Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Wiradjuri Elders are this week celebrating the success of a new course designed to revitalise the Wiradjuri language, culture and heritage.    

The first students in the University's Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage are at CSU in Wagga Wagga for their final residential school program.

The distance education postgraduate program was introduced by CSU in 2014 in partnership with the Wiradjuri Council of Elders and members of the Wiradjuri nation of the central west, western slopes and plains region of NSW. 

A highlight of the week-long residential school program will be a dinner from 6pm on Thursday 27 November attended by CSU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Andrew Vann, Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie, Professor Ross Chambers, and Wiradjuri Elders Dr Stan Grant, AM and Aunty Flo Grant. Also attending will be Elders of the Biripi nation on the NSW Mid North Coast.

During the week, the CSU students have had the opportunity to engage with academics Dr Miriam Jorgensen and Dr Alison Vivian, who are working with a broader group of Wiradjuri, Ngarrindjeri and Gunditjmara researchers on Australian Indigenous nation building.

They are working to better understand the impact of programs like the University's Graduate Certificate on strengthening Wiradjuri identity and nationhood.

Described as being 'central' to the development of the program at the University, Dr Grant was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by CSU last year for his contribution to CSU's regions.

Ms Debra Evans from the School of Indigenous Australian Studies at CSU said, "The course was developed in response to a need to rebuild the nation.

"The aim is to help Wiradjuri and non-Wiradjuri people preserve the community's language for generations to come.

"A key to its success has been the joint governance of the course by the University and the Wiradjuri Elders."