• Charles Sturt University is committed to advancing reconciliation through higher education, research, and promoting social justice and human rights for Indigenous Australians
• Development of the Charles Sturt Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) includes the steps the University has taken over many years to advance reconciliation

Reconciliation Week 2019 will be observed at Charles Sturt University as one element of its continuing commitment to promote social justice and human rights for Indigenous Australians.

During Reconciliation Week events will be held on Monday 27 May at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Port Macquarie, and Goulburn, and on Monday 3 June (Mabo Day) at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst and Wagga Wagga (two events).

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) Ms Jenny Roberts said, “At a cultural immersion workshop with Wiradyuri Elders in Bathurst last week it was reinforced for me just how much education plays a part in our nation working towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

“As Australia’s leading regional university, Charles Sturt University is not only committed to advancing higher education and research opportunities for the people of regional Australia but we also promote social justice and human rights for Indigenous Australians.

 “We do this both within our regions and across Australia.

“I am proud of the steps that Charles Sturt University is taking, such as adopting the Wiradjuri phrase yindyamarra winhanganha to represent our ethos, and of the work we are doing to increase education and employment opportunities for Indigenous people across our regions and beyond.

“This is evidenced by the support we provide for Indigenous students, and in 2016 Charles Sturt University had the highest Indigenous student enrolments of any university in Australia.”

The development of the Charles Sturt University Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) includes community campus-based consultations and indicates the steps that the University has been taking for many years in trying to advance reconciliation together. This includes:

• In 2005 the Charles Sturt University Indigenous Employment Strategy set a target of 3 per cent of Indigenous Australian staff; at the end of March 2019 there were 51 Indigenous staff or 2.35 per cent of all staff.

• In 2007 the University Council adopted the Charles Sturt University Reconciliation Statement, and launched the Indigenous Education Statement.

• The University also established the Indigenous Board of Studies to approve and incorporate Indigenous Australian course content, and established the School of Indigenous Australian Studies to advance this.

• It established the Online Cultural Competence Program for self-paced online learning for all staff to undertake to learn history and provide opportunity to engage in self-reflection.

• The University also established the Indigenous Education Strategy Collection, a collection of Indigenous resources for the purposes of supporting the development of Indigenous Australian content into subjects. Some pieces in the collection are made by and unique to Charles Sturt University, with permission from Elders and community to use them for educational experiences.

• Charles Sturt University introduced the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Language, Culture and Heritage, and the Indigenous Mental Health Course (Djirruwang Program) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who work in mental health within Indigenous communities.

Reconciliation Week 2019 events at Charles Sturt University include:

Monday 27 May:

Bathurst – 10.30am to 11.30am, morning tea for students, staff, Elders and community members in the new Elders’ space on campus (building 1414, room 161)

Albury-Wodonga – 10am to 11am, morning tea for students, staff, Elders and community members at Winan Gidyal (level 2, building 673)

Dubbo – 10am to 10.30am, morning tea for students, staff and community, with information about Reconciliation provided in hardcopy and electronic.

Port Macquarie – 9am to 11am, morning tea, with staff, Elders, community members, and Indigenous Students who are encouraged to bring a non-Indigenous student along. This will be followed by a ‘Staff vs Students’ mixed netball game. Library staff will also provide information and books on Reconciliation, and a movie playing on outdoor cinema.

Goulburn – 10.45am to 12pm, morning tea in the Academy dining room, with Welcome to Country by Delise Freeman, and speakers Wendy Tuckerman and Academy Commander, Superintendent  Rod Smith.

Monday 3 June (Mabo Day):

Bathurst – 12pm to 1pm, a barbeque lunch and a Mabo Day Cake at Wammarra Indigenous Student Centre (building 1292) for students, staff, Elders, student liaison officers, and tutors.

Wagga Wagga – 10am to 11am at The HUB Courtyard for morning tea to celebrate National Reconciliation week 2019 by Elders, all campus Staff, and current Indigenous students. Please RSVP by Monday 27 May to cgemmell@csu.edu.au

Then at 2pm to 4pm at the gym for the Ngungilanna Annual Reconciliation Cup; the 2019 game is Mixed Netball ‘Staff vs Students’, followed by afternoon tea. All staff, students and community are welcome to watch the game and cheer on the teams. Any staff or students who want to play or be involved please email rpowell@csu.edu.au