August 27, 2024

Djiringanj Community Learning Resource wins UOW Vice-Chancellor’s award

Djiringanj Indigenous community members and UOW Bega Valley recipients of Indigenous Advancement Award

The Djiringanj Community Learning Resource, a multifaceted art, language and cultural resource that is being widely utilised by the Bega Valley community, was celebrated at the University of Wollongong (UOW) Vice-Chancellor's Awards on Thursday 22 August. 

Members of the Djiringanj Community and staff from UOW Bega Valley who created the resource were awarded the Indigenous Advancement Award. 

The award recognises the commitment and contributions of individuals and teams across UOW who have achieved outstanding outcomes in leading and enabling Indigenous advancement within the University and beyond. 

The award recipients were Djiringanj Indigenous community members Aunty Ellen Mundy and Bronwyn Luff, Emma Stewart (Woolyungah Indigenous Centre and UOW Bega Valley), Samantha Avitaia (UOW Bega Valley) and Linda Hatcliffe (UOW Facilities Management Division). 

The collaborative community project began in 2022 from an idea to create an artwork for the entrance of the UOW Bega Valley Campus. Emma Stewart, former Indigenous Student Success Advisor at UOW Bega Valley, was the driving force to create messaging using the Djiringanj language.  

“After developing a strong relationship and having many yarns with Aunty Ellen we realised that there was so much sacred knowledge that Aunt was sharing with us that we needed to do a larger-scale project that shared her cultural knowledge and Djiringanj language, not only with the UOW community but with the Bega Valley,” Ms Stewart said.   

“The Aboriginal community are so generous in the amount of knowledge that they're able to share. We were able to partner with an elder of the community as well as a local artist to make sure everything was done in a culturally grounded and culturally authentic way.” 

The artwork, “My Dreaming Track of Knowledge with Community and Elders”, depicts the story and sacred cultural significance of the Bega Valley. 

The artwork was reproduced as a door decal covering the entire front window entrance of UOW Bega Valley, more than 4.5 metres wide and 2.5 metres high, acting like a leadlight window allowing the sunlight to filter through the artwork and fill the space.

Aunty Ellen shared 11 words in local Djiringanj language, which have been featured within a teaching resource and website for the local community to learn more about Djiringanj culture and the significance of Bega. 

A large display panel installed at the campus entrance shares the story of the artwork along with a QR link to the UOW website with language recordings. 

“The University's embrace of Djiringanj culture and recognition of the Djiringanj people is an important step in the healing and sharing process. We want to encourage Aboriginal students and community to feel safe and comfortable to study at UOW,” Aunty Ellen said. 

“Working with UOW Bega is creating meaningful reconciliation and positive change for our community. It has inspired our community to be excited about the future as they can see things moving forward.” 

UOW Bega Valley Campus Manager Samantha Avitaia championed the project, ensuring the wider community was involved at every stage.  

“The resource is valued by the entire community as previously there were not any Djiringanj local language resources available for public use,” Ms Avitaia said. 

“Individuals, local schools and organisations have since reached out to UOW Bega and received permission to use the Djiringanj artwork and local language resources for school, libraries and community projects.  

“Providing the resources to the community has enabled teachers to work with the Indigenous community to develop a range of language learning activities and for Djiringanj language to be heard and embraced by school children in their everyday lives.”  

About the Vice Chancellor’s Indigenous Advancement Award 

The Indigenous Advancement Award is a symbol of achievement in fostering an inclusive community environment, actively creating Cultural Safety for staff and students and building relationships based on respect, reciprocity, responsibility in the community. 

The artwork, stories and language depicted in the project remains the cultural and intellectual property of Aunty Ellen Mundy and Bronwyn Luff. 

_{Pictured above: UOW Vice Chancellor’s Indigenous Advancement Award recipients, Linda Hatcliffe, Aunty Ellen Mundy, Bronwyn Luff, Samantha Avitaia and Emma Stewart with UOW Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar.}