ACKNOWLEGEMENT OF COUNTRY - Epic...

22/4/2016

25th Anniversary 2016 AACUHO StarRez Conferenceaacuho.epicconferences.com.au 1

ACKNOWLEGEMENT OF COUNTRY

I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal clan of the Eora

Nation who are the traditional custodians of this place

we now call Sydney.

I pay my respect to the elders of the community, past

and present, and extend my recognition to any of their

descendants or Indigenous guests present here today.

I am honoured to be presenting on the ancestral lands of

the Gadigal people today.

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St. Catherine’s College

Residential Colleges offer the BEST

opportunities for Indigenousstudents to succeed at University

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Historically, educational institutions were sites of

cultural destruction

• Languages banned

• Cultural practices forbidden

• Assimilationist education

• Deficit theory of Indigenous Intelligence

• Poor educational experiences and outcomes

• 1966 Charles Perkins and Margaret

Valadian first Aboriginal university graduates.

Wesley College ‘Moorditj Mob’ program’ (2006-2016)

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Culture + Identity strengthening + Community

Belonging + Academic/Pastoral Support =Educational Success

IDENTITY

COMMUNITYBELONGING

CULTURE

CULTURE IDENTITY BELONGING COMMUNITY

The ‘Circle of Courage’ is a Canadian First Nations model of positive youth development

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Strong University Retention rates

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

National Non-Aboriginal retention

National Aboriginal Retention

Univesity retention

Between 2012-16, 90 Indigenous students passed through our program, university

retention rate over 4 years = 96%

Creating Cultural Safe Spaces for the students to grow, to belong and to have their identity valued

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Cultural Activities

Sorry Night

Cultural Education for St Cats non-Aboriginal students

Women’s and Men’s Campfire healing Circles

Welcome to Country, NAIDOC,

Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week

Arts Culture Week

Cultural Leadership and IdentityDevelopment

Uncle Barry McGuire shares his story

Healing Campfire Circles with Indigenous leaders

Fred Chaney encourages students to be politically active

Cultural Leadership sessions

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Cultural expression

MUSIC ART DANCE

COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND THE INDIGENOUS

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Barry McGuire- Indigenous Nyoongar Ambassador

for the Dandjoo Darbalung Program

Dr Noel

Nannup

Nyoongar

Elder who

named the

program

Kija Elder

prepares

Smoking

Ceremony

Our

Indigenous

Advisory

Council

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Raising Political & Social Awareness

Political Film Nights ‘Recognise’ Campaign Deaths in Custody March

Remote Community

Closure Facebook Page

Overview of Community Outreach “GIVING BACK”

AIME volunteer mentors

35 students volunteer as mentors in 7 remote schools (Newman, Pt. Hedland, Yandeyarra, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing, Derby)

‘Jumulu’ Halls Creek Mentoring Trips

School Visits and Halls Creek Camps

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How can Indigenous programs benefit a

College ? Indigenous Cross Cultural Learning for Australian and

International students

Opportunities to live with and learn from First Nations Australians

Partnerships and networks with local community and funding bodies

What are some of the obstacles and challenges?

Death and SuicideTHE ANSWER: have a plan in place for uniextensions, grief counselling and support to get home and return back

Mental Health Sadness, Grief, Depression

THE ANSWER: have psychs/counsellors who work regularly with the college

Family

Demands

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More OBSTACLES ………………….

Low Self Esteem/Image

THE ANSWER = teach them about affirmations and visualisations and celebrate grades and achievements

The educational gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students remains at approximately two-and-a-half years.

THE ANSWER = employ trained teachers as tutors to support academically

Homesickness for CountryTHE ANSWER= encourage them to bring back items and food from home / country ond offer campfires

Close the Gaps in education and learning

More Obstacles and Challenges

Family Fighting and breakdownTHE ANSWER = provide men's and women's yarning circles to debrief what is happening

Turning 18 and drinking

THE ANSWER = open discussions and boundaries and older mentors to guide behaviour

Time Management Organisational Skills

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2016 Scholarships Distribution “Financial hardship remains on the top of the list as the main barrier to Indigenous educational achievement. Reduction or removal of financial barriers to participation in higher education has been deemed crucial to widening Indigenous participation (IHEAC 2006).

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Woodside

FMG

Rio

BHP/AIEF

Catholic Ed

Puggy Hunter

Waardi

Kimberley Land

IBN / Plan B

Ngarluma

TOTAL

2016 SCHOLARSHIPS

Will your College be a part of an Indigenous Leadership Program forTomorrow’sAustralian Leaders ?

“Indigenous Australians continue to be the most educationally

disadvantaged group in Australia, a fact which goes hand in

hand with other disadvantage” (Tom Calma 2008)…

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Taneisha Hansen, Program Coordinator

Wirrpanda Foundation

Wongi woman from Kalgoorlie:

“I was a member of the Dandjoo Darbalung

Program at St Catherine’s College from 2012-15 and during that time

I was strongly supported academically in my studies, as well as receiving

pastoral and cultural support to achieve my degree in a Bachelor of Health

Science. Over the 3 ½ years, Dandjoo Darbalung provided me with

opportunities to participate in cultural activities and mentoring in schools that

helped to build my self-confidence, my sense of cultural pride, as well as

helping me to build a resume and application

for this job. I have made lifelong

friendships through this program

and am grateful for the time

I had with my Dandjoo Darbalung

family. “

ACKNOWLEGEMENT OF COUNTRY - Epic...

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