Healing and Recognition Track (HART)

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President Research and Sustainable Futures (Interim)

(Written as the Executive Dean of The Faculty of Science Medicine and Health)
The Faculty of Science Medicine and Health  is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples of Australia, and we believe that the continued implementation of the UOW Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2022 was a significant first step in achieving this goal. Our RAP achievements to-date include piloting a new Indigenous research internship program, supporting global mobility for Indigenous students, enabling the next generation of Indigenous doctors, championing Indigenous HDR students, growing our educational offerings and enhancing our understanding of Indigenous procurement.  In addition, the faculty have recruited 7 identified positions that include professional and academic roles at diverse career stages, spanning both health and science disciplines and committing to cultural awareness training for our Faculty Senior Executive. We understand that reconciliation is a journey that requires ongoing sustained effort, and our ongoing and future RAP initiatives represent our continued commitment to this journey. 

Read the full statement

Executive Dean, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

The Faculty of the Arts, Social Science and Humanities embraces reconciliation as everybody’s business. We commit to action on reconciliation becoming more embedded within our everyday practices of learning, teaching, researching and connecting. 

Each year we join together to mark Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week with colleagues across the University and community. As a faculty committed to education and young people, we are also active in Indigenous Literacy Day and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day as part of our yearly calendar. In our ‘business as usual’ we continue to embed Indigenous knowledges and pedagogies in curriculum, recruit Indigenous academics and support PhD completion, and engage Indigenous providers and suppliers in our procuring of goods and services. We continue our learning through the AIATSIS Core Cultural Learning modules, with colleagues from across the faculty working through the modules and supporting discussions. We incorporate reconciliation action into the ways we work every day with a RAP working group in each School, RAP discussions as a standing item on meeting agendas and Acknowledgement of Country at gatherings, through posters and signage. We continue to work as a community partner, and as a space for community to meet on campus. We are changing our spaces and places to make them more welcoming. The Early Start building now features the UOW Acknowledgement of Country and Flame Tree signage at its entrances, and we created a First Nations Space in Building 19. Two major projects funded in 2022, helped to develop knowledge about our Indigenous art collection and promote a Workplace Culture Supportive of Aboriginal and Indigenous Communities in Early Start.

Executive Dean, Faculty of Business and Law

In line with the Faculty’s statement of intent, throughout 2022, the Faculty of Business and Law has collaborated with the Indigenous Strategy Unit and Woolyungah to develop and launch RAP-related initiatives. 2022 kept us busy with 1) the identification of current and development of processes to support embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content in subjects, 2) developing and providing appropriate support for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and 3) the Faculty’s ongoing commitment to the BAL RAP Working Group which includes student representation. During 2022, BAL had one of the largest cohorts (57 staff members) to participate in the pilot project and undertake the AIATSIS: Core - Cultural Learning modules. Engagement in the AIATSIS modules has strengthened our staff’s foundational cultural competencies and contributed towards our Faculty’s cultural capabilities. A small group of BAL staff were also provided an opportunity for an off-campus on-Country experience at the Royal National Park. Led by an Elder, the team were taught about historical sites, maintenance of culturally significant sites and how to pay respects to Country authentically. BAL are excited that this opportunity will be provided again in 2023. We are committed to our reconciliation journey and understand that reconciliation is ‘everybody’s business’.

Executive Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences

Reconciliation within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences (EIS) is about recognising the impact of our actions and contributing to all dimensions of reconciliation. We understand that everything we do requires us to authentically engage with, acknowledge, and maintain cultural connection with the Aboriginal lands on which we study and live.

Our commitment to reconciliation is now formally embedded in the faculty’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy and action plan, launched in October 2022 and on our webpage. As part of this initiative, the faculty has committed to establishing an annual prize to recognise the achievements of our Indigenous students. In 2022, EIS was committed to expanding our partnerships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and to continue embedding Indigenous knowledge, wisdom, and perspectives within our teaching and research programs. We understand that this journey takes time and will continue to work towards this in 2023. We investigated opportunities to create pathways into higher degree research programs and a summer scholarship for Indigenous students. We will continue to take every opportunity to learn from traditional knowledge holders and to deepen our understanding and connection to Country and the true history of Australia through engagement in the AIATSIS-Core: Cultural Learning modules. We will continue to focus on creating pathways for study and employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, on empowering Indigenous businesses through procurement, and on sharing our reconciliation journey within EIS and our local community. We value and celebrate the contributions of our Indigenous staff and students and are committed to creating a culturally safe and supportive community within EIS where all staff and students feel welcome and respected.