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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. “
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