USC to stage Indigenous education symposium
The University of the Sunshine Coast will stage an Indigenous Education Symposium from 17-19 September, featuring presentations by some of Australia’s top Indigenous education experts.
The three-day event will include a program for school students on Wednesday 17 September, an Indigenous research ethics workshop on Thursday afternoon and the main part of the symposium on Friday.
James Cook University’s Head of School of Indigenous Australian Studies, Professor Yvonne Cadet-James, will lead Thursday’s ethics workshop which aims to help those involved in conducting research with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
And the keynote speaker on Friday will be the Director of the NSW Aboriginal Education and Training Directorate, Michele Hall, who will speak on the topic of “Aboriginal education is everyone’s business”.
About 100 educators and members of the public are expected to attend the symposium on Friday for a series of workshops, a guided tour of USC’s Western Desert art collection and an Indigenous film festival.
USC Indigenous Services Officer Corey Czok said the symposium would help raise awareness of Indigenous culture and facilitate a greater understanding between educators, students and Indigenous Australians.
“This is an opportunity for practitioners in schools and higher education to share experiences and information about improving the educational pathways for Indigenous students,” he said.
The schools program, which will promote student awareness and understanding of Indigenous knowledge and culture, has been booked out. To attend the symposium on Thursday or Friday, contact Nicole Copley on (07) 5459 4821 or email <ncopely@usc.edu.au>.
— Terry Walsh