2022 Indigenous Education Statement

The People and Culture Aboriginal Employment Consultant, facilitates all face-to-face training over a one-day program and monitors all enrolments online for staff and students.

Cultural Competency Induction for New Staff

New staff are required to undertake the full-day Cultural Connections Program, which is currently only offered face-to-face. UNE is exploring an online offering for remote employees. Please see page 10 of the Aboriginal Employment Strategy,  https://www.une.edu.au/info-for/indigenous- matters/oorala/media/documents/aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-employment-strategy-2019- 2023.pdf

Indigenising Curricula

The Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law is supporting actions to improve outcomes for Indigenous students by raising the visibility of Indigenous peoples and issues of diversity in the faculty. Additional efforts include improving understanding of Indigenous values, which feeds into research- informed teaching (RiT). Incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge in teaching, including an approved major in Indigenous Organization Management in the Diploma of Business, and a dedicated Indigenous knowledge unit in environmental science, ENSC220 - Australian Aboriginal Sustainability Systems. The Business School also workshopped courses, including mapping Indigenous outcomes in curricula. A proposal has been developed to include an Indigenous Oorala unit in the Bachelor of Science core curriculum. The Faculty has considered membership in a national Community of Practice on incorporating Indigenous Knowledge into computer science curricula. And the School of Law embedded Indigenous cultural content into several units across the curriculum.

The Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (HASSE) has improved communication with stakeholders to improve opportunities for Indigenous students and their representation in the school. It has included direct online contact with Indigenous students. The Faculty also advertised Identified senior positions in education to assist in academic leadership.

Activities have improved collaboration and communication between lecturers in the different UNE campuses, improved orientation procedures, and enhanced conversations with HDR students regarding ethics and Indigenous higher education research. In addition, there have been professional sharing opportunities on Indigenous pedagogy, such as 8-ways of learning. Finally, in collaboration with Indigenous faculty advisors, HASSE has developed community sessions where lecturers and students come together to discuss issues surrounding studying to improve unit success rates and retention for Indigenous students.

A range of work is underway to embed Indigenous Knowledge within the curricula, and curriculum development across Criminology and Sociology Units, including revising assessment tasks in line with the eight-way pedagogy of Indigenous Learning and embedding of Indigenous Knowledges within subjects to provide an alternative perspective to some heavily Westernised units. In addition, the HASSE team is developing a set of 'Best Practice Guidelines' for embedding Indigenous Knowledges into units at UNE. HASSE is also prioritising changes to policy and practice guidelines to ensure a more inclusive model of delivery that prioritises Indigenous Knowledges and fair participation of Indigenous students.

A cross-university collaboration created inclusive and culturally relevant teaching methods to improve student mental health in 2020. The priority continues, and in 2022 colleagues from across UNE continued to work on an inclusive pedagogy for student well-being. This hallmark pedagogy uses Universal Design for Learning, Culturally Responsive, and Trauma-Informed pedagogy. These principles help lecturers design, implement, and enact UNE's trademark pedagogy for diverse students. In addition, it improves undergraduate course access for remote, low-SES, and Indigenous students.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health advertised a senior identified position and conducted a leadership workshop that included Indigenous staff in planning to manage Indigenous outcomes in the faculty. The Faculty also uses the Indigenous staff to better support policy and procedures by reviewing advice for academic issues confronting students.

Oorala Outdoor Learning Precinct

Envisaged as an Outdoor Learning Precinct, the environmental and cultural space at Oorala will include a yarning circle, a smoking pit for ceremonial practices and shaded indoor /outdoor learning spaces. The precinct will lead to developing a community of practice that identifies with place, Oorala, and Country, building better support networks and a sense of belonging for everyone who uses the space. In addition, this space will contribute positively to student and staff experiences at UNE.

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