爆料王

This week, under the banner 鈥楲et鈥檚 take the next steps鈥�, Australians will celebrate important achievements in the journey towards reconciliation.

We asked 10 of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students to reflect on what the week means to them, how far they think we鈥檝e come and what more needs to be done.

In her second year of a , majoring in , Irene volunteers with the University鈥檚 new .

鈥淎s a proud Wiradjuri woman, I love our value of connections, whether that be with the land, our past or each other,鈥� she says.

The program puts commencing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in contact with current students, who can provide advice, guidance and support during the critical first year of study.

鈥淚 don't want statistics to continue to show that we have a higher mortality rate, a lower life expectancy, a higher chance of being incarcerated. It is only with dedication, resilience and collaboration that Australians will be able to achieve this.鈥�

Of South Sea and Torres Strait Islander heritage, is Assistant Curator Indigenous Heritage at the University鈥檚 . He makes the museum鈥檚 collections accessible to all sections of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island community.

鈥淔uture generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people could look at the same objects we see in museums today and use them to practice and maintain culture in ways that haven鈥檛 been imagined before 鈥� while at the same time continuing hundreds of generations of learning, sharing and teaching,鈥� he says.

Matt will chair a Sydney Ideas / Macleay Museum event on 31 May, 鈥樷��.

鈥淚鈥檓 optimistic I鈥檒l see real change and justice for Australia鈥檚 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people in my own lifetime."

A proud Bundjalung woman, Simone is a third-year .

During her breaks, (AMRRIC) in the Northern Territory to gain experience and support rural communities.

鈥淥nce I get my doctorate, I鈥檇 love to work with rural Indigenous communities and organisations, treating animals to benefit the entire community.鈥�

Simone will present the student address at the Reconciliation Week on Monday 29 May, and encourage all Australians to become excited about Indigenous culture.

鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of the rich culture and strong resilience of my people. Indigenous Australians have existed on this land for 60,000 years. Their farming practices meant the land was nourished and could be kept for generations to come.

鈥淲e learnt to do that by listening to our Elders, and I think that鈥檚 the path to reconciliation.鈥�

As a high school student in Newcastle, Wessley attended the Wingara Mura and programs run by the University鈥檚 (WPO) 鈥� an experience he describes as eye-opening.

鈥淓ver since I was a kid I鈥檇 wanted to be a vet, but once I got to the University I realised there were so many more options to choose from,鈥� he says.

From Boigu Island in the Torres Strait, Wessley is now in his second year of a Bachelor of Arts majoring in and a WPO student leader himself. He鈥檒l be working with Year 7 and 8 students attending on campus during National Reconciliation Week.

鈥淚n terms of reconciliation, education is the next step. A baseline understanding of what reconciliation means for Indigenous people will also limit racism in Australia. When people understand how important it is they鈥檒l recognise it needs to happen.鈥�

A leader in Indigenous health, Carmen joined the University as a Fellow in the , which supports early career academics as they complete their PhD studies.

Her research, conducted through the University鈥檚 , focusses on the value of embedding Aboriginal culture and Indigenous Knowledge in health policy.

鈥淢y greatest hope is that my grandchildren, their children and grandchildren will have the same health status commensurate as other Australians, so that they get to live longer to enjoy the pleasures that others would take for granted," she says.聽

Brian works with the Preparing More Indigenous Teachers at the 爆料王 Taskforce developing strategies to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the ; they鈥檙e also designing a unique world-leading Teacher Education Indigenous Languages Program.

The son of a member of the stolen generation, Brian generously shared his family鈥檚 story during the recent on campus.

鈥淲e need opportunities for more Australians to meet Elders and Stolen Generations people, to learn about the great sacrifices made and use this information to make a difference,鈥� he says.

鈥淚f we honestly take account of and learn from the past, Australia can finally move forward, ensuring all children and mothers are protected, which is central to the future growth of the nation.鈥�

An Indigenous Student Recruitment and Support Officer at the Faculty of Health Sciences鈥� support centre , Simone-Cheri builds connections with students and their families to support them in their studies and in their future health careers.

"I feel honoured that I can work with the younger generations, passing on my knowledge and supporting them to achieve their goals,鈥� she says.

Simone-Cherie believes access to cultural knowledge and higher education will be key to achieving community goals and reducing health disparity.

鈥淎s a nation we should acknowledge the wealth of knowledge and wisdom that exists in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and strive to use this knowledge in our education and health practices.鈥�

As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services), Shane leads our institution-wide (WMBB) strategy to advance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation, engagement, education and research.

鈥淢y role is to bring a new way of thinking and character to this uniquely Australian institution 鈥� one that embraces Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, knowledges and cultures to make it a better place for everyone,鈥� he says.

A Gangulu聽man from central Queensland, Shane鈥檚 tenure has seen a significant increase in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students and graduates. He has also overseen numerous and .

鈥淲e need to embrace . There is 60,000 years of Aboriginal culture available to us, all we need to do is ask."

When Nathaniel was 12 he had a long stint in hospital 鈥�

A proud Argun man from Badu Island in the Torres Strait, Nathaniel is now in his second year of a ) degree and plays rugby with Sydney Uni Football Club.

鈥淲hen you play sport you don鈥檛 think of each other as anything but a team mate. In order to win, you have to work together.

"It鈥檚 the same with reconciliation.

鈥淭he best way to understand a culture is to get to know the people who live in that culture. So just ask, be my friend, I鈥檒l teach you and you鈥檒l teach me.鈥�

Michael is a Cairns Murri who is a descendant of Kuku Yalanji and Bar Baram country. As a lecturer and researcher at the , he encourages students to learn from and utilise the knowledge systems of both university and community scholarship.

鈥淚mmersing oneself in community ways allows a two-way learning process that benefits all parties involved in the engagement,鈥� he says.

Last year he and a group of students . The works formed an earlier this year.

鈥淧rojects like this have the potential to contribute to positive community outcomes as well as the transfer of knowledge to future generations. I hope Australia鈥檚 future can continue to embrace diversity in ways of being, knowing and doing that is respectful and inclusive of all worldviews.鈥�

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