University of Canberra Office of Indigenous Leadership

06/09/2023

What are other countries and people from multicultural communities in Australia thinking about the Voice to Parliament?

Tonight UC will host an event looking at international perspectives on the voice, featuring a short speech from prominent Government MP Sally Sitou followed by a panel discussion with ANU Research Fellow James Blackwell, Australia Award Scholar Chanda Sunar and Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Mijica Lus.

Come and join us for the fourth in our series of Voice to Parliament events at the National Film and Sound Archive Cinema tonight 7-8pm.

Admission is free - register online at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ucs-international-perspectives-on-the-voice-lecture-tickets-698317334947?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing&utm-campaign=social&utm-medium=discovery&utm-content=attendeeshare

University of Canberra

04/08/2023

Bunyips are firmly part of the curriculum for the University of Canberra’s youngest students.

The, three, four and five year-olds at Wiradjuri Preschool and Child Care Centre, tucked away in bright, colourful rooms on campus regularly ask for The Bunyip and the Stars read by centre UC graduate Adam Duncan, who wrote the book as a passion project while also juggling his job as Centre Director.

On National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, it’s a great opportunity to recognise the achievements of educators like Adam, who draws on his Biripi heritage to bring Indigenous culture to life for children at the centre.

After graduating from UC with a Bachelor of Education in 2011, Adam has worked in a variety of roles and has a seemingly boundless enthusiasm for nurturing young children.

“In late 2012, I started branching out a bit and doing some consultancy work with schools around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in their curriculum,” Adam says.

“I wanted to support them to understand that they don't always need an Aboriginal teacher in place to do really great things when it comes to exploring culture in Australia.”

When the opportunity to come back on campus and lead the Centre, Adam jumped at the chance and regularly made up stories, including a much loved one about a bunyip.

That story, refined in front of an eager and enthusiastic audience of children at the Centre, was captured in a phenomenally-illustrated book published this year, in a partnership with the National Museum of Australia.

“I can sit down and run a learning experience with the children here and just feel like we're sharing a moment. I love knowing that these children, at this time are being changed – they’re learning and growing,” Adam says.

Get a copy of the book at https://shop.nma.gov.au/products/the-bunyip-and-the-starshttps:/shop.nma.gov.au/products/the-bunyip-and-the-stars

For more information about the Wiradjuri Preschool and Child Care Centre visit https://www.canberra.edu.au/on-campus/childcare/wiradjuri/contact-us

29/07/2023

Join the NAIDOC Market Day at the UC Concourse this Wednesday to check out different stalls from across the community.

Details here: https://www.canberra.edu.au/events/Home/Event/462305

Ngunnawal Centre, University of Canberra

28/07/2023

A big thank you to our colleagues and friends who came along to our NAIDOC Connected event! It was a great night of celebrating and networking with our Canberra community.



National Gallery of Australia, Canberra University of Canberra Ngunnawal Centre, University of Canberra

23/07/2023

Join us for our annual Ngunnawal Lecture, a free public event for Canberra and the UC Community.

This event of song and story features Thomas Mayo and Shane Howard who bring the story and the significance of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Referendum to life through stories, music and celebration.

👉 Tuesday 22 August, 5:15 - 7:00pm
👉 Members Dining Room, Old Parliament House

Register by 14 August - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/2023-ngunnawal-lecture-with-thomas-mayo-and-shane-howard-tickets-650590933997. Spaces are limited.

Centre, University of Canberra

21/07/2023

📣 Calling all students 📣

Do you want to know more about the Voice to Parliament?

Join our livestream event at UC for an in-depth dialogue, covering diverse perspectives regarding the upcoming Referendum. Hosted by the Australian National University.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-voice-a-dialogue-for-students-tickets-681517997677

Ngunnawal Centre, University of Canberra University of Canberra Virtual Freedom Ride 2023

20/07/2023

Join us for the second lecture in UC's Voice to Parliament series, where Pat Turner AM will talk about the Voice and Closing the Gap.

👉 Thursday 10 August, 5:30 - 6:30pm
👉 The Shine Dome, Acton

Register by 2 August here https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ucs-voice-to-parliament-lecture-series-closing-the-gap-with-pat-turner-tickets-677195067677. Spaces are limited.

Ngunnawal Centre, University of Canberra

18/07/2023

A great visit to Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Health in Wagga Wagga this week - really inspiring to see what Peta and the team are achieving!

RivMed had the pleasure of hosting a visit to our Clinic with the team from the University of Canberra yesterday. We look forward to working together in the future to improve Health outcomes in our Community.

From left to right: LaToya Terry (Executive Assistant to the CEO), Nicole Kilby (Executive Officer), Jane Kearnes (Practice Manager),
Professor Maree Meredith (Pro Vice-Chancellor), Tim Winkler (Strategic Advisor), Mary Atkinson (Respected Elder and Community Member) and Peta Larsen (CEO of RivMed)

17/07/2023

The Virtual Freedom Ride 2023 is launched by UC Pro Vice-Chancellor Maree Meredith in Wagga Wagga this morning.

Jump on board at www.vfr23.com.au

10/07/2023

UC student, Dan McDougal, encourages other First Nations persons to consider higher education, stressing that there are multiple pathways to university and to consider the additional support services that are available.

"We are desperately in need as a people of more clinically trained and culturally responsive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists in this country to help fight some of those statistics.

Keep up the great work, Dan!

https://nit.com.au/05-07-2023/6659/barkindji-psychology-student-dan-mcdougal-working-to-help-community

Ngunnawal Centre, University of Canberra University of Canberra

Barkindji man Dan McDougal is a University of Canberra student and Westerman Jilya Institute scholarship recipient who first came to Canberr...

07/07/2023

Consultations for the University of Canberra’s new Indigenous leadership strategy are gathering momentum, with input from a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

In a visit to campus this week, Indigenous Australians Minister the Hon Linda Burney MP strongly endorsed the importance of the Outside-In strategy – where the University listens to and is informed by the needs and priorities of Indigenous communities.

After meeting with Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Maree Meredith, Minister Burney said it was critical that universities and governments started to listen to communities in order to deliver meaningful change.

Professor Meredith will be leading consultations with community members across the ACT and regional NSW, seeking to set new benchmarks for impact and engagement that are valued by First Nations people inside and outside of the University.

Ngunnawal Centre University of Canberra

07/07/2023

Cosmos has listed 52 leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and scientists who are changing the world.

We are proud that two of UC's leaders have been recognised this NAIDOC Week. Our Chancellor, Prof Tom Calma AO, and A/Prof Bradley Moggridge. Well done on being recognised for your critical work!

Ngunnawal Centre, University of Canberra University of Canberra

52 leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are changing the world. A list created with the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) and Australia’s Learned Academies.