August 9, 2016

Staff invited to become signatories on Indigenous Sorry Speech

Vice-Chancellor extends an invitation to UOW staff to sign ‘Sorry Speech’ to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Local Aboriginal elders have presented UOW with a copy of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s famous 2008 ‘Sorry Speech’ in which he apologised for the historical treatment of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly the ‘Stolen Generations’.

Aunty Jodi Edwards presented a copy of the speech to Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health Professor Alison Jones in recognition of the University’s commitment to helping to heal the trauma of Indigenous peoples.

In July, Australia’s first Indigenous trauma recovery program, a graduate certificate designed to provide health professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively address multiple layers of trauma across Aboriginal and other Indigenous communities, began at UOW.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Inclusion and Outreach) Professor Paul Chandler, who became Australia’s first Indigenous dean when he joined UOW in 2007, welcomed the students, some of whom flew in from the Northern Territory and Western Australia to complete the two-week course.

While here, the students were supported by the Woolyungah Indigenous Centre, which plays a vital role at the University in fostering equity by supporting Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout their time at UOW.

Professor Jones, who was visibly moved when presented with the speech, said she was honoured and humbled.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings, CBE, has invited all UOW staff members to become signatories to the speech at the Vice-Chancellor’s All Staff Meeting on Wednesday 17 August.

An opportunity to sign the speech will also be available from Thursday 18 August to Monday 22 August, when the speech will be made available in Building 36, Level 1 foyer, between 9.30am to 4pm.