The YarningCircle
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
Western researchers receive more than $1.7 million through Discovery Indigenous scheme
Researchers at Western Sydney University have collectively been awarded more than $1.7 million through the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Discovery Indigenous scheme.
The ARC Discovery Indigenous scheme supports research programs led by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers and builds the research capacity of higher degree research students and early career researchers. Western enjoyed a 100% success rate in this round and were the only university nationally to have more than one project funded.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and VicePresident, Indigenous Leadership, Professor Michelle Trudgett and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Education, Professor Susan Page will lead ‘Yarruwala: Complex Ecosystems of Indigenous Higher Education Leadership ’. This study, awarded $808,253, examines the governance ecology of universities, exploring networks with key industry partners, to identify the complex web of relationships which impact the portfolio outcomes of Indigenous leaders.
Artwork by Chris Edward (2010) Swimmy Creek [Mixed media on Latvian linen 100cm x 145cm Western Sydney University Art Collection Image in Western Red].
Picture 1: Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Indigenous Leadership, Professor Michelle Trudgett.
Picture 2: Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Education, Professor Susan Page.
Picture 3: Associate Dean (Indigenous Education), School of Social Sciences, Professor Corrinne Sullivan.
The study will provide unprecedented knowledge about Indigenous leadership across the higher education sector and industry, allowing new insights into how university/industry partnerships can foster Indigenous success nationally.
Associate Dean (Indigenous Education), School of Social Sciences, Professor Corrinne Sullivan will lead ‘Indigenous/ Pasifika LGBTIQ+ wellbeing & the role of rights-based practices ’. This project, awarded $925,714, will conduct comparative cross-country research into Indigenous/Pasifika LGBTIQ+ ways of addressing their health and wellbeing futures. The research will improve service provision by integrating the knowledges of Indigenous/Pasifika LGBTIQ+ peoples from Pacific nations
MESSAGE FROM THE DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR, INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP
Welcome to the 19th edition of The Yarning Circle, and our final publication for 2024. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Matilda Harry for the fantastic work she has done over the past four years since the inception of The Yarning Circle in 2020. She has been instrumental in bringing this incredible newsletter to life.
This year marked the beginning of a new era at Western with the establishment of the Division of the Deputy-Vice Chancellor Indigenous Leadership. I am thrilled to share that the newly established Division has had an incredible year and would like to thank my phenomenal team for their excellent contributions throughout the year. The highlights for the year of 2024 include:
≥ The reveal of the Indigenous Centre of Excellence design in March, and the submission of the State Significant Development Application in July.
≥ The launch of Western’s Indigenous Research Strategy 2024 – 2028: Sharing Knowledges in Good Spirit.
≥ The construction of the First Peoples Garden at Campbelltown Campus, which is due to be completed in December 2024.
(Australia, Aotearoa & Pasifika nations) and is the first to comprehensively address this topic in the Pacific region.
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Enterprise & Global) Professor Deborah Sweeney congratulated funding recipients.
“This funding success reflects Western’s deep commitment to fostering an environment that promotes Indigenous excellence and supporting research that empowers Indigenous Australians. I congratulate Professor Trudgett, Professor Page and Professor Sullivan on their success and look forward to the impactful outcomes of their vital work,” said Professor Sweeney.
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. We aim to provide 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: westernsydney.edu.au/aboriginaland-torres-strait-islander/events
≥ The inaugural NAIDOC Gala Dinner which celebrated Indigenous people and culture in fine style and included the inaugural Western NAIDOC Awards.
≥ The appointment of Aunty Fiona Towney to the newly established Director of Indigenous Futures.
≥ The foundational Divisional Staff Conference with the theme of ‘Building a Brighter Future for Indigenous Students’.
≥ Hosting a series of events to connect staff, students and community including the Indigenous Staff Conference, the annual Yarramundi Lecture, the Professoriate Lectures, the annual Indigenous Writing Workshop, Indigenous Staff Wellbeing Sessions and the Indigenous Students Vs Staff Soccer and Basketball matches.
It is impossible to capture each and every example of Indigenous excellence at Western across this eventful year. We are anticipating 2025 to be full of more amazing work, with the Indigenous Centre of Excellence’s construction commencing. Our Indigenous Strategy 2020 – 2025 is coming to an end next year, which offers us the opportunity to reflect on the outstanding achievements of the past five years and to strategise on how we will continue to excel in the future with planning for our 2026 - 2030 Indigenous Strategy. At Western we will continue to undertake significant work that will deliver benefits and impact for Indigenous generations well into the future.
I want to wish everyone a safe and restful holiday season spent with your families and loved ones. This time of year is a wonderful opportunity to connect, reflect, and recharge. I also want to extend my best wishes to our dedicated students who are committing their time and energy to studying during the summer session. As we look ahead, I’m excited for the incredible year that awaits us in 2025 at Western. Finally, thank you all for being part of our incredible community.
Professor Michelle Trudgett
(BA, MPS, EdD) Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President
Indigenous Leadership
Professor Michelle Trudgett. Photography: Sally Tsoutas.
BOLD conversations
with Lindsay McCabe, an Associate Lecturer of Criminology in the School of Social Sciences
The Bold Conservation segment encourages Indigenous staff and students to share their ideas to promote discussions in a culturally safe environment. They reflect the author’s personal views and not that of the University.
Lindsay McCabe is a Palawa woman who grew up on Darug Country. She teaches in the discipline of criminology here at Western Sydney University and has recently submitted her PhD thesis focussed on the experiences of Aboriginal people with the coronial system in New South Wales.
In the following segment, Lindsay offers personal reflections on her experiences as an Aboriginal educator in the discipline of criminology and the need to move towards a truly Critical Indigenous Criminology.
As an Aboriginal woman, and as an educator in the discipline of criminology, I sometimes struggle with the overwhelm that too often comes with sustained analysis of this settler-colonial State. It has become clear to me that criminology cannot provide the answers to quell, or even provide a way forward, from the horrific levels of incarceration that continue to plague our communities. Criminology continues to be resistant to calling this hyperincarceration out for what it is - an extension of the continued settlercolonial project. Kimberlé Crenshaw, most known for developing the theory of intersectionality (Crenshaw 1989), has stated that ‘you cannot fix a problem you cannot name’ (Crenshaw 2016). Criminology then, cannot fix the problem of the settler-colonial project if we as a discipline cannot see it and name it.
Patrick Wolfe (2006) saw the problem, writing about it almost twenty years ago. Wolfe (2006) understood clearly that the problem is the genocidal intent of the settler-colonial State. Thus,
the hyperincarceration that impacts Aboriginal men, women, and children is strategic - it contributes to the State’s goal of our ‘elimination’ (Wolfe 2006). Wolfe (2006: 388) goes on to say that the horrors of frontier violence, the forced removal of Aboriginal children, and their ‘resocialisation in total institutions’ are all purposeful strategies ‘characteristic of settler-colonialism’, and we see these morph now into far more subtle measures (Alfred & Corntassel 2005). For Wolfe (2006), and I must agree, colonisation is structure, not an event. How then can measures such as Closing the Gap operate successfully within this kind of ongoing violence? Perhaps, as Aunty Vicki Roach and others have said, the system isn’t broken, it’s working exactly as it’s supposed to (Roach 2022). I cannot understand the interconnectedness of the issues that we face as First Nations Peoples without considering this to be true.
Juan Tauri in particular has spent much of the last few decades bringing attention to this issue - the reluctance of criminology as a discipline to properly, meaningfully, call out the ongoing settler-colonial project. In their 2014 article, Tauri and Porou highlight how the continued settler-colonial project continues to be meted on First Nations Peoples. The settler-colonial project is embodied by the State: in Australia, by the falsities of terra nullius and the imposition of a White Australia across our sovereign nations. This filters down through every structure of the State, until it reaches the point where ‘the structural violence of Settler Colonialism is operationalised and delivered on the ground’ (Tauri & Porou 2014: 24).
1 Watson is here talking about the laws of First Nations, asking how these can be erased or extinguished when the State has denied the existence of our legal systems and knowledges.
Of interest to criminology is how this structural violence is actualised in the lives of First Nations Peoples - the overpolicing (Cunneen 2001), the targeting of our children (Knowles 2024), the ‘uneven application of discretionary powers’ by police and others (Tauri & Porou 2014: 25). Criminology does recognise that this is an effect of settlercolonialism, but it’s almost always presented as a then problem, not a now problem - a continued, continuing settler-colonial project that aims to eliminate the Indigenous Other (Wolfe 2006). The policing and subsequent hyperincarceration of First Nations Peoples are colonial projects that ‘enable the deployment of structural violence’, ‘supported by the ideology of (genocidal) elimination’ (Tauri & Porou 2014: 26).
We might only look around us to see the ‘technologies of control’ that continue to shape our lives (Tauri & Porou 2014: 28).
The refusal of criminology as a discipline to recognise how neocolonialism continues to operate shows that criminology itself is also part of the settler-colonial projects. It is in the acts of denial that we are limited as a discipline to attempt to call this out, to ‘fix’ this. As Irene Watson has said, ‘how can you erase and extinguish that which you have denied even exists?’ (Watson 2016: 36).1
Wherever there is power, though, there is resistance (Foucault 1978). It is the myriad ways that we continue to resist that reveal the way forward. The number of Aboriginal people with PhDs in criminology and related disciplines continues to grow, and there are more and more advocates with lived experience of the system finding ways to speak truth to power.
To develop a truly Critical Indigenous Criminology, as posited by Tauri and Cunneen (2024), criminology must centre the knowledges, experiences, and methodologies of First Nations Peoples, alongside an understanding of colonialism as inescapable within and central to our analyses and theoretical frameworks. Vital here too is the need for more First Nations scholars in these disciplines. To achieve this, we need to nurture and support our undergraduate students, and at the same time support each other to call out this invisibilisation of neocolonialism, as both individuals and as an institution.
References
Alfred, T & Corntassel, J 2005, ‘Being Indigenous: resurgences against contemporary colonialism’, Government and Opposition, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 597-614.
Crenshaw, K 1989, ‘Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: a Black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory and antiracist politics’, University of Chicago Legal Forum, no. 1, pp. 139-167.
Crenshaw, K 2016, ‘The urgency of intersectionality’, TEDX/YouTube, viewed 8 October 2024, https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=akOe5-UsQ2o
Cunneen, C 2011, Conflict, politics and crime: Aboriginal communities and the police, Routledge.
Foucault, M 1978, The history of sexuality, Pantheon Books, NY.
Knowles, R 2024, ‘NSW Police won’t review strip-searching policies despite reports of officers targeting Indigenous children’, NITV, 20 March, viewed 8 October 2024, https://www.sbs.com.au/ nitv/article/nsw-police-wont-review-stripsearching-policies-despite-reports-ofofficers-targeting-indigenous-children/ k1tszj3zz
Roach, V 2022, ‘The system is not failing, it is working to harm First Nations people’, Journal of Prisoners on Prisons, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 35-8.
Tauri, J M & Cunneen, C 2024, ‘Critical Indigenous criminology in practice and praxis’, Journal of Global Indigeneity, vol. 8, no. 1, https://doi. org/10.54760/001c.122471
Tauri, J M & Porou N 2014, ‘Criminal justice as a colonial project in settler-colonialism’, African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 20-37.
Watson, I 2016, ‘First Nations and the colonial project’, Inter Gentes, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 30-9.
Wolfe, P 2006, ‘Settler-colonialism and the elimination of the native’, Journal of Genocide Research, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 387409.
2024 Indigenous Staff Leadership Forum
The second annual Indigenous Leadership Forum was held on the 11th and 12th of September in Leura. This event saw Indigenous staff across various leadership roles, including Western’s Indigenous Professoriate members and Indigenous Staff of a HEW 8 and above, come together to engage in critical discussions and building connections.
The forum commenced with a Welcome to Country by Kelsie King and an overview from Professor Michelle Trudgett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President Indigenous Leadership. All attendees then participated in critical discussions about colonial load, different leadership styles, and the key challenges and opportunities identified for Western’s Indigenous students, staff and our broader community. The cohort also engaged in leadership decision making scenario sessions where they collaboratively addressed different challenges.
The forum also featured the cultural activity of weaving. Gundungurra Traditional Owner and Executive Officer of the Division of the Deputy ViceChancellor Indigenous Leadership, Kelsie King, facilitated a weaving workshop, assisting attendees with traditional techniques using raffia.
Professor Michelle Trudgett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President Indigenous Leadership, said the Indigenous Leadership Forum was empowering and rewarding.
“The forum provided a platform for critical conversations and sharing of knowledge. It was fantastic to see Western’s Indigenous leaders united and collaborating together. I would like to thank Kelsie King for facilitating the cultural activity. This event is a highlight in the Western Sydney University Indigenous calendar,” said Professor Trudgett.
Indigenous leaders at Western Sydney University’s 2024 Indigenous Staff Leadership Forum.
Western celebrates Indigenous Research Excellence at the annual Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership Research Symposium
On Friday the 23rd of August, the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership proudly hosted the Indigenous Research Symposium on Parramatta South Campus. Western Sydney University would like to thank Uncle Greg Simms for Welcoming attendees to beautiful Darug Country, Professor Trudgett for her address and Professor Bodkin-Andrews and Monique Tait-Owens for facilitating the day.
The event featured a keynote presentation by Kokatha/Wirangu Associate Professor Yvonne Clark. The keynote address was entitled ‘Cultural Safety and Research Partnerships with First Nations Pregnant Mothers and Young People ’. Associate Professor Clark explained how cultural safety within First Nations research ensures that her research is considered and centred. She discussed how her research partnerships within both First Nations and mainstream organisations are essential, and how her primary form of engagement and governance is through the Aboriginal Communities and Families Health Research Alliance. Professor Clark discussed her research focus on healthy pregnancies, healthy young people, and social and cultural elements with strength-based approaches, as well as concerns about lateral violence for young Aboriginal people.
In addition, excellence in Indigenous Research was highlighted in a series of outstanding flashpoint presentations by ten Indigenous Higher Degree Researchers and Indigenous academics within Western Sydney University. These presentations encompassed a wide range of disciplines, methodologies and methods, focussed on a range of key Indigenous topics. This included topics such as Cultural safety, Country, Indigenous Early Career Researcher experiences, Coronership, Whiteness, Indigenous success, community development, Indigenous leadership, Oceanic Bla(c)kness and experiences of Stolen Generations.
To finish up the day, three awards were presented. Associate Professor Yvonne Clark was asked to choose a winner for the Stand Out presentation, for which she chose Mirritya Ebsworth who discussed her eco-cultural study of Wangkumara Country. Professor Michelle Trudgett awarded Lindsay McCabe the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership Award. Stephen Ridgeway was awarded the People’s Choice Award.
Professor Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews, Western’s Director of Indigenous Research, awarded all presenters with a copy of one of his favourite Indigenous Research Methodological texts, ‘Decolonizing Research: Indigenous Storywork as Methodology ’ edited by Jo-ann Q’um Q’um Xiiem Archibald, Jenny Bol Jun Lee-Morgan, and Jason De Santolo.
Professor Bodkin-Andrews said he was exceptionally proud of all who presented and the warm spirit that was evident throughout the symposium.
“As always, the Indigenous Research Symposium showcases the amazing work of a leading Indigenous scholar, along with the groundbreaking work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and academic staff here at Western Sydney University. It is a celebration of how Indigenous research should be done – that is, Indigenous led,” said Professor Bodkin-Andrews.
To find out more about research opportunities offer at Western, please follow: westernsydney.edu.au/research
Keynote presenter Associate Professor Yvonne Clark and Marritya Ebsworth who was awarded the Keynote Speaker’s Award.
Indigenous Higher Degree Researchers and Indigenous academics at the annual Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership Research symposium.
Future Student engagement team story
The Pathways To Dreaming and Heartbeat programs commenced in 2009 and 2010 respectively and are one of Western Sydney University’s key commitments to fostering educational success among Indigenous pre-tertiary students in Western Sydney. The programs are designed to improve educational opportunities for Indigenous primary and high school students. These structured programs include in-school workshops and on-campus events. These programs build knowledge and aspirations over the course of the students schooling, leading to increased awareness of, and engagement in, the options and opportunities that higher education can provide.
Since the commencement of these programs, the scale of delivery for both the number of schools involved and the students reached has greatly increased. Pleasingly, what has remained
unchanged is the focus on a partnership approach between Indigenous staff and students at the University, school staff, community members, school students and families in the regions.
Both Heartbeat and Pathways To Dreaming programs are grounded within the Aboriginal Cultural Framework of the Four R’s – Respect, Responsibility, Reciprocity, and Relationships. This cultural grounding ensures the programs are relevant and relatable to Indigenous school students and also respect and reinforce cultural identity.
In 2024, in the Heartbeat program there have been 30 partner primary schools with participation of approximately 1,200 students in years 3 to 6. In the Pathways To Dreaming program there have been 60 partner high schools with participation of approximately 3,200 students in years 7 to 12. During Terms 1 to 3 in 2024, a total of 891 Indigenous primary school students and 994 Indigenous high school students attended an in-school workshop where the activities have focused on Our Identity; Acknowledging Country; First Inventors; and Indigenous Seasons
Students in years 11 and 12 can access a one-on-one mentoring session where they explore how to apply to study at Western, learn more about the Pathways To Dreaming scholarship, and design pathways to their future dream career.
Also, during Terms 1 to 3 this year, 537 Indigenous high school students have attended on-campus events at Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, and Liverpool City campuses where the activities provided students an opportunity to learn more about future study and careers in the following disciplines:
≥ nursing and midwifery, ≥ health sciences such as social work and physiotherapy, ≥ engineering, and ≥ science.
Indigenous primary school students attended on-campus events at Campbelltown and Hawkesbury campuses in Term 4 2024.
These programs are impacting the lives of our Indigenous communities across Western Sydney and have supported the increase in the number of Indigenous
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students studying at Western Sydney University. Since 2021, a total of 437 Pathways To Dreaming students completed year 12. 138 of these students subsequently received an offer to study at a university, with123 of those students receiving an offer to study at Western Sydney University. 73 students accepted their offer and proceeded to enrol. A further 350 Pathways To Dreaming students will complete their year 12 high school studies in 2024 and we will look forward to seeing many of them at a Western campus in 2025.
Professor
Corrinne Sullivan’s Professoriate Lecture: Didgeridoo or Didgeridon’t? Indigenous fetishism and erotic capital
On Tuesday the 6th of August, Wiradjuri Professor Corrinne Sullivan generously offered Western’s sixth Indigenous Professoriate Lecture. Professor Sullivan is the Associate Dean (Indigenous Education) and a Professor of Geography in the School of Social Sciences. Her research interests focus on experiences and effects of body and identity in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Professor Sullivan’s outstanding scholarly contributions on gender and sexual themes across geographic, feminist and Indigenous studies have provided valuable evidence-based data which has directly informed government policy, institutional practice, and communitybased services and resources. Her recent scholarly contributions have been in the areas of Indigenous LGBTIQA+SB people’s social and emotional wellbeing; Indigenous peoples and urban spaces; and Indigenous communities and organisations. Professor Sullivan is recognised as a leader with a strong commitment to improve the social, economic, and cultural wellbeing of Indigenous peoples through centring and amplifying our voices to promote positive change.
Throughout her lecture, Professor Sullivan explored the complex intersection of Indigenous fetishism and erotic capital, dissecting the socio-cultural dynamics underlying these phenomena. The
Tania Shepherd, Senior Project Officer in Indigenous Engagement, said the programs help our jarjums to grow in their cultural knowledge and identity, while also providing an opportunity to explore different study areas available through Western Sydney University.
“We work with students across a ten-year period from Year 3 through to Year 12 and, where possible, align the Heartbeat primary schools to be those that feed into the Pathways To Dreaming partner High Schools. I feel both very lucky and honoured to be involved in, and lead, these programs. I
wish there had been a program like this when I was in school many years ago. I didn’t know what opportunities were out there,” said Tania Shepherd.
To learn more about Western’s commitment to the Pathways To Dreaming and Heartbeat Programs, please follow: www.westernsydney.edu.au/schoolsengagement/connecting-with-western/ aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islanderengagement
exploration delved into the ways in which representations of Indigenous cultures as exotic and hypersexualised contribute to the fetishisation of Indigenous bodies and cultural artefacts. An examination of the commodification of Indigenous eroticism in various forms of media, art, and popular culture, emphasised the role of colonial legacies, racial stereotypes, and sex market demands in shaping representations of Indigenous sexuality. Professor Sullivan drew from a research project with Indigenous sex workers to delineate the ways in which Indigenous peoples navigate and exploit intricate power dynamics where their cultural representations and identities are commodified as fetishes. The notion of erotic capital emerges, encapsulating the tangible and intangible assets individuals possess, including physical appearance, humour, sexuality and cultural (in) authenticity, which are leveraged for social and economic gains. Further, the lecture highlighted the ways in which Indigenous peoples resist and reclaim their erotic capital, negotiate their agency, challenge hegemonic narratives and navigate between the appropriation and assertion of their cultural identity.
Professor Sullivan said it was an absolute delight to share her research with the broader University and community.
“I was particularly encouraged by the many students and professional staff that attended, their inclusion lead to a robust, fun and potent discussion,” said Professor Sullivan.
Professor Michelle Trudgett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President Indigenous Leadership, extends a heartfelt thanks to Professor Sullivan for her lecture.
“As a leader committed to improving the social, economic, and cultural wellbeing of Indigenous peoples, Professor Sullivan’s insights were both valuable and impactful. It was fantastic to see a large audience present and engaged in discussions around ongoing efforts to foster understanding and promote positive change within the academic and broader community. What a way to end the 2024 Professoriate Lecture series, we are excited to see what the 2025 Indigenous Professoriate Lectures bring” said Professor Trudgett.
Professor Corrinne Sullivan generously offering Western’s sixth Indigenous Professoriate Lecture.
Hawkesbury Earthcare Centre have installed an Indigenous Edible Food Forest at Hawkesbury Campus
On 29 June 2024, an Indigenous Edible Food Forest was installed at the Hawkesbury Earthcare Centre, which extends into the native pollinator garden. This initiative is dedicated to celebrating and preserving traditional knowledges
of native flora and is a significant step towards fostering sustainable practices. The Indigenous Edible Food Forest will serve as a living classroom, offering hands-on learning opportunities about the cultivation and uses of native plants that have been a vital part of Indigenous culture for thousands of years. It is an important space for educating the community about the rich biodiversity of Indigenous edible plants, some traditionally used in weaving and other cultural practices. Moving forward, Hawkesbury Earthcare Centre hopes to build a yarning circle near the Indigenous
Edible Food Forest, to provide Indigenous communities the opportunity to host ongoing workshops, storytelling, sharing of knowledge and ngurra with our communities for generations to come.
Consultation with Hawkesbury Community Nursery and Muru Mittigar ensured the inclusion of 117 Indigenous endemic or native edible plants; providing food, habitat and a wildlife corridor for native, endangered and migratory fauna. The Indigenous Edible Food Forest was made possible with a grant from Sydney Edible Garden Trail and a small group of dedicated volunteers from Hawkesbury Earthcare Centre. Amanda Argent, Secretary HDRAA, located at Hawkesbury Earthcare Centre, said the project aims to create a resilient and sustainable ecosystem that not only provides food but also honours the deep connection between the land and its traditional custodians.
Jardwadjali and Wotjobulak man, Mark ‘Munk’ Ross, entered a portrait of Uncle Harry Allie in the annual Mil-Pra Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) exhibition at the Casula Powerhouse. The exhibition ran from early August to late September and bought together a range of works to celebrate the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in the Greater Sydney region and beyond.
Uncle Harry Allie, a member of Western’s Elders Advisory Committee, said he was honoured to have Mark feature him in the portrait.
Mark ‘Munk’ Ross is a renowned music producer, MC, breakdancer, event host and radio broadcaster, especially with Koori Radio, ABC Radio & Channel V. When taking breaks from his busy life in music production, he often sits and draws, using different technologies to create artistic expressions. With the use of technology, Mark developed his own visual art styles and has had his artworks featured for both Google in the Lionel Rose tribute and YouTube for NAIDOC Week 2022.
Mark said he was very proud to feature Uncle Harry in this portrait and looks forward to celebrating our Elders, peoples and cultures through his art practices moving forward.
“Over the years, I have loved working with Uncle Harry. He and I are always laughing and having fun. It was at the opening of the Canterbury Bankstown Aboriginal Hub that I asked Uncle if I could take a photograph of him. I didn’t really tell him what it was for, but when I saw him a little while later at a NAIDOC week event, I showed him and his reaction was priceless! I created this artwork to honour Uncle and I really enjoyed the process. I look forward to diversifying my work in the future and continuing to develop my artistic practices and skills,” said Mark.
“If any mob would like to use the space, the Hawkesbury Earthcare Centre welcomes all interactions and sharing of knowledge. We would love to continue expanding the Indigenous Edible Food Forest and would delight in receiving additional Indigenous edible plants from any benefactor,” said Amanda Argent. Uncle Harry Allie’s portrait features in
To find out more about Mark ‘Munk’ Ross’ artworks please follow: https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect. com/s/Q3MgCvl1EwS7L12lziQfLFQmC0y?domain=instagram.com
Indigenous Food Forests at the Hawkesbury Earthcare Centre.
Mark ‘Munk’ Ross’ portrait of Uncle Harry Allie.
Students
WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY’S INDIGENOUS STUDENTS ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS
Seven deadly questions: Introducing Matthew Wildig
Who are you?
My name’s Matthew Wildig. I’m a third year Bachelor of Arts student with a major in English.
Who is your mob?
I’m a proud Palawa man living on Darug lands.
What community or cultural events have you been involved in lately or will you engage in this year?
Earlier this year, I took part in Western Sydney University’s Indigenous Research Symposium, where I presented research that I undertook as part of the Empowering First Nations Scholars Summer Research Scholarship. Although I am not currently involved in any cultural events, I am looking forward to taking part in Western’s Indigenous Cultural Exchange and Immersion Program in Taiwan. To have the opportunity to connect and learn about Indigenous Taiwanese community and culture is something that I would never have thought possible prior to starting university.
Why did you choose to study at Western Sydney University?
I chose Western Sydney University because as a kid, I’d always go past Campbelltown campus and think about how prestigious it looked. As a kid who gave up school because of horrible grades, and a rabid desire to play in a band, university wasn’t ever a thing I’d planned for. When I grew up, both mentally and literally, I thought, why not Western? Campbelltown campus stayed in my head, and when I got in, I realised that there were so many opportunities to connect with other Indigenous students and staff.
Have you faced any challenges as an Indigenous student? If so, how did you overcome them?
As a student, my biggest challenge has been my overwhelming imposter syndrome. I know this is the fault of colonisation and the systematic attempt at erasing mob, but because of my lack of connection with my family and mob, I feel out of place among so many other Indigenous students who have such deep connections to culture. I’d love to tell you how I’ve overcome this feeling, but I can’t. It’s something I deal with quite frequently, and I guess, if I had to give someone who’s feeling the same way any kind of advice, I’d tell them that it’s not your fault. You’ve been born into this situation, and even though you don’t have the same experiences as other mob, it doesn’t make you any less Indigenous.
When you graduate from Western Sydney University what do you hope to achieve?
I am hoping to graduate with my Bachelor of Art at the end of this semester. From there, I plan on moving into my Master of Research, and then onto my Doctor of Philosophy. I want to dig into the world of literature and among other things, how Indigenous authors use cosmology, lived experience, and imagination to create Speculative Fiction in Australia. Completing my PhD will allow me the opportunity to pursue academia, and hopefully a foot in the door to completing what I think is important literary research.
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?
1. Understand all the support you have around you. There’s so much here to help guide you through your academic journey. Badanami Centre’s have Student Success Officers who are here to help you with anything you need. There’s Tutoring for Success, Deadly Chat, Indigenous Scholarships, and Western Sydney University specific academic support.
2. Don’t leave your assignments until the night of. I know they can be overwhelming, but chip away at it a little every day.
3. Always ask your tutor questions. Take advantage of their knowledge and expertise – they’re there for a reason.
4. Try to maintain a good balance of social, study, and work. Take a break. Meet a friend and get a coffee, or whatever it is you do. Just try to take some time for yourself.
5. Take advantage of scholarships. Always apply.
Matthew Wildig
Students
Liam Khan, a Kamilaroi architecture student, receives the first Indigenous architect scholarship funded by DesignInc Sydneyn
Liam Khan is a third year architecture student at Western Sydney University and his professional journey into the architectural world is one marked by determination, cultural pride, and opportunity. He was the very deserving recipient of the first fully-paid Indigenous architecture scholarship funded by DesignInc Sydney. This scholarship provided Liam more than financial support. It also provided the opportunity to make a difference in an industry where Indigenous representation is starkly low.
Since joining majority Indigenousowned architecture practice, Nguluway DesignInc, Liam has thrived in a culturally invigorating and supportive environment under the mentorship of Managing Director and Wiradjuri man, Craig Kerslake, a trailblazer in the industry.
Currently, Liam is working on significant cultural projects, such as the Bundjalung Tribal Society Cultural Centre and a concept for the new Ngurra Cultural Centre in Canberra. For the latter, Nguluway DesignInc features within the all-Indigenous design team known as the ‘Blak Hand Collective’, a team which includes the likes of Jefa Greenaway (Greenaway Architects), Kevin O’Brien (BVN Architects), and Paul Herzich (Mantirri Design). For Liam, seeing this distinguished team of Indigenous architects coming together has been a game changer.
Liam said the program has been fundamental to his development personally, and professionally.
“The mentorship has not only improved my architectural skills but has helped deepen my understanding and appreciation of my cultural heritage through practicing Designing from Country. I’ve met so many incredible people, worked on deadly projects and learned about the positive impact Indigenous-led design from Country can have on communities. Architecture for me is about storytelling. There are endless stories to tell because we’re building on sovereign Indigenous land. My role as an architect is in revealing these stories, putting the time in to find them and connect with the local Elders that safeguard this knowledge— that’s ultimately how I hope to achieve meaningful outcomes moving forward,” said Liam Khan.
As Liam continues to grow and -develop his knowledge, he hopes his journey will inspire many more Indigenous voices to join the industry and shape the future of Australian architecture.
Nguluway DesignInc is committed to growing and nurturing the next generation of Indigenous designers and architects. The team introduced the scholarship to elevate the success of Indigenous students by providing opportunities to engage with culturally supportive networks and learning that prioritises Connecting and Designing with Country. This commitment is important as the industry is prioritising co-design, highlighting Indigenous narratives and increasing the representation of Indigenous communities at that growing scale.
Growing the next generation of Indigenous architects is of utmost importance—talent which Nguluway DesignInc Managing Director and Wiradjuri man, Craig Kerslake, says should be nurtured by other Indigenous architects in ‘incubators’.
“Indigenous practitioners have lived experience which elevates their success when Connecting and Designing with Country. Therefore, a Blak hand is the best hand to be disseminating this knowledge with the next generation. This also avoids cultural appropriation and speaks strongly to self-determination. Indigenous businesses are like incubators—growing and nurturing the next generation of Indigenous designers. Through lived experiences, the people within operate on a higher plane of cultural knowledge. We don’t need to learn the culture because we get it. We design from that place—Design from Country,” said Craig Kerslake.
To learn more about Nguluway DesignInc, please follow: https://nguluway.designinc.com.au/
Liam Khan. Photography: Nguluway DesignInc.
Pathways to Dreaming program inspires future career for Gamilaroi psychology student
Elina Roberts-Turner
Elina Roberts-Turner is a proud Gamilaroi woman and third year Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) student. She is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of others by helping people become the best versions of themselves. Elina’s career direction was cemented during her Year 12 PDHPE studies when she developed a strong interest in the psychological aspects that can impact behaviour.
Throughout high school in Years 8 to 10, Elina participated in Western Sydney University’s Indigenous Pathways to
Research
CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS RESEARCH AT WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
Western Sydney University would like to congratulate Professor Michelle Trudgett on being selected to engage in the inaugural ARC Indigenous Forum. This forum is made up of a cross-section of eminent Indigenous members with significant experience in research, as well as engagement with end-users of research. Professor Trudgett is one of the 13 inaugural members of the Forum and will hold office for up to 3 years, with the possibility of extension for up to 3 more years.
Western is very proud of our Indigenous academics and higher degree research students. Please read about some of their outstanding research that was completed earlier this year.
Dreaming program, and as a Year 12 student she received an early entry offer to study at Western through its HSC True Rewards program. Elina’s highlight experiences at Western have been connecting with the University’s Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education and being offered the opportunity to travel internationally for the New Colombo Plan’s Sustainability and Cultural Immersion program in Taiwan.
Elina Roberts-Turner said the Western experience has been second to none.
“The Pathways to Dreaming program made a real difference for me. It is a way for students from different schools to connect, learn more about our Indigenous Culture, and gain insights into tertiary education and career options that started with studying at Western. Right from the start I felt part of Western’s community. I especially enjoyed the trip to Taiwan. It is something I will remember for the rest of my life as I was not only able to immerse myself in the Culture of Indigenous Taiwanese peoples, but I also learnt from acclaimed researchers from around the world.”
“Having Badanami Centres at each campus is a special service that Western provides – these centres are accessible to all Indigenous students and are a space to work comfortably and connect
with others from the Western mob. The Badanami staff are always really willing to help with anything university related, and it is another space I am grateful to have. Community is a prominent theme at Western, even in terms of the way that we’re supported in our psychology studies, our tutors are always really good at giving advice,” said Elina RobertsTurner.
Elina is also a gifted singer-songwriter making waves in the Western Sydney music scene. Recognised early on for her exceptional talent through programs like APRA AMCOS’s Songmakers and the Department of Education’s Talent Development Project, Elina has quickly established herself as a captivating performer. From gracing the stage at Penrith’s REAL Festival in 2023 to playing at ACCOR Stadium before P!nk in early 2024, her star is undeniably on the rise. Elina is busy honing her craft under the mentorship of the renowned Wiradjuri Ngunawal songwoman Amanda Davis aka The Dyagula. Elina said this collaboration marks a significant step in her artistic journey. This collaboration also resulted in the recent release of her debut EP.
Western Sydney University wishes Elina the best of luck as she progresses throughout her degree. We cannot wait to see all that she achieves.
Angeliek Verdonschot, Mark Beauchamp, Timmothy Brusseau, … Sarah G. Kennedy... & David R. Lubans. (2024). Development and evaluation of the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation to deliver Physical Activity in School Scale (COM-PASS). International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 21 (1), 93.
Corrinne Sullivan , Duy Tran, Kim Spurway, Linda Briskman, John Leha, William Trewlynn & Karen Soldatic. (2024). “Absolutely it was not safe”: Indigenous LGBTIQSB+ experiences of education in Australia. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 53 (1).
Géssika Castilho dos Santos, Thais Maria de Souza Silva, Jadson Marcio da Silva, Rodrigo de Oliveira Barbosa, Sarah G. Kennedy, David R. Lubans, and Antonio Stabelini Neto. (2024). Impact of the ActTeens Program on physical activity and fitness in adolescents: A cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatrics
Heather McKay, Sarah G. Kennedy, Heather Macdonald, Patti-Jean Naylor & David Lubans. (2024). The secret sauce? Taking the mystery out of scaling-up school-based physical activity interventions. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 1, 1-10.
Matilda Harry, Michelle Trudgett, Susan Page & Rebekah Grace. (2024). Reflections in waterholes: Reconceptualising young Indigenous Australian success. The Australian Educational Researcher. https:// doi.org/10.1007/s13384-024-00747-8
Matilda Harry, Michelle Trudgett, Susan Page & Rebekah Grace. (2024). We are Country—Country mentors us. Geographical Research. DOI: 10.1111/1745-5871.12674.
Sarah G. Kennedy, Shannon J. Murray, Justin M. Guagliano, Rhodri, S. Lloyd, David R. Lubans, Jordan J. Smith, Narelle Eather & Andrew Bennie. (2024). Provision of online information and resources for resistance training in Australian youth sports: A scoping review. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching
Elina Roberts-Turner
WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY’S PASSIONATE INDIGENOUS STAFF
Seven deadly questions: Introducing Tyson Binge, Future Student Engagement Project Support Officer
Who are you?
Hi, my name is Tyson Binge. I work for Western Sydney University as a Project Support Officer in the Indigenous Future Student Engagement team. In my role, I engage with the Pathways to Dreaming and Heartbeat programs. I have a loving partner and three beautiful daughters and a cat. I moved to Greater Western Sydney over four years ago and am grateful for all the opportunities since moving. I love the diversity in culture and food.
Who is your mob?
I am a proud Bundjalung/ Kamilaroi man born at Ballina. I grew up in Cabbage Tree Island, Ballina and Moree Top Camp Mission areas. Both parents are Aboriginal descendants, my Mother is Bundjalung and my Father is Kamilaroi. I grew up strong in my community.
What community/Cultural events have you been involved in lately?
I started at Western in May and was involved in NRL School To Work Camp and most NAIDOC Week events in the community. It was a great initiative to collaborate with the NRL School To Work camp as I supported the facilitation of cultural workshops over the three days with the young mob. During NAIDOC Week I made the rounds across Western Sydney. It is always deadly seeing mobs from other parts of the country representing and being proud of our culture, and being a part of that connection is powerful.
What is your current position at Western Sydney University and how long have you worked at the University?
I am a Project Support Officer in the Indigenous Future Student Engagement team, engaging with Greater Western Sydney schools through the Heartbeat and Pathways to Dreaming programs. As part of my role, I conduct cultural workshops in Western Sydney schools. I’ve been working with Western Sydney University for over 5 months and am grateful to be a part of a great team.
Have you always aspired to work in tertiary education?
Yes! I aspired to work in the education sector, but it did not happen right after school as I took other paths through trade and civil infrastructure early in my career. I believe my passion led me to education as I want to mentor youth and guide them in pursuing education. I have just completed a diploma in Aboriginal Professional Community Development, and now I have ambitions to study for a Bachelor of Youth Work next year.
What is your favourite thing about working at Western Sydney University? Where do I start? The opportunities Western Sydney University creates for our kids and community to advance their careers and futures, starting from primary school and continuing through high school, are a highlight of working here. Additionally, I really enjoy networking with a wide range of colleagues who share the same aspirations of seeing our mob succeed at all ages, from young to mature, in bettering their lives and society through education.
Do you have any advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people wanting to work at Western Sydney University?
I highly recommend joining Western Sydney University because it offers great opportunities for employment, education, skill development, social networking, and community involvement. The best part is seeing the next generation come through.
Staff Updates
Western Sydney University would like to congratulate the following Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff members on their new appointments:
New staff for this edition include:
≥ Anna Dasler as the Indigenous Engagement Coordinator in the Division of Infrastructure and Commercial.
≥ May Mulholland as the Senior Library Technician Indigenous Metadata in the Library
≥ Violet Craven-Miller as the HDR Candidature Officer in the Graduate Research School
Western Sydney University would also like to thank all of the Indigenous staff who continuously demonstrate excellence and the university’s values, ensuring Western is the place to be employed.
Tyson Binge
Professor Alexis Wright’s ‘Praiseworthy ’ wins 2024 Miles Franklin Award
Western would like to congratulate Distinguished Professor Alexis Wright on recently winning the 2024 Miles Franklin Literary Award for her epic novel ‘Praiseworthy ’ which explores themes of colonisation, Aboriginal sovereignty and climate change.
The win marks another achievement in Australian literature for Distinguished Professor Wright, with Praiseworthy the only book to have won both the Stella Prize and the Miles Franklin in the same year. Distinguished Professor Wright joins the ranks of dual Miles Franklin winners, as she was previously awarded the Miles Franklin in 2007 for her novel Carpentaria Remarkably, Distinguished Professor Wright is also the first writer to win the Stella Prize twice, in 2018 for her book Tracker and in 2024 for Praiseworthy
Distinguished Professor Wright, a longstanding member of Western’s Writing & Society Research Centre, was “amazed and humbled” to take out the prize:
“I am both amazed and humbled to win the 2024 Miles Franklin Award for Praiseworthy. To win a Miles Franklin a second time is monumental. I wanted to make Praiseworthy a big book in more ways than one. I wanted to capture the spirit of our times,” said Distinguished Professor Wright.
The 2024 judges, led by chair Richard Neville, Mitchell Librarian of the State Library of NSW, described ‘Praiseworthy ’ as an astonishing feat of storytelling and sovereign imagination.
“It is a capacious work in which Alexis Wright takes on the role of creative custodian, singing the songs of unceded lands. She bears witness to the catastrophic transformations wrought by white fantasies, against which Indigenous ingenuity still stands, its connection to Country unbroken. Wright’s literary technique is a superb mash-up of different languages, ancient and modern, and displays an exceptional mastery of craft.
The novel is imbued with astonishing emotional range, deploying Wright’s signature humour despite its powerful sense of the tragic. Through its sheer ambition, astringency and audacity, ‘Praiseworthy ’ redraws the map of Australian literature and expands the possibilities of fiction,” said the judging panel.
‘Praiseworthy ’ has also won the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction, the Queensland Literary Award for Fiction and the ALS Gold Medal, and was shortlisted for the world’s richest literary prize, the Dublin Literary Award. It was also shortlisted for two NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and the Queensland Premier’s Award for a Work of State Significance. It has been hailed by the New York Times as the ‘most ambitious and accomplished Australian novel of this century’.
Distinguished Professor Wright is a worthy recipient of this award and Western would once again like to congratulate her on all that she has achieved and thank her for such valuable contributions to literature.
Professor Alexis Wright at the 2024 Miles Franklin Awards. Photography: Alicia Hetherington
Alumni
WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY’S INDIGENOUS ALUMNI
Congratulations to Western’s October 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 1,700 Indigenous alumni who have graduated from a variety of degrees across the University’s range of Schools.
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 October 2024, 43 deadly students graduated from Western. The awards issued included Diplomas, Graduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Certificates, Bachelor Degrees and Master Degrees. Congratulations to the following students, we are so proud of each of you and wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours.
Alyshia Bevan graduated with a Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health (Karitane)
Amelie Rich graduated with a Bachelor of Business
Amy Gulia-Martins graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work
Angus Higgins graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Child Health
Ashley Grundeman graduated with an Undergraduate Certificate in Disability Care Support
Baylee Roughley graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary)
Briahna Beresford graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing - WSU Online
Brooke Whiting graduated with a Bachelor of Communication
Caelin Highman-Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Communication
Carl Smith graduated with a Master of Teaching (Secondary)
Connor Holgate graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing
Erin Bateup graduated with a Master of Teaching (Primary)
Georgina West graduated with a Bachelor of Business
Isabella Constantinou graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)
Jaala Sadler graduated with a Bachelor of Music
Jack Norton graduated with a Bachelor of Communication
James Plowes graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)
Jayda Ann Weightman graduated with a Master of Teaching (Secondary)
Jaye Muir graduated with a Master of Teaching (Secondary)
Joie El Khoury graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Birth - 5/Birth - 12)
Jose Mendonca graduated with a Graduate Certificate in Fire Safety Engineering
Kimberley Johnstone graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science
Kortana Cullen-Blissett graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary)
Lauren Macey graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing
Maddison Sparkes graduated with a Diploma in Arts Extended - Pathway to Teaching Primary
Madeline Collings graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Child Health
Marcus Williams graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Primary)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Matthew Beerens graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Science
Maxine Dunk Moroney graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Industries
Mitchell Parsons graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science (Sport and Exercise Science)
Noah Conaty graduated with a Master of Teaching (Secondary)
Rachel Manly graduated with a Master of Teaching (Primary)
Renae Coleman graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)
Ryan Archer graduated with a Bachelor of Business
Samara Duffy graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Zoology)
Shania Giles graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing
Sherice Jackson graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Primary) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Sonya McMaster graduated with a Diploma in Educational Studies (Primary) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Tabitha Turton graduated with a Diploma in Science (exit only)
Tjanara Ridgeway graduated with an Undergraduate Certificate in Business Management
Tracy Burnett graduated with a Graduate Certificate in Person-centred Diabetes Care and Education
Warren Bridges graduated with a Bachelor of Educational Studies (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education)
Jaala Sadler. Photography: Sally Tsoutas.
Worimi graduate, Kobi Newell, received the GPT Group’s First Nations Scholarship and has now successfully transitioned to an ongoing position as a People Consultant
Kobi Newell is a proud Aboriginal man from the Worimi Mob located on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales. He commenced his Bachelor of Business majoring in Human Resource Management and Indigenous Australian Studies at Western Sydney University in 2021 and graduated in 2023. During his time at Western, Kobi was actively engaged across many Indigenous events including captaining the Indigenous student soccer team at the Indigenous Students Vs Staff Soccer matches.
In 2022, Kobi joined Western’s inaugural Indigenous student Taiwan cultural exchange where he was part of the first ever Indigenous Australian group to travel overseas with assistance of funding from the New Colombo Plan. In 2023, Kobi joined the second group of Indigenous students to attend the Taiwan immersion exchange as a senior student ambassador.
Kobi also engaged in the Winter Research Scholarship Program where he had the opportunity to work and study in the MARCs Institute to support language revitalisation research. His core focus was on reviving the Gathang language which saw him travel home to Worimi Country to engage with community as well as present his research findings at Western’s Indigenous Research Symposium.
Throughout his degree, Kobi completed two internships with Telstra through the Career Trackers program. He then received the GPT Group’s First Nations Scholarship and worked with Career Trackers and the GPT Group to kick off a game changing internship opportunity in 2023. The GPT Group is one of Australia’s leading property groups shaping leading experiences across office, retail, logistics and student accommodation.
Since graduating Kobi has transitioned into a graduate position with GPT, where he undertook the role of People Team Analyst working across areas of talent acquisition, people business partnering, and diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing. He has now moved towards a more substantive role with greater responsibilities in Human Resources Information Systems as a People Consultant.
Since joining the GPT Group Kobi has engaged in a broad range of activities, such as being a member of the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group where he is currently collaborating with community and other stakeholders to fulfil the GPT Group’s second Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan. Kobi is loving his role at the GPT Group and looks forward to a long, prosperous professional career.
Kobi Newell, Western alumni, would like to thank Western Sydney University for the support and opportunities provided throughout his studies.
“Western supported my academic, professional, cultural and personal growth and really set me up to succeed in my transition into the workforce. I would like to thank Career Trackers and the GPT Group for recognising the Indigenous talent coming out of Western Sydney University and providing further opportunities to support mobs aspirational trajectories. I feel honoured to work in an organisation that is super strong in environmental social governance and is recognised as a social sustainability leader. It was so important for me to transition into a workplace that holds the same values as myself and my community. The internship and scholarship the GPT Group offered was a game changer. I cannot wait to see what can be achieved across this space,” said Kobi.
Justine Knight, Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at the GPT Group, said Kobi has been an absolutely fantastic asset to the GPT team.
“Kobi is a real testament to the high calibre Indigenous graduates Western Sydney University is able to develop. It was particularly affirming to have Kobi join us on a permanent basis as a recipient of our First Nations Scholarship and following a summer internship experience with us, in which he was able to get a great understanding of our organisation and industry. We truly value the relationship we’ve been able to develop with Western; we look forward to continuing to build on that and welcoming more impressive Western graduates into careers at GPT,” said Ms Knight.
To learn more about the GPT group please follow: www.gpt.com.au/
Kobi Newell, Western Alumni
Badanami in 2024
As 2024 comes to an end, Badanami proudly reflects on a year marked by significant events, achievements, and deepened connections with our Indigenous students. Throughout the year, our team has been fully committed to offering personalised support, while fostering spaces that celebrate cultural pride, nurture leadership, and promote academic excellence.
Badanami continued to pay tribute to Indigenous culture, leadership, and student success through a series of events and initiatives. One of the most prominent weeks was NAIDOC, where students, staff, and community members came together to celebrate the rich traditions and stories of Indigenous Australia. This year’s theme inspired a vibrant week of activities, discussions, and community engagement, all reinforcing the importance of culture in student success.
In September, we hosted the Badanami Book Drive for Indigenous Literacy Day to support literacy in Indigenous communities. The overwhelming response from both the University and local community was heart-warming, and we were able to donate a significant number of books to assist Indigenous students and young learners across Greater Western Sydney.
The Indigenous Nationals, held this year at the University of Wollongong, provided a fantastic opportunity for Indigenous students to showcase their athletic talents while celebrating their cultural heritage. The team spirit and camaraderie demonstrated throughout the event was truly inspiring, and our students proudly represented themselves, their families and Western Sydney University with dignity and determination.
One of the most transformative experiences this year was the Indigenous Student Leadership Retreat, designed to nurture leadership qualities in our students. Held in Wollongong, the retreat provided a supportive environment where emerging Indigenous leaders could grow, reflect, and hone their skills. Participants engaged in both leadership and cultural sessions, with the overarching goal of laying the groundwork for the creation of Badanami’s Indigenous Student Advisory Committee—a new initiative launching in 2025 that will provide our Indigenous students a platform where their voices, comments and feedback can be heard.
This year brought another exciting opportunity for Indigenous students to participate in the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Taiwan Program. This immersive experience allows students to broaden their horizons through cultural exchange, while gaining fresh perspectives on leadership and global citizenship. The success of this opportunity was made possible through a collaborative effort between the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership, the Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education, and the Office of the PVC International, showcasing the power of partnership in enhancing the Indigenous student experience and providing unlimited opportunities for success.
At the heart of Badanami’s mission is our commitment to provide personalised and holistic support for our Indigenous students. In 2024, we strengthened our connection with students through over 7,500 individual interactions. These connections were made possible through a range of communication methods, ensuring that students could always reach out in ways that suited them best.
This year, Badanami introduced the Deadly Chat platform, allowing Indigenous students at Western Sydney University to schedule one-on-one video chats with staff for personalised support. This flexible resource has empowered students to connect with Badanami staff at times that best suit the student needs. Since its launch in March 2024, the platform has facilitated over 75 interactions, providing timely and accessible assistance.
In addition to these virtual sessions, Badanami has also delivered:
≥ 2,000+ face-to-face meetings, offering students direct, in-person guidance and support.
≥ Around 3,000 email exchanges, ensuring efficient communication for students preferring digital correspondence.
≥ 1,300+ phone conversations, providing students with immediate support and assistance.
≥ Over 1,500 text messages, ensuring quick check-ins and reminders.
Through these efforts, Badanami’s dedicated approach continues to foster a strong sense of belonging and success for Indigenous students at Western Sydney University.
As we look back on 2024, Badanami’s focus on cultural pride, leadership development, and personalised support has and will continue to make a lasting impact for our students. We look forward to continuing our important work in 2025 and beyond, empowering Indigenous students to thrive in all aspects of their academic and personal lives. As we approach the holiday season, we want to wish all our students, staff, and community members a safe and restful break. Take care of yourself, enjoy the time to recharge, and we look forward to the new year, where we will be ready for another incredible year together.
