Mike Verzosa
16 July 2024: The University of Canberra hosted a number of events on campus to celebrate NAIDOC Week which is held in the first week of July each year to recognise and learn about First Nations culture and history, and celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The theme for this year’s NAIDOC Week was “Keep the fire burning! Blak, Loud, and Proud” and the University’s festivities kicked off with a morning tea at the Ngunnawal Centre on campus where Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan welcomed everyone to Country and stressed the importance of “keeping the fire burning”.
“Our young people need to know where to from here. We still need that voice and we need to keep working together and lead the way, so we can continue to show the way forward and make things better for the next generation,” she said.
The following day, a panel co-hosted by Professor Maree Meredith, Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership, and Tamara Murray, Manager of the Ngunnawal Centre, discussed what a consciously Indigenous-centred campus might look like at the University in 2030. The panel included current University staff, alumni and a student.
“Today is about recognising the place that Indigenous culture, knowledge and people have at the heart of our UC community and looking forward to how we might seek to build on that place of strength, and raise the visibility and scale of Indigenous staff and student numbers in our community,” said Professor Meredith.
“We want to cast your minds forward to 2030 as we discuss what could change to elevate the place of Indigenous staff, students, knowledge and culture at UC over the next five years.”
The event also saw the launch of the University’s Indigenous Student Recruitment Campaign, aimed at growing Indigenous student enrolment.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to all come together and elevate to the next level to increase Indigenous student enrolment and keep the work we’re doing on student retention,” said Ms Murray.
The week-long celebrations also featured a mid-week badge making session, soundtracked by a performance from singer-songwriter Wallabindi, who performed some of her soulful and jazzy tunes off her debut EP.
To cap the week, the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) hosted its annual UC-IMF Fun Run, which is aimed at promoting and celebrating the continuing work of the University and the IMF to promote an active lifestyle in the local community and across Australia.
The University’s partnership lead, Senior Lecturer of Sports Management Stirling Sharpe said that the annual run, held for the fourth time this year, has become a significant event on the UC calendar.
“It is an opportunity to reflect as individuals on our own personal contributions to Reconciliation, UC’s commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, and to celebrate the amazing work of the IMF. I was very pleased to see more than 130 people registered for this year’s event,” said Mr Sharpe.
