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Symposium to boost Indigenous education
The 4th annual Indigenous Education Symposium, to be hosted by the University of the Sunshine Coast from 16-20 August, will examine ways of boosting the higher education experience for Indigenous students.
USC Indigenous Employment Officer Henry Neill will present an awareness program to help educators develop culturally-appropriate learning environments.
His session will be part of an extensive program at the Sippy Downs campus, including workshops for hundreds of Coast high school students on Wednesday 18 August and Thursday 19 August to learn about Indigenous art, culture and the environment.
Gina Archer, who chairs the Queensland Indigenous Education Consultative Committee, will be the keynote speaker. Cairns-born Ms Archer, a Torres Strait Islander, is a former secondary teacher who worked in schools for more than 30 years.
The symposium this year will be held in conjunction with the inaugural USC Learning and Teaching Week, featuring national and international speakers, master classes and showcases of staff research into teaching. The week’s theme is Diversity and Engagement.
Mr Neill said the symposium would involve industry, professional and community members. It aims to facilitate understanding between Indigenous Australians and the broader community while addressing issues in Indigenous education.
USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said the University was one of few institutions in the country where Indigenous student numbers were above the proportion of Indigenous Australians in the community.
“We continue to strive towards the vision outlined in our Reconciliation Action Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to enjoy the same life opportunities as other Australians in a society which values equality, diversity and the contributions of all,” Professor Hill said.
A Welcome to Country and tree-planting ceremony of bush tucker and medicinal plants will open the symposium on Monday 16 August.
Another key speaker will be Professor Yvonne Cadet-James, who chairs Indigenous Australian Studies at James Cook University. She will present the work of the Empowerment Research Program, which relates to family wellbeing.
Workshop topics for USC staff will include reclamation of languages, anti-racism, teaching inclusively, success stories and culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms.
— Julie Gatehouse