2016 Indigenous Education Statement

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

391

340

Non-Indigenous students (Domestic students only):

9,179

8,538

HEPPP Project –

Direct engagement with New England and North West Aboriginal communities to increase enrolments in Law and Business Courses.

Indigenous High School Students

School visits to promote Indigenous participation in Law and Business degrees. Participate in Oorala Aboriginal Centre engagement activities including Aboriginal Youth Development Camps and UNE On-Campus Experience Days.

Increased Indigenous enrolments by 10%.

Further HEPP funding has been secured to continue this program in 2017, with a full-time project officer appointed to continue outreach activities and develop Aboriginal student retention initiatives.

Place-based Aboriginal Community Engagement

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander School Students and Community Members

To foster community relationships and build aspirations for tertiary study in communities within the New England, North West and North Coast Areas, providing outreach support and promotion of Higher Education in Law and Business.

Discussions held with local Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups, Lands Councils, Elders, Students, Principals, Teachers and Families.

Diploma of Business

All students including Indigenous students

Students have options to undertake 8 units with some specific Indigenous focus (equating to an Indigenous Organisation Management Major) that may lead into the Bachelor of Business.

Engagement of Aboriginal Support Officer, UNE Business School and School of Law

All indigenous students

HEPPP Funded project to improve retention rates and to increase numbers of Indigenous students undertaking tertiary studies in Business and Law.

To support successful completion of units and courses.

PALS for HUMS

(HEPPP funded)

Low-SES students

Peer mentors in the new BA foundation unit HUMS103

Planned in 2016, will commence in T2 2017

Cadetship with NSW Health

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing student entering an undergraduate degree

About 6 signed up for 2017

Cadetship with NSW Health

Direct Entry (Interview pathway)

Any nursing student

An alternative pathway for enrolment

About 35 (with 5 being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander)

Direct Entry (Interview pathway)

Information session

As part of Oorala Aboriginal Centre’s University Experience Days, the Criminology unit at BCSS will be holding an information sessions for ATSI year 10 and 11 students from local high schools in June 2017.

None anticipated

Participation and promotion

HSC Booster Day

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, low socio economic areas and rural and regional areas.

The target audience for this activity is Year 12 students from rural and regional NSW. ERS and S&T offer intensive sessions in 14 different HSC subject areas to Year 12 students. We particularly encourage students to attend from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups and low socio economic areas. We facilitate this by providing meals and accommodation for the students who live over 100km from Armidale.

ERS and S&T staff provided intensive help to students with their HSC studies, and to ‘boost’ the students’ experience in their HSC subjects. We also provided Campus Tours to showcase the University and study opportunities. Many of the students attend this event to access the hands on activities.

Far Out Science

Far out Science is a two day event held at UNE and is designed to showcase to the students the wide world of Science and to celebrate the fun, exciting and intriguing side of Science

The excitement and stories that the students take home from this event, to share with their siblings and communities, helps to raise the profile of science and higher education to family, friends and the wider community.

UNE GRASS Teacher Professional Development Days

The UNE GRASS (Growing Regional and Agricultural Students in Science) Teacher Professional Development Days are run over two days and include an event dinner with a guest speaker. This event aims to showcase to Science teachers the variety of opportunities available to their students in the science and agricultural fields.

The outcome of this program is that teachers can return to the classroom to share with their students’ new activities and enthusiasm for opportunities in the world of science and agriculture.

UNE GRASS Industry Placement Scholarship

The UNE GRASS Industry Placement Scholarship showcases to Years 11 and 12 students, the broad range of exciting science-based careers that support primary industries. Full Industry Placement Scholarship offerings are made following an application, interview and after working with students at the camp.

The outcome of this program is that more students from these areas and backgrounds are encouraged to attend University and once they have completed their education, they are more likely to take this knowledge back to their communities.

Oorala Experience Day

Years 9 and 10 Indigenous Students

Science and Technology staff ran a chemistry practical experience and an encounter with ants.

In the chemistry lab the students made aspirin and also did some basic calculations to work out how efficient their experiments were in terms of their yield of aspirin. It was highly rated for engagement, and student’s had friendly competition with one another in getting the best result.

Students also attended to a presentation on the diverse world of ants, then spent some time collecting ants outside and then in the lab using scientific information to try and identify the genus and species of the ants they found.

Teddy Bear Doctors

Young primary school children

The School identifies local schools (including those with high proportion of indigenous students) to discuss health issues using students own teddy bears as the focus.

Paediatrician accompanied by several Year 4 students visit and enjoy a few hours talking with students about problems or health issues they relay through their teddy bear.

Medical students learn communication skills with young children. Young indigenous children learn to talk about health issues with health practitioners.

Relationship with schools opens doors to more visits and identification of children with aspirations towards studying in health-related areas.

Presentations by the School of Rural Medicine Aboriginal Academic

Parramatta Futures Campus

Video Conference Presentation to Regional Careers Advisors Conference in Partnership with Oorala staff.

20+ in attendance.

2 x NAIDOC events

Armidale and Tamworth

To create a UNE/School of Rural Medicine presence at a community level.

300+ people in attendance over all.

Aboriginal Interagency/Community Meetings

Armidale x2

Tamworth x2 Toomelah x1

to promote the JMP/School of Rural Medicine

60+ people in attendance overall.

Presentations from the School of Rural Medicine Aboriginal Academic

Aboriginal students (in years 9-12 inclusive):

• Armidale High School,
• Duval High School,
• New England Girls Grammar School,
• Tamworth High School,
• O’Connor Catholic School.

50+ students in attendance

9+ staff in attendance,

5+ parents in attendance over all.

Youth Development day (Male and Female run through Oorala)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

A1 day orientation or workshop for school aged children with nursing staff in attendance to discuss the BN program

Small numbers are recruited (about 2 in 2017)

Narran Lakes Project

Indigenous community members in the Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Angledool area

A research engagement between the Narran Lakes Nature Reserve Co-Management Committee, UNE (Archaeology), OEH, and NSW NPWS including School visits and talks at the Walgett School (staff and students from UNE) and on country at Narran Lakes

Engagement continues, no students yet recruited due to short time frame

Walcha Community project

Indigenous community members in the Walcha area

Visited local Aboriginal cultural heritage sites with Indigenous community members

Engagement continues

MGOALS

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students

Collaboration with Oorala Aboriginal Centre and MPA on the MGoals project.

The MGoals program supports Aboriginal Culture and Education by providing local Aboriginal communities and schools with an online project that assists students to create their goals for living and learning.

MGoals components:

The first is a website building project. The project encourages schools to collaborate with their local Aboriginal community in building a local community website resource. The website is used to share and celebrate local history, cultural information and programs that are being run in support of Aboriginal Education;

An online goal-setting program, where students interact with teachers, parents and mentors to set goals for living and learning.

Planning phase completed 2016 for implementation 2017.

National advertising

Prospective indigenous students

Promotion of mainstream courses plus Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific pathways in online and offline media channels.

Completed 2016

Scholarship promotions

Prospective indigenous students

Promotion of scholarships to Early Entry applicants, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific application pathways.

Completed 2016

Marketing materials, and re-branding for Aboriginal Centre

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students – current and future

Development of prospectus and a range of marketing and informational materials for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and re-branding.

Awaiting final approval 2016

Oorala website redevelopment

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students – current and future

Redevelopment of the Oorala Aboriginal Centre website

Awaiting final approval 2016

UNE Indigenous-specific scholarships, 2016

Hunter New England Population Health Aboriginal Nursing Scholarship

University Donor Scholarship

3

(1 each for 1st Year, 2nd Year and 3rd Year Students)

First Year Student $5,000.00 for Full-time studies or $2,500.00 for Part-time studies

Second Year Student: $6,000.00 for Full-time studies or $3,000.00 for Part-time studies

Third Year Student:$7,500.00 for Full-time studies or $3750.00 for Part-time studies

1
(1st year)

1 awarded to 1st year applicant.

No applications from 2nd or 3rd year Student

Ella Schroder Indigenous Residential Scholarship

University Donor Scholarship

1

Annual Accommodation cost to a maximum of $10,000

0

Open to school leavers with financial and geographical disadvantage, who have completed high school at boarding school. For applicants who will study on campus and live in a UNE residential college. No applicants in 2016

Max Schroder Scholarship

University Donor Scholarship

4

1 awarded to 1st year applicant. No applicants for 2nd or 3rd Year Student places.

3

Open to school leavers and current

students with financial and geographical disadvantage, for on campus study. (2 of 4 places were allocated for Teaching and Nursing degrees; in 2015 the donor approved award to students in any discipline).

Max Schroder Male Indigenous Mentoring Scholarship

University Donor Scholarship

1

Full residential scholarship
or up to $8000pa

1

Open to final year undergraduate students and postgraduate students.

Awarded to an Undergraduate student

Max Schroder Female Indigenous Mentoring Scholarship

University Donor Scholarship

1

Full residential scholarship or up to $8000pa

1

Open to final year undergraduate students and postgraduate students.

Awarded to undergraduate student

Max Schroder SportUNE Scholarship

University Donor Scholarship

2

$3000 for 1 year

0

Open to Indigenous school leaver and gap year applicants who demonstrate sporting achievements at high level and financial disadvantage.

No applicants in 2016.

Total Indigenous-specific

16

10

Other Scholarships, 2016

Equity Scholarships (Open to Equity Groups)

UNE

Variable

Variable amount depending on the application

(for items to directly assist capacity to study)

1

Open to applicants from Equity groups; high number of applications (2 out of 31 applicants were Indigenous)

ATSIPP Indigenous Student Conference Attendance Award

Total other scholarships

1

IAS

Government

32

$156,928.00

24

IAS Additional funding for Trimester 2 2016

Government

4

$19,616.00

ICAS

Government

7

$36,393.00

7

IECAS

Government

5

$25,995.00

1

ICECS

Government

22

$57,178.00

17

ICECS Additional funding for T2 2016

Government

10

$25,990.00

IECECS

Government

25

$64,975.00

8

IECECS Additional for T2 2016

Government

4

$10,396.00

Total

109

$397,471.00

57

ICAS

Government

10

$51,980

6

4 ICAS not continued in 2016 periods

ICECS

Government

20

$51,980

9

5 ICECS not continued in 2016 periods