March 29, 2019

Jindaola guides grant recipients on Journey towards Curriculum Reconciliation

Award-winning UOW program announces Library, Early Start, EIS as 2019 initiatives

The University of Wollongong’s (UOW) award-winning Jindaola program has announced the recipients of its 2019 grants, which help faculties and units across the University to embed Aboriginal knowledges and perspectives into their curricula.

Jindaola awards up to $50,000 p.a. in funding to Faculties and units within the University to undertake a Journey of Curriculum Reconciliation

This year’s grant recipients are the Early Start Research Centre, The Library, and the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences.

The grants are funded through the office of UOW’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Inclusion and Outreach) Professor Paul Chandler.

Developed by UOW’s Academic Development and Recognition team in consultation with Aboriginal Elders and local Knowledge Holders, Jindaola builds relationships between disciplinary knowledges and local Aboriginal knowledges. It allows Aboriginal stories, experiences, ways, and perspectives to be embedded within UOW curriculum.

The program, which was introduced in 2017, is modelled on traditional Aboriginal systems for conducting business and maintaining knowledge integrity.

Earlier this month, the interdisciplinary teams of grant recipients took part in their first ‘Formal Gathering’ at the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation, marking the first step of their 18-month program to transform their curricula.

The first Formal Gathering focused on the significance of the journey; on sitting, sharing, and learning together.

Professor Chandler said he was excited to see faculties and units recognising the importance and value of working with Jindaola to transform their curricula.

“Jindaola was brilliantly conceptualised by Jade, deeply rooted in Yuin knowledges and pedagogy, following a proper consultancy process with appropriate knowledge keepers from Sydney to Eden,” he said.

“It then found a group of passionate people in the Learning, Teaching and Curriculum Unit who have supported and nurtured the program. They have brought it to life over the past two years and made it into groundbreaking, award-winning program that is gaining attention across Australia”.

“It is fantastic to have more grant recipients on board this year and I look forward to watching them thrive as they work alongside Jindaola to embed Indigenous knowledges and perspectives into their work.”

This is the third cohort of UOW staff to take part in the program. Jindaola’s 2019 teams will follow in the footsteps of previous grants recipients, from the faculties of Business and Science, Medicine and Health, and the Schools of Human geography, Psychology; and Arts, English, and the Media.

Currently, the program works with 55 active participants and guides 30 alumni.

In November, Jindaola received national recognition at the Australasian Academic Good Practice Awards.

The program was named the winner of the inaugural Australasian Academic Good Practice Award as well as the winner of the Peer’s Choice Award.

Caption: Dr Alisa Percy, Senior Lecturer in Teaching and Curriculum Development, Jade Kennedy, Lecturer, Indigenous Knowledges in Teaching and Curriculum Development, and Dr Lisa Thomas, Senior Lecturer in the School of Education. Photo: Paul Jones