critical. If we are to Care for Country it starts from being immersed in it and getting to know it.
End of 2023 Indigenous staff networking event
The winning team! Jake Barton, Caspa Tyson, Fiona Towney and Professor Susan Page.
Western’s Indigenous staff at the end of year networking event.
On 15th of December, the Office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership warmly invited Indigenous staff, from all Western Sydney University schools and institutes, to come together for an end of year networking event. The staff enjoyed buffet lunch followed by barefoot bowls and awards. The luncheon provided Indigenous staff the opportunity to network and learn about the on-going developments in all Indigenous portfolios whilst building connections with colleagues and enjoying the lawn bowls.
And to me, when you’re talking about the environment the outdoor classroom is the best place to start a transformational conversation––to be in nature when you’re talking about nature. And to think and feel ‘accountable for the health of the planet and future generations’ by responding and learning firsthand from natural systems. It’s not new, it’s First Nations principles,” said Dr Robba.
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
Art, Science and Culture come together and are celebrated through the Painted Rivers Project
Uncle David King, Gundungurra Elder and Traditional Owner, said his role in the project is custodial to Garguree (The Gully) in Gedumba (Katoomba). “I am a custodian and honour the site and my mob’s 65,000 years of connection. I got involved in The Painted Rivers Project to try and show people the importance of Indigenous culture and environmental management. This project is important as it connects and engages so many people. It can bring people home to Country and heal more of our mob,” said Uncle David King. Western Sydney University recognises the importance of this project and more broadly caring for water and Country in the planning and development of our region, particularly as our region is one of the country’s fastest growing areas.
This event celebrated all achievements in the Indigenous space for 2023 and acknowledged Western’s Indigenous staff continued commitment, collegiality and teamwork. The Office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor would like to provide a special congratulations to the winning barefoot bowling team: • Caspa Tyson, Indigenous Engagement Project Officer • Fiona Towney, Director Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education • Jake Barton, Future Student Engagement Project Support Officer • Professor Susan Page, Pro ViceChancellor Indigenous Education
7
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
Students WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY’S INDIGENOUS STUDENTS ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS
In the hospital itself there are heaps of challenges. Anyone who knows me knows I got broad shoulders and thick skin, but it took a lot to not lose it in the situation. I would regularly get told I do not look Aboriginal, receive judgement on my drink bottles because they had Aboriginal artwork, and comments to the point that I am at university for free. That one got me good!!
Seven deadly questions: Introducing Brooke Toli Who are you? My Name is Brooke Toli. I am a proud Buruberongal and Wamuli Woman of the Dharug Nation. I am the five times Great granddaughter of Maria Locke. I am lucky enough to have been born, raised and work on Country. I am a Mother to four beautiful boys, and when I am not studying or working, I am found sideline to a football field or basketball court. Who is your mob? The Dharug People. While all Aboriginal People are warriors, my people are very strong, resilient, and still here, although there are people out there who would like to deny our existence. We have been fighting a battle for our land since the early days of invasion. Look into history and you will see that we, the Dharug people, were the first to meet the colonist on the banks of Botany Bay, and have our land invaded, and renamed. What community or Cultural events have you been involved in lately or will you engage in this year? I love my Hawkesbury Community. Although I have now moved from the Hawkesbury it will always be home and always hold a piece of my heart. I am involved with my kids’ sporting teams (club basketball, representative basketball, and rugby league) either managing them or assisting with fundraising. I am also P&C President and Fundraising Co-ordinator for my boy’s primary school. I was involved with the local Aboriginal organisation organising and attending, NAIDOC balls and concerts, family fun days, youth groups, afterschool programs for primary age, Go4Fun healthy lifestyle program and outreaches to name a few. I try to attend most of the NAIDOC events in
8
I’m not going to treat anyone different from the other”. The lack of education about Australia’s history makes for these comments. Us as Aboriginal people need to start speaking up.
Brooke Tooli. Photography: Sally Tsoutas.
the Hawkesbury/ Nepean Areas when they do not clash on the same day. I have been involved with the Heartbeat and Pathways to Dreaming program over my years studying at Western. I have loved watching students from my area growing in culture, identity and selfbelief. Why did you choose to study at Western Sydney University? Western Sydney is home, so Western is home. If I cannot study at Western, I won’t study anywhere. When I applied for my graduate certificate, and an Aunty said to me she could get me into another University if Western would not accept me, I replied swiftly with “NOPE! If I can’t study at Western, I don’t want to do it”. Western is what I grew up knowing. It was University of Western Sydney when I was young. Have you faced any challenges as an Indigenous student? If so, how did you overcome them? I never thought I did or would, but you know it happens to us every day and it is often so “normal” that at times we do not even notice it. I struggle with some in my cohort, with comments regarding Welcome to Countries and Acknowledgments. Comments also like, why do we do it? Why does that person have to do it? I learnt to bite my tongue and let the teacher deal with it. I also struggled with ‘friends’ making comments like “oh well, I love everyone, why does this matter?
What everyone does not realise is that we get a hand up not a handout. As Aboriginal students, we climb the mountains that every other student climbs, just ours are much steeper. When faced by these people, I respond by overloading them with kindness and education. There is no point getting angry, just seize the moment and take the opportunity teach them the real history, Blak history. White Australia has a Blak History, everybody needs to remember that. When you graduate from Western Sydney University what do you hope to achieve? I never really wanted to work in a hospital. I wanted to work in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, which I did for some time however I really want to work in a health focused organisation. Which unfortunately the Hawkesbury and Nepean area does not have. My longterm dream is to open one, focused on the birthing journey, health, and parenting programs. My short-term goal is to have an Antenatal open to all women, but I really want to bring back traditional birthing customs. In the meantime, I will keep studying to build that skill belt up. You are clearly a busy person with lots of commitments, what are your top 5 tips towards success for other Indigenous Western Sydney University students? • GET INVOLVED. I wish I got involved a lot earlier than I did. Getting involved allows you to meet people, build connections, and make new friendship groups. I am so grateful for mine- they know who they are.
• UTILISE BADANAMI. The Student Success Officers are there waiting for us, waiting to guide and support us. Reach out to them, get to know them as they become your rock, your support, and advocates.
• THROW YOURSELF AT OPPORTUNITIES. Say yes to any opportunity offered to you. These opportunities are great for your growth as a student and as an Aboriginal person. They can help personally and culturally. Use these opportunities to network, meet someone knew, look at how the opportunity can help you but also how you can give back in the process.
Indigenous New Columbo Plan Taiwan Program cohort 2023.
• BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. YOU CAN DO IT. Our ancestors have paved paths for us knowingly and unknowingly, so trust and believe in yourself. YOU CAN DO IT. I did it as a non-school leaver and Mum of three.
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
• DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. Do not leave it until you are failing, or ready to quit to ask for help. People are there waiting for you to ask.
Indigenous New Columbo Plan Taiwan Program cohort and Taiwanese students and community members during the ocean cleanup.
2023 Indigenous New Columbo Plan Taiwan Program On Sunday the 19th of November, nine of Western Sydney University’s Indigenous students flew to Taiwan to commence the two-week Indigenous Taiwan New Columbo Plan Program. This program blended academic insights with firsthand cultural encounters and created a rich tapestry of learning for all students in the cohort. After touching down in Taiwan, the students travelled to Dannei Glamping in Gongliao District, New Taipei City where they engaged in an Ocean cleanup, leaving a lasting impression on the urgency of sustainability. The next couple of days were a whirlwind for the cohort. The students excelled at the Sustainability Forum with Taipei Medical University, explored the National Palace Museum, and immersed themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of Taipei’s night markets. On the 21st of November the group boarded a train to Zhixue, Hualien County, where the team from the College of Indigenous Studies at National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) greeted them warmly.
The NDHU Indigenous student dance crew sang, danced and performed to welcome Western’s students. At NDHU, the program introduced Indigenous Taiwanese education, featuring activities like a hands-on Taiwanese jade making workshop where students crafted their own pieces of jewellery. After a week immersed in both Taiwanese and Indigenous cultures, students began their weekend with a trip to Hualien City. There, they visited an Indigenous Taiwanese art exhibition, enjoyed traditional Taiwanese desserts, and explored the vibrant Hualien night markets. During the second week the cohort participated in a series of Indigenous Taiwanese-focused lectures facilitated by National Dong Hwa University. The students journeyed down the Eastern Coastline, where they immersed themselves in Indigenous community villages, enjoying traditional banquets prepared by local villagers. A highlight for the students was the banana silk weaving workshop, allowing them
to craft their own miniature owls using banana silk fibres. This handson experience provided insight into the intricate process of extracting silk fibres from banana plants, from seed to weaving technique. These unique activities offered students the opportunity to witness age-old traditions and connect with the local Taiwanese living in remote villages along the Eastern Coastline. On the final day of the tour, students visited Taroko National Park, winding their way up through the mountain gorges to the very top. Before heading to the airport for their flight home, students explored the beautiful beaches of Taiwan and enjoyed a traditional lunch. The Indigenous Taiwan New Columbo Plan Program fostered a deeper understanding and appreciation for the diverse Taiwanese life, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of students, forging a profound connection to the people and traditions of Taiwan. The students were truly grateful for this unique experience as it is a learning journey they will never forget. 9
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
Students Western STEM superstar completes the National Indigenous Space Academy program and NASA internship in the United States
Palawa student, Edward (Ted) Vanderfeen recently returned from completing a once in a lifetime internship with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California with the Monash University’s National Indigenous Space Academy. He represented Western Sydney University’s International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems and the School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment. Ted has always had a keen interest in space and has a strong relationship with Western completing his Bachelor of Engineering degree with 1st Class Honours with the University’s School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment. During the 10-week program Ted worked closely with Dr Andrew Klesh and Dr Tom Nordheim on the Bouyant Rover for Under-Ice Exploration, BRUIE. BRUIE is a rover with a mission concept for underwater vehicles that may one day be sent to icy moons within our solar system such as Europa and Enceladus. His specific task with BRUIE was to develop and test a sonar-based obstacle avoidance capability so that BRUIE does not run into anything when it is exploring under the ice for extended periods of time. Ted said the opportunity came at the right time as he had spent his entire degree at Western preparing for this experience. “I would like to thank my supervisors at ICNS, Dr Gregory Cohen, Dr Nicholas Ralph, Dr Imogen Jones; Dr Chris Lawrence and Monash University; the NEBULA group at JPL and Dr Andrew Klesh and Dr Tom Nordheim for mentoring me while I was at JPL. My time at the JPL was truly life changing. It was an absolute privilege to work with and befriend individuals that are representing humanity in the search for answers about the origins of life and
10
Western’s Indigenous Future Student Engagement team were at the 2024 Yabun Festival
Edward (Ted) Vanderfeen.
other fundamental unknowns about our Universe. The collaborative spirit and expertise of my colleagues at JPL ignited a passion for exploration and innovation that will undoubtedly drive my career forward in ways I didn’t think possible.” “My education at Western opened doors to incredible opportunities, and the support I received during that journey was instrumental in making my internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) a reality. The skills acquired and the encouragement received have been crucial elements in shaping my professional path, and I am immensely grateful for the foundation laid during my time at Western Sydney University,” said Ted Vanderfeen. Professor Michelle Trudgett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership congratulated Ted on successfully completing the internship. “Western is proud of Ted and the dedication he showed to his studies throughout the program. He had the opportunity to learn from the best and brightest internationally and engage in solving real world problems. We are eager to learn more about the program from Ted and for him to share his newfound knowledge with fellow researchers and student cohorts. I am looking forward to following Ted’s academic and professional journey,” said Professor Trudgett. To learn more about the National Indigenous Space Academy program, please follow https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/.
On January 26th, the Indigenous Future Student Engagement, team along with our Indigenous Student ambassadors, hosted a stall at the Yabun Festival. The Yabun Festival is Australia’s largest oneday celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. This community celebration embraces the world’s oldest living culture. To many, the festival is more than just a gathering; it’s a living testament to the enduring strength and vibrancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Amelia Corr, Senior Project Support Officer in the Future Student Engagement, said this year’s Yabun theme, “Surviving, Guiding, Thriving,” celebrates the resilience and strength of mob. “Yabun is one of the biggest events on the Black calendar. It’s an opportunity to celebrate all the deadly parts of ourselves, our Countries and Communities. It’s important that Western is a continual presence at this event, demonstrating our solidarity with community. We interacted with over 1500 mob across the day from jarjums to Elders,” said Amelia Corr. To find out more about the Yabun Festival, please follow https://yabun.org.au/
Western Sydney University’s stall at the 2024 Yabun Festival.
called for Indigeneity to be centred in ideations and indicators of Indigenous youth success. Finally, she expressed that it is the responsibility of every institution, program and pathway to nurture and develop current and future generations of First Nations young people to grow richer academies, labour markets and stronger communities.
Matilda Harry.
Wiradjuri doctoral student, Matilda Harry, shares research findings at IAFOR Education Conference in Hawaii From the 3rd to the 8th of January, Matilda Harry attended and presented at the 9th IAFOR International Conference on Education in Hawaii. This conference saw 600 delegates from more than 52 countries around the world attend and was truly international, intercultural and interdisciplinary. Matilda presented her thesis aims, methodologies, and the significance of her findings. As she is currently partway through her doctoral candidature, she shared a component of her current findings. She echoed her participants voices in expressing aspirational development and achievement as complex and raced spaces. Matilda
Staff Updates Western Sydney University would like to congratulate the following Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff members on their new appointments: • Amos Turvey as an Ignite trainee. • Katarina Ferkula-Cohen as an Ignite trainee. • Mitchell Regan appointed as an Ignite trainee. Western Sydney University would also like to thank all of the Indigenous staff who continuously demonstrate excellence and the Universities values ensuring Western is the place to be.
Matilda Harry, current doctoral student, said she is beyond grateful to all who encouraged her to take up this opportunity. “I was shaking with an overwhelming sense of pride when presenting and discussing my research findings at the IAFOR conference. As the first in my family to graduate from high school, I never thought I would be completing a PhD, let alone get the opportunity to engage in comparative and contrastive discussions across international borders of nations and cultures. I am beyond grateful to my supervisors, family, research participants, the University of Hawai’i and IAFOR International Advisory Board for supporting me to uptake this opportunity. I learnt so much from other’s experiences and made many personal and professional connections, friendships and potential research partnerships. I encourage all researchers to attend this and other international conferences. Who knows where your big ideas will take you next?,” said Matilda Harry. Western Sydney University would like to congratulate Matilda Harry on presenting her research internationally.
WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY’S INDIGENOUS ALUMNI
Congratulations to Western’s December graduates Western Sydney University is committed to empowering and supporting Indigenous students’ to study and graduate from degrees of their choice. Currently, Western Sydney University has over 1,607 Indigenous alumni who have graduated from a variety of degrees across the University’s range of Schools.
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
Alumni
Graduation is an incredibly important milestone as it celebrates all the hard work and time put into achieving a degree, marking the formal end of tertiary study and the beginning of a new journey. In December 2023, three deadly students graduated including two Doctor of Medicine Degrees and a Bachelor degree. Congratulations to the following students, we are so proud of each of you and wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours: Lucinda Colbert graduated with a Doctor of Medicine Paige Ara graduated with a Doctor of Medicine
We would like to give a special mention and congratulate Terri Keating on recently being recognised for her 15 years of service at Western. Throughout Terri’s time at Western, she has held multiple positions. Currently she is the Community Engagement Officer in the Division of Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership. Terri’s contributions to Western are recognised Universitywide as she plays a vital role in supporting the Indigenous Elders Advisory Committee members and organises Welcomes and Acknowledgements of Country for events across all schools and disciplines. We would once again like to thank Terri for her service.
Patrick Paasila graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Lucinda Colbert, Fiona Towney and Paige Ara at December graduations. Photography: Sally Tsoutas.
11
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
Staff
WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY’S PASSIONATE INDIGENOUS STAFF Seven deadly questions: Introducing Luke Warren, a Badanami Student Success Officer
What is your favourite thing about working at Western Sydney University?
Who are you? My name is Luke Warren. I am proud to live and work on Darug Country. I married my wife, Lisa, in 2017 and we are raising three children in North Richmond less than ten minutes’ drive from where I work on the Hawkesbury campus. In my spare time, I like to learn useless things from the internet while I listen to music ranging from metal to my shameful tastes as a closeted Swifty. Who is your mob? My mob is Wailwan. Our Country takes in Brewarrina, Walgett, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Nyngan and the south bank of the Namoi River. Wailwan is on the southwest boarder of Kamilaroi Country. My Grandmother was taken from her family in Coonamble in 1914. She was part of the Stolen Generation and, sadly, she never returned home. What community/Cultural events have you been involved in lately? Unfortunately, the last cultural thing I was involved in was a bit of Sorry Business. My Aunt died recently and it came on top of my Dad going into hospital. I did not know this Aunt very well but we were all rallying around my Dad to support him through it. I am looking forward to taking my son for a Return to Country visit through Link-Up but there is a 12-18 month wait and we have only recently put in our application. I think it will be great to take my son with me when I finally step foot on Country. Feels like it is long overdue.
12
After doing my practicum here at the Hawkesbury campus, I got some casual work then contracts and then a fulltime role. Since then, I have not looked back. Maybe in another 10 years I will decide that I need to work with kids again but I am enjoying working with our students helping them achieve their educational goals.
Luke Warren. Photography: Sally Tsoutas.
What is your current position at Western Sydney University and how long have you worked at the University? My current position is as a Badanami Student Success Officer on the Hawkesbury campus. I have only been in this position for a few months but it is a great team and all of them have made me feel welcome. This is my first time working with Mob and the experience has been even better than I expected. I have been with the University for 10 years. I started in 2013 as a Summer contract worker for the Library. I worked various roles and on various campuses with them until I wanted another change in my career which seems to happen about every 10 years so right on time. Have you always aspired to work in tertiary education? I have always aspired to work in education, not necessarily tertiary. I think that education can be transformative. I did not finish high school but returned to study later in life as a mature age student when I was ready to do the work. My undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Education (Primary) from the Australian Catholic University and I intended to take my career path through the Education Department starting as a classroom teacher. My classroom management skills were never what I wanted them to be and I realised over time that it was not for me. I decided to return to study to retrain as a Librarian with the intention of going into children’s library service.
I feel like this is a trick question because the first answer that came to my mind was the money. Jokes aside, the people. I have met some very smart and dedicated people that want to help our students. It is a pleasure to work around people that see education as vital to a better life and society. I have always wanted to work in a profession that has people as the focus and I am better suited to education than most of the other people centred professions. Do you have any advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people wanting to work at Western Sydney University? Do it! We need more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Higher Education. We could be the difference for the next student coming through to continue their studies, improving their life and their community. We might work at a university but we are helping the next generation of every other profession and raising the profile of Indigenous Australians in the process.
Western Sydney University would like to congratulate Professor Alexis Wright and Professor Anthony Uhlmann on recently receiving an Australian Research Council grant for their vital and timely project Like the Thunder: Seeing Stories in the Gulf Country, in the first 2024 Indigenous Discovery round. This is a wonderful achievement, honouring and reflecting decades of scholarship and practice by Professor Wright in the Gulf Country. This project investigates the nature of relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It will generate imaginative understandings of how new relations might have been built through the historical marriage of a Waanyi woman and a Chinese man in the late gold rush era; consider the challenges of contemporary Aboriginal advocacy; and examine how storytelling allows us to understand the nature of relations. Cultural benefits include showing how storytelling helps reveal the essential nature of human relations, and how the capacity to remake relations is essential to intercultural reconciliation.
Professor Alexis Wright, from Western’s Writing and Society Research Centre, was deeply honoured to receive the grant. “Like the Thunder will generate major works of fiction and non-fiction and a collection of scholarly essays, alongside vital cultural knowledges linked to storying as an embodied practice. I would like to thank the Australian Research Council for supporting this project,” said Professor Wright. Professor Anthony Uhlmann, from Western’s Writing and Society Research Centre, said Alexis Wright has established herself as a major voice dealing with the complexities of First Nations Australian knowledge. “She exemplifies what the poet John Keats called ‘negative capability’: the ability to allow us to grasp complexity and paradox while not reducing them to simplistic ‘solutions’. Her reputation is now strongly international and rapidly growing in scope. It is an honour to work with her on this project and I look forward to helping convene a major international conference, which will be held at Western Sydney University in 2025 as part of the project,” said Professor Uhlmann. Western Sydney University is privileged to support Professors Wright and Uhlmann in their research, and we wish them all the best in this brilliant project.
Tjanara Ridgeway, Tania Sheperd, Darren GreenTree, Gabrielle Talbot-Mundine and Ashleigh Lia.
Deadly staff graduate from the Indigenous Professional Staff Mentoring Leadership Program
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
Professor Alexis Wright and Professor Anthony Uhlmann are awarded an Australian Research Council grant
In July 2023, the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership launched an Indigenous Professional Staff Mentoring Leadership Program with the support of Western’s Organisational Development Team. This program provides a structured platform for empowering and supporting Indigenous professional staff to grow professional and personally. Throughout the program participants are encouraged to unlock their full potential, not only for personal success but to make meaningful contributions to their teams, the University, and broader community. The long-term vision for this initiative is to promote Indigenous representation in leadership roles throughout the University. By aligning with values such as respect, cultural awareness and inclusivity, the Indigenous Professional Staff Leadership Program takes a significant step towards building a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Western Sydney University would like to congratulate the following graduates of the inaugural Indigenous Professional Staff Mentoring Leadership Program: • Ashleigh Lia, School Administration Assistant in the School of Science. • Tania Sheperd, Senior Project Officer, Indigenous Engagement in the Future Student Engagement Team. • Tjanara Ridgeway, Indigenous Engagement Project Officer in the Future Student Engagement Team. Congratulations again to the inaugural cohort, your experiences and feedback are invaluable to growing this program within the Indigenous professional staff network.
Alexis Wright. Photography MPavilion.
13
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
Research CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS RESEARCH AT WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
Western Sydney University is very proud of our Indigenous academics and higher degree research students. Please read about some of their outstanding research that was completed this year and the end of last year. Coralie Properjohn, Rebekah Grace & Corrinne T. Sullivan. (2023). Colonial dominance and Indigenous resistance in Australian national education declarations. Journal of Educational Administration and History, 1-19.
Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews, Maggie Walter, Karen Martin, Sam Provost, Jacob Phren, Bobby Maher & MakaylaMay Brinckley. (2023). Universities Accord–The Erasure of Indigenous Leadership and Governance. Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews, Shannon Foster, Frances Bodkin, John Foster, Gavin Andrews, Karen Adams, Ross Evans, Joanne Kinniburgh, Jade FosterGuadalupe & Bronwyn Carlson. (2024). Resisting Genocide through D’harawal Relatedness: Understanding the Appin Massacre and the Story of how Wiritijiribin the Lyrebird came to be. In J. Shi and G. Ewart (Eds) Paths of Compassion through Humanity’s Crises: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Futures (pp. 181-206). New York: Peter Lang Publishing. Kaiya Aboagye & L. Wilo Muwadda. (2023). Lessons on Decoloniality from Blak and Black Sahulian Ecologies and the Aboriginal Philosophy of Everywhen. In The Routledge Handbook of Australian Indigenous Peoples and Futures (pp. 346-363). Routledge.
YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway Program The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Future Students Information Evenings are an opportunity to hear more about the programs on offer and how Western can help you during your studies. Whether you are considering University yourself, a teacher wanting to increase your knowledge or community member, these evenings are for you!
Tuesday 9 April, 4pm at Penrith (Kingswood) campus Wednesday 10 April, 4pm at Campbelltown campus
REGISTER NOW: westernsydney.edu.au/indigenousinfo
14
Karen Soldatic, Corrinne T. Sullivan, Georgia Coe, John Leha, William Trewlynn & Kim Spurway. (2023). ‘We never get a space to just have a good time together’: indigenous LGBTIQSB+ young people carving out alternative viable lives. Journal of Youth Studies, 1-14. Maggie Walter, Ray Lovett, Bobby Maher, Jacob Prehn, Cassandra Price & Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews. (2023). Submission to Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) Project from the Maiam nayri Wingara Indigenous Data Sovereignty Collective. Ros Sawtell & Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews. (2023). Beyond Zeros and Ones: Walking the daisy talk with D’harawal Elders to understand their (dis) connection with internet services. In B. Carlson, M. Day. S. O’Sullivan, & T. Kennedy (Eds), The Routledge Handbook of Australian Indigenous Peoples and Futures (pp. 378395). Routledge.
Professor Susan Page, Professor Marcia Langton and Matilda Harry.
Voice, Truth, Place: Critical Junctures for Educational Research – Western’s Indigenous researchers represent at the AARE Conference From the Sunday 26th of November to Thursday 30th of November, the Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) and the University of Melbourne co-hosted the AARE 2023 Conference. The conference offered delegates the opportunity to connect, network, share and learn in Melbourne. The conference theme was Voice, Truth, Place: Critical Junctures for Educational Research. The conference theme invited a diverse community of scholars to engage in meaningful discussions and exchange ideas on the pressing issues facing education research. Professor Susan Page, Pro ViceChancellor Indigenous Education, provided two stimulating presentations. The first was entitled ‘Illuminating Indigenous Early Career Researcher experiences to enhance post-doctoral trajectories.’ This presentation shared some insights from The Developing Indigenous Australian Early Career Researchers qualitative study in relation to managing workload, developing a worthwhile career and effective institutional support. Professor Page’s subsequent presentation was entitled ‘Convoluted, Challenging, Cathartic: Rites of passage in Australian Indigenous Studies learning.’ Throughout this presentation she discussed a holistic model for understanding student transformative learning experiences which can inform teaching practice.
Dr Michelle Locke, Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, garnered critical engagement with her timely presentations. Her first presentation was entitled ‘Safe spaces in academic places for Indigenous Early Career Researchers’. In this presentation she discussed attributes identified by Indigenous early career researchers as necessary to creating culturally safe spaces within institutions and demonstrated the need for the higher education sector to move beyond the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and Knowledges to instead recognise Indigenous Peoples as sovereign. Dr Michelle Lock also co-presented a session entitled ‘Acknowledgement to Country practices in early learning centres: Children, families and educators perspectives.’ Here she explored research focussing on the perspectives of children, families and educators to better understand the significance, meaning, benefits and impacts of Acknowledgement to Country practices to them. Professor Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews’ and Shannon Foster’s co-presentation was entitled ‘The Seven Peacekeepers (Yandel’mawa midan’barkalo): Teaching of environmental (in)justice through the ‘eucalypti’’. Throughout their presentation they shared the D’harawal Garuwanga (Ancestral Dreaming) Story of the Yandel’mawa midan’barkalo (Seven Peacekeepers), which is a story that teaches of the gifting of the seven eucalypti trees to the D’harawal peoples to what is now known as South-West Sydney.
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
Dr Michelle Locke.
Matilda Harry’s, Western doctoral student, presentation was entitled ‘Reflections in waterholes: Reconceptualising young Indigenous success through young mob refractions.’ Throughout her presentation she shared reconceptualisations of Indigenous young people’s success which include the capacities of Indigenous young people to contribute to tribal nation building, community, kin, Country, spirit, intergenerational equity and systemic changes. Matilda was awarded the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Postgraduate Student Researcher Award for her submission of this paper. Professor Susan Page and Professor Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews also adroitly helped in leading the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Special Interest Group for the duration of the conference, encouraging discussion and welcoming newcomers. The AARE conference has a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Special Interest Group which saw Western’s Indigenous network connect with newcomers and old colleagues undertaking interesting research. Professor Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews, Director of Indigenous Research, said the AARE conference was a great opportunity to establish meaningful connections, gain valuable knowledge and witness many powerful and inspirational Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and First Nations speakers present. (continued overleaf)
15
The Yarning Circle | Western Sydney University | Autumn 2024
(continued from previous page)
“I was proud to see so many Mob from Western Sydney University presenting at the 2023 AARE conference. The highlight for me though was not only seeing Wiradjuri Warrior and PhD candidate Matilda Harry powerfully honour the voices and strengths of Aboriginal youth in her presentation, but very deservedly she won the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Post Graduate Student Researcher Award that was presented to her by none other than Aboriginal anthropologist and geographer, Distinguished Professor Marcia Langton. Add to that, Dharug scholar Dr Michelle Locke’s amazing presentation on the need for safe places for Indigenous Early Career Researchers and the Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Education, Professor Susan Page’s two stirring presentations on the challenges of Indigenous transitions within higher education (one focused on the teaching of Indigenous Studies, the other ensuring Indigenous ECRs have optimal postdoctoral trajectories) all highlighted the ongoing war being waged to forge optimal pathways towards social justice within the higher education system itself. Finally, I had to the honour of presenting with D’harawal Knowledge Holder (and soon-to-be-Doctor), Shannon Foster on value of D’harawal Storytelling as a method of teaching of the need for environmental justice to honour and protect Country. Overall, it was an amazing conference that was run with respect. Finally, and personally, I offer my thanks to the young protestor who, very peacefully, disrupted (with music) a particular keynote presentation in support of the Palestinian victims of the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” said Professor Bodkin-Andrews. To learn more about the AARE Conference follow https:// aareconference.com.au/
The Badanami team are excited to continue supporting Indigenous students The Badanami team are thrilled to be back for 2024 and cannot wait for the start of the academic school year. As students start to return to campus, we want to remind all Indigenous students, in particular our new commencing students, that our centres are open, and the team are ready and waiting to help any of our Indigenous students wherever we can to make sure you are set up for an amazing year. Whether you are a newly commencing student or even one of our returning students, please make sure you pop into your local Badanami Centre and meet the team. Our centres offer Indigenous students a culturally safe environment and countless opportunities to build connections with both Indigenous students and staff across Western. Centres have facilities such as computer labs, kitchens, free printing, study spaces etc while Badanami staff can help with several things including registering for tutorials and sorting your class timetable. Badanami Centres can be found at: • Bankstown City Campus – Level 3 • Campbelltown Campus – Building 3
WESTERNSYDNEY.EDU.AU
• Hawkesbury Campus – Building K4 (Stable Square) • Parramatta South Campus – Building EY • Parramatta City – Level 2 • Penrith Campus (Kingswood) – Building N • Liverpool City Campus – Level 1 Badanami’s Tutoring For Success Program (TFS) offers Indigenous students studying at Western Sydney University and The College free tutoring and sees students paired with qualified tutors in specific subject areas with additional support around academic skills such as, essay writing, study techniques and research skills. For more information or to apply for tutoring, feel free to pop into your local Badanami Centre and chat to one of our team members. The team at Badanami are looking forward to another busy year, including the annual student v staff soccer and basketball matches, along with a number of new and exciting events already planned for 2024. So please, feel free to reach out at any time to our Badanami staff members or drop into one of our centres. We look forward to seeing you all soon.