The Oorala Aboriginal Centre hosts events during the year for students and the community including seminars, workshops, morning teas and celebrations.

DateEventWhere
Thurs 15 - Sat 17 Feb
2024 

Oorala Yinga Kara Orientation Program

Yinga Kara, an Anaiwan word for ‘my path’ is all about getting you ready to start your studies at UNE.

Come along and find out what Oorala has to offer. Over three days commencing students meet other students, your academic coordinators, organise your student cards, work through any enrollment issues, experience college life accommodation and create new friendships with other students on the same study journey as you.

Oorala & UNE Campus
Mon 19 - Fri 23 Feb

O-week

We know commencing and returning to study can be overwhelming at first, that's why UNE has a range of activities planned to get you familiar with UNE and all it has to offer!

UNE Campus
March

Student Activities

Monday 4  - 25 March:  Fitness Program begins  - 8 week program at SportUNE

Tuesday 12 March: Banana Life online program

Wednesday 27 March: Student Lunch at Oorala

Get Involved
Thursday 21 March

A Meat Tasting Extravaganza

Join us and taste some free meat for UNE market research. This activity is a fundraiser for 2024 Indigenous Nationals Games Team. more info

Register
April

Student Activities

Monday 22 April:  Fitness Program  program - weekly at SportUNE

Monday 29 April:  Fitness Program  program - weekly at SportUNE

Get Involved
Thurs 29 April

Uni Games Fundraiser Trivia night

Austin Page
Tues 30 Apr - Fri 3 May

Oorala Youth Experience Program & Kruki Program

High School students in Years 10, 11 and 12 will be more equipped to approach study as a tertiary student after taking part in Oorala's Youth Experience Program.  Participate in a series of workshops and lectures and have a personal experience and give students exposure to a variety of university courses, faculties and the environment of university life.

UNE Campus
Fri 3 MayUNE Open DayUNE Campus
May

Student Activities

Monday 6/ 13 May:  Fitness Program - at SportUNE

Tuesday 7 May Student Lunch at Oorala

Thursday 9 May: Banana Life online program

Get Involved
Mon 27 May

UNE Sorry Tree

In recognition of Sorry day and Reconciliation Week UNE holds a public acknowledgement event.

UNE Campus
Fri 10 / Sat 11 May

Autumn Graduation & Sashing Ceremonies

Oorala holds a Sashing Ceremony on each Graduation Day. The Ceremony acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students’ academic achievements alongside  their families and is held in the Oorala Lecture Theatre.

Oorala & UNE Campus
Sun 23 - Thur 27 June

Indigenous Uni National Games

This week-long event celebrates sport, culture, health and friendships and is open to both online and on campus students to participate in.

University of Woollongong

EOI

Fri 23 / Sat 24 Aug

Winter Graduation & Sashing Ceremonies

Oorala holds a Sashing Ceremony on each Graduation Day. The Ceremony acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students’ academic achievements alongside  their families and is held in the Oorala Lecture Theatre.

Oorala & UNE Campus
Thurs 5 / Fri 6 / Sat 7 Dec

Summer Graduation & Sashing Ceremonies

Oorala holds a Sashing Ceremony on each Graduation Day. The Ceremony acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students’ academic achievements alongside  their families and is held in the Oorala Lecture Theatre.

Oorala & UNE Campus

View our historical video referencing NAIDOC Days at UNE over the years.

Stories in the Media

12 December 2021 - At UNE, Sarah Thomas's ambitions were supported by the community of people she met. “Living on campus, I was able to make new friends and, particularly through the Oorala Centre, I developed an important support group, academically and socially,” she says. “We were all first in our family to attend university and most of us were from out west. We still regularly catch up.”

A Passion for Learning

7 Dec 2021 - Pauline Syron-Coxon, a Worimi-Biripi descendant, and successful Indigenous artist, is studying a degree in criminology online through the University of New England (UNE). TRACKS, Oorala's tertiary preparation course, proved to be the perfect transitionary step for Pauline, who reflects that “it was the best thing I ever did.” Pauline Coxon

Making TRACKS through covid

Oorala Community Partners

Are you interested in becoming an Oorala community partner?

Here at Oorala we aim to engage and connect with members of the local Aboriginal community on a number of our programs, events and projects. To support this, we have established the Oorala Community Partners register. If you have a skill or experience that you would like to share with future and current students of UNE, please complete our Oorala Community Partners online expression of interest form.

Join our community

Oorala holds a number of community engagement events throughout the year. If you, or your organisation, would like to be included on our invitation lists for upcoming events please contact us.