An estimated 200 Townsville residents joined thousands of protestors across Australia and internationally, making their voices heard in the ongoing fight against the forced closure of remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia.  

By Sophie Dillon

The Call to Action Protest is a response to the announcement of WA Premier Colin Barnett that more than a hundred Aboriginal communities in the state faced imminent closure.

Townsville protest took place on May 1 at 08:15am outside Stockland Shopping Centre with protestors blocking the Nathan St and Ross River Road intersection for 15 minutes.

James Cook University lecturer Maxwell Lenoy, one of the organisers of the Townsville Call to Action Protest says he is against the Government’s decision.

“Governments should not have the freedom to force communities to close without consent and without a valid reason,” Lenoy says.

The Federal Government is backing Premier Barnett’s announcement and sees the closure as a cost-saving measure for the state’s struggling economy.

Lenoy says the Western Australia government has been doing the closure in secret.

“They [government] are forcing communities to be evacuated by hiring security firms to come in and move people out without any consent and without any forward plan in place to help those members when they then are moved to another regional city.

“The national and international call to action will make it clear to the Government that the community, Indigenous and all Australians, are aware that this is happening and that they will not stand for it,” Lenoy says.

The proposed closure plans attracted widespread condemnation particularly as they followed Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s comments that taxpayer’s shouldn’t be expected to fund the “lifestyle choices” of Aboriginal people who live on their homelands.

JCU Indigenous Support Officer Florence Onus says she fears that if the proposed policy succeeds in Western Australia and South Australia, then the same can happen elsewhere, including Queensland.

“We’re marching because the Western Australia government announced that they’re going to close 150 Aboriginal remote communities, “ Florence says.

A similar policy is being considered in South Australia, she says.

“The Federal Government supports this so we’re very concerned here in Townsville that that’s going to set a precedent for every state and territory.”

The main organizer of the Call to Action protest Meyalah Blackman agrees with Onus and is concerned that the forced removal will reach Queensland remote communities.

“It’s a ripple effect; the buck doesn’t just stop at the removal of Western Australian communities. It’ll affect everybody in the long run,” Blackman says.

One of the many Non-Indigenous Australians who joined in the Townville Call to Action, Josh Denman, felt that it was important to show support for the cause.

“It’s all well and good for me to sit at home and say that the forced closure of these communities is a bad thing, but it’s another thing to come out and make a stand and actually do something about it,” he says.

An Indigenous Australian from Palm Island, Whanjullah joined the protest to stand together with the local, national and international community.

“The reason why we’ve all come out here is to stand in solidarity with the people right across the world about the forced closures of our communities, ” Whanjullah says.

The protests have been covered by social media, running in conjunction with a digital campaign that emboldens people to join in the fight by declaring their support under the hashtag #SOSBlakAustralia.

Many well known names have thrown their support behind the Call to Action campaign including Hugh Jackman, The Veronicas, and Hilltop Hoods. Academics such as Victoria Grieves, Craig Moritz and Sandy Toussaint have also added their voice to the conversation.

#sosblakaustralia #NOconsent #lifestylechoice #ingetjetadoras

A photo posted by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman) on Mar 19, 2015 at 6:35am PDT

For further information about the Townsville Call to Action, visit their page.

By Domanii Cameron

The Queensland State Government has failed to give James Cook University any reason as to why an Indigenous Representative was not appointed to the University’s Council.

It is the first time in almost 20 years that there has been an absence of indigenous representation on the Council.

JCU Council Secretary Michael Kern says it is a very disappointing matter.

“We were given no reason as to why someone wasn’t appointed,” Kern says.

“On this occasion, the government actually didn’t support our nominations, which is quite unusual.

“The two previous governments did support the recommendations.

“We have a pretty gold star process on how we choose [a candidate].

“It is very annoying.”

Mr Kern says, however,  JCU has no statutory obligations to have an indigenous representative in Council.

“The Council can still do its job.

“However it is just really important for us and the university to have an Indigenous person participating in decision making at the highest level.”

The Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Reference Group are working on developing a process that could help ensure that an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander representative will be appointed in the future.

“So really now, the only avenue left for the university would be through its additional member and because of all the uncertainty that was going on in the lead up to the transitional hand over period, the Chancellor asked the Council to extend the appointment of the current additional member, Mr Ernie Landy through to the end of 2014,” Kern says.

“So potentially at the end of this process, and we now know who’s on the council.

“If there was no Indigenous representative and the Council thought that it was very important, they could well move to seek to appoint a new representative but it would require quite a deal of lobbying and support.

“I think we’re the second highest university with Indigenous enrolments.

“I think it’s a valid question to ask; why don’t we have a representative.”

Eddie Koiko Mabo Library at JCU. PHOTO CREDIT: Google Images

JCU is the only university in the Western Hemisphere who has a main library named after an indigenous member of the community.

Former advisor to the Vice Chancellor on Indigenous matters and current Adjunct Professor at JCU Gracelyn Smallwood says she is disappointed that not many people are investigating into the matter more.

“I think it’s very sad that there’s not too many people kicking up about it actually,” Smallwood says.

“I am extremely disappointed especially where there is such a major disparity between educational outcomes, between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians which is why there’s such a big promotion in government and non-government institutions about closing the gap.”

Smallwood says she is displeased regarding the current political climate.

“I would strongly advise the Council to ask why there isn’t an Indigenous representative.”

JCU Chancellor John Grey says he wasn’t impressed by the decision either.

“I think its very disappointing that we don’t have an Indigenous representative at the moment and that was the decision by the government,” Grey says.

“I’m not impressed by that especially considering our dedication towards reconciliation.”

Documentary film Utopia was screened at JCU last week to a packed crowd of students, lecturers and rights activists.

By Kodie Jia-Craige

Packed: The full Education Lecture Theatre, Townsville.

On Wednesday night, students, educators, and members of the Townsville community were invited to the screening of John Pilger’s documentary film, Utopia.

The controversial film displayed many issues within Indigenous Australian communities including health issues, housing, land rights and deaths in custody.

John Pilger’s film portrays indigenous struggles of the past and the present.

Around 100 people turned out for the event,which was held at James Cook University’ Education Central building.

The night concluded with a discussion, led by guest speakers Gracelyn Smallwood, an Indigenous activist, Lex Wotton, an activist involved with the Palm Island resistance, and Noel Loos, a professor at JCU who specializes in White-Black race relations and history.

Since its release in January this year, the film has attracted criticism from conservative commentators.

The main purpose of the forum was to raise awareness of the issues facing Indigenous populations across Australia and to generate ideas and actions on how the problems can be addressed.

Panelists: Noel Loos and Gracelyn Smallwood lead the discussions.

Prominent Indigenous leader Gracelyn Smallwood says equality for her people cannot be reached without unity from the entire Australian community.

“We can’t do it alone. We need non-indigenous peoples,” she says.

A resounding agreement that certain action needed to be taken to improve the outlook for indigenous peoples was felt by all attendees.

Professor and author Noel Loos says the injustices across the spectrum need to be addressed particularly the living conditions the most disadvantaged are subjected to.

“You wonder how we in Australia would be perpetuating that, why it’s allowed to happen.”

Television channel SBS will be airing Utopia on 31^st May at  8.30pm.

James Cook University is tackling the lack of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge through implementing the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

By Sandra Haaland

ENGAGE: Jacinta Elston and Eliza Glasson are eager for students at JCU to get to know the Reconciliation Action Plan for further engagement with the indigenous communities.

Reconciliation Australia, a not-for-profit organisation launched the Reconciliation Action Plan in 2006.

The plan provides models for various organizations to draw up their own RAP, to identify opportunities and activities towards teaching culture, language and history to non-indigenous people.

Working together

Associate Dean for Indigenous Health at the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Science Jacinta Elston is an Aboriginal woman who is engaged in projects for Australian Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders including the RAP.

“This is about us positioning ourselves, the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders agenda within the university in a way that will take us forward,” Jacinta says.

“This represents the first change of indigenous structure since the late 90´s at JCU.”

Jacinta says there has been a huge change in the perceptions of indigenous culture over the past 20 years and the new Reconciliation Action Plan aims to update the universities policies.

“This university is very committed to the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders activity and agendas,” she says.

RAP also aims to strengthen relationships between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-indigenous people.

Project Officer for Cultural Competency at JCU, Eliza Glasson says the initiative will help people to learn about traditional indigenous culture.

“A lot of non-indigenous people have little knowledge about the culture and history, so we are creating opportunities for them. “ Eliza says.

Five platforms

The RAP strategy document has five platforms the first being recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and values.

The second platform is to make JCU the employer’s choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the third is about cultural competence of the staff and students.

The plan aims to give JCU students an understanding of indigenous perspectives, while supporting the staff and enhancing the curriculum.

Eliza hopes through encouraging the staff to engage indigenous culture, history and issues in their course future students will graduate with a better understanding.

“We want doctors, nurses, psychologists and people in general to have knowledge about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and history, so they can better engage with them in a way that creates understanding and respect,” Eliza says.

“The geologists do not understand that when he blows up a cliff that it might be a very significant place for the first Australians,” Eliza says.

Jacinta says the fourth platform is to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and get those who are out there in here.

The fifth platform is achieving parity.

“We want to recruit more indigenous students to our programs, and have the same percent of indigenous people living in northern Queensland to study and graduate at our university,” Jacinta says.

In April the work group for RAP will engage widely with students and staff to talk about the plan and ask for feedback on what has been drafted.

Opportunities for students

“We hope that students will take time to consider what the RAP is proposing, and what we can all do to improve our relationships, respect and opportunities with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, “ Eliza says.

“It is important to us to know that when our students graduate, our community perceives them as capable and confident about working within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Jacinta says.

The Reconciliation Action Plan is being launched in this year’s NAIDOC-week 1-5 September.

[Picture of Jacinta and Eliza: ENGAGE: Jacinta Elston and Eliza Glasson are eager for students at JCU to get to know the Reconciliation Action Plan for further engagement with the indigenous communities.]

Gerry Turpin has always had a strong passion for Indigenous plant use, and maintaining and documenting this knowledge for future generations has always been one of his top priorities.

By Haylee Asplin

Gerry Turpin is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow in James Cook University’s Australian Tropical Herbarium (ATH) in Cairns. The Australian Tropical Herbarium is part of the Tropical Indigenous Ethnobotany Centre (TIEC), a joint venture between Traditional Owners of North Queensland, the Cairns Institute, James Cook University, CSIRO and the Queensland Government.

DEADLY: Observing the natural environment.

A great deal of traditional knowledge is disappearing as elders are passing on and TIEC is a way to bring economic benefits into Indigenous communities through their knowledge of bush tucker, bush medicine and long term sustainability of their country and communities.

Gerry says the main purpose of TIEC is to maintain and record the cultural knowledge so that it can be passed on to future generations.

“TIEC is the only Indigenous-driven Ethnobotany centre in Australia dedicated to Indigenous ecological knowledge of plants,” he said.

“Traditional Owners identified that it is a valuable means of supporting them in the conservation, management and communication of their ethnobotanical knowledge.”

Gerry has been the recipient of several awards, such as a Length of Service Certificate in recognition of 22 years of service by the Department of Environment and Resource Management and a Highly Commended Technical and Professional Excellence award for Herbarium surveying, mapping and monitoring of regional ecosystem projects. As well as these prestigious awards, Gerry and the Tropical Indigenous Ethnobotany Centre he leads have recently been nominated for a Deadly Award in the category ‘scientist or science project of the year’.

The Deadly Awards are known for showcasing the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across all fields, such as sport, music, science, education, culture and more and Turpin values the recognition it provides.

“Since colonial times, Indigenous people have been portrayed as not having much to contribute to society. These awards show that Indigenous people do have abilities and can make valuable contributions to society in general, whether it is a sporting team, a workplace or politics,” Turpin said.

IN ACTION: Gerry gathering plant samples.

“If Indigenous people are recognised for their efforts, they will continue in their desire to excel, and other Indigenous people will see the possibilities and hopefully be motivated. Historically (or traditionally), Indigenous people have never been recognised for their scientific or long ecological knowledge systems, lore, and customary obligations they have to their country. Now the broader Australian society has an opportunity to appreciate and understand the intimate knowledge they do hold about their country.”

Director of the Australian Tropical Herbarium Mr Darren Crayn says Gerry has always held an extremely significant role and helps drive the TIEC agenda onward.

“The Tropical Indigenous Ethnobotany Centre (TIEC) is unique in Australia in being an Indigenous-led initiative devoted to the study of the cultural use of plants. It is truly cross-disciplinary, involving social scientists, botanists, and Traditional Owners,” Darren said.

“Gerry is the centre of the Centre, using his amazing skill set as an elder of the local Mbarbarram people with a degree in botany to drive the TIEC agenda forward.”

Although Gerry knows he is up against some tough competition and wishes there was more than one winner, he says that he is honoured just to be a finalist in such a huge award ceremony.

“I actually know a couple of the other finalists and I know that they are doing great things in their own particular fields – and I’m sure the ones I don’t know are outstanding as well,” he said.

“It’s a pity that there is only one winner, but for me, just to be a finalist is an honour.”

Voting is open until the 18^th August and winners will be announced on 10^th September 2013 at the Sydney Opera House.

To vote for Gerry Turpin follow this link down to the Scientist or Science Project of the year.

Intent on “breaking the cycle” and helping make indigenous children aware that educational opportunities exist, this young woman is leading the charge and making her family and community proud.

by Laura McKee

Studying law at JCU not only taught Melinda Mitchell the ins and outs of the legal system, but it has inspired her to help improve the standards of Indigenous communities through Legal Aid.

The third year Indigenous student hopes to work in the defence force as a solicitor and work with Legal Aid. But branching into advocacy work is what she would like to do, too.

“With the communities, the legal jargon is very hard to understand. it’s come from white, male upper class.

“You can talk in the community with legal words and they have no idea what’s going on and so there is still that disparity, and I would love to help with that,” she said.

Melinda and her husband foster two Indigenous boys and have a child of their own. She said the two boys’ academic struggles reinforced the difference in education between mainstream white society and Indigenous communities.

“They aren’t afforded the same opportunities as everybody else so I’m definitely strong in becoming an advocate for getting children engaged.

Melinda said her cousins in Sydney very rarely complete Grade 10, with only five out of 13 completing Grade 12. She believes the extra support in public schools is lacking.

“Generally, it has been shown that Indigenous participation in school is lower than non-Indigenous participation. This impacts on opportunities later in life. It limits their prospects of doing further study,” she said.

The 29-year-old grew up in a family of “typical strugglers” who lived in a housing commission in the Southwest suburbs of Sydney in Campbelltown. She excelled at school and received a high HSC mark in year 12; her grades reflective of the hard work she put in to make a career for herself in the future.

“My mum had never finished high school so I was the first one to finish in my family, so uni was a surreal experience,” she said.

Because no one in her family had ever tried university, it wasn’t an expectation, but Melinda wanted to take this challenge on board and be the first. Her mother’s side of the family were tradesmen. She wanted to break the cycle and study what she had a keen interest for: the legal system.

Melinda also wanted to be a role model for her cousins by studying law to push them into striving for a high level of education. She wanted to lead the way and she has. One of her cousins attends college and her little sister is graduating school this year and hopes to extend her study next year.

She initially studied a Law and Arts degree majoring in Political Science at Macquarie University in Sydney but moved to Townsville in 2005.

Melinda currently works in the Army as a fulltime admin worker and juggles two subjects, as well as the challenge of having a young child with severe autism.

“Lots of times you think you just can’t do it anymore but you get that strength and make it happen,” she said.

Scholarships abound

Melinda’s hectic life hasn’t stopped her from achieving excellent results at uni. Her HD marks and a GPA of 6.45 are testimony to her hard work and dedication.

She was awarded the prestigious John Koowarta Reconciliation Scholarship from the Law Council of Australia in April this year purely off her academic merit. She said receiving the scholarship was a huge honour and it provided financial assistance for her degree.

“It meant a great deal. John Koowarta was a native title rights campaigner so just to be linked to him was really humbling. Also, the calibre of previous recipients was amazing.

“I proved to my kids that you can get anywhere, no matter how hard stuff gets. You are in with a fighting chance,” she said.

PROUD MOMENT: Melinda Mitchell (left) and fellow recipients Peter Dawson and Danielle Davis (right) receive their award from Law Council of Australia President Ms Catherine Gale

The Law Council’s John Koowarta Reconciliation Law Scholarship, established in 1994, commemorates John Koowarta – a member of the Winychanam community at Aurukun and a traditional owner of the Archer River region on Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.

Melinda also received  the LexisNexis Award for the highest pass mark in a third year subject, something she is very proud of.

Indigenous Student Support Officer for the School of Arts and Social Sciences Lyn Munns said law is a vital degree for Indigenous people to study.

“With the high volume of incarceration and other pressing legalities of our justice system, this is one of the areas that need an Indigenous presence.

“We need people to undertake studies in law to be at the decision making tables with non Indigenous counterparts to bring about a positive outcome for those being helped,” she said.

Mrs Munns said there are 153 Indigenous students in the School of Arts and Social Sciences but more are most welcome.

“I would encourage our young Indigenous people to study law so that they are able to represent our people, and that our Indigenous people would benefit and feel comfortable with their representation,” she said.

A Future in Canberra

The Army is posting Melinda and her family to Canberra at the end of the year, where she will complete her practical legal training towards becoming a solicitor.

She aims to put her political science degree into practice too, since being a legal officer incorporates “the policy stuff as well as the legal stuff”.

“In civilian law firms, you can do family law or commercial or trust law whereas with defence, you actually get to do the operations and rules of engagement or deploy overseas.

“You can also do admin law and discipline law because the Army has their own Defence Force Disciplinary Act.

“It’s a variety and so any one day you can jump between those different levels,” she said.

Melinda said she can’t wait to start her career and is looking forward to moving closer to her family in Sydney.

After a rough start in life, Micah Roe is on the path to change the face of Australia’s law system and better the lives of Indigenous youth.

By Laura McKee

Some people say life is a journey, some say it’s a learning curve. But for Micah Roe, it’s been a battle to find himself.

Micah was living a life he dreaded when he was young, one that was carved out by his family who pushed him into competitive swimming.

“I was always forced to swim – nothing else mattered, so I had this idea that I was going to be a professional sportsperson,” he said.

“I hated it, it’s a lonely sport.”

Micah was admitted into rehabilitation from drug use and depression at the age of 20, as his idea of a future wasn’t the same as his mother’s.

“I thought I had failed my family in a lot of things,” he said.

“Throughout high school I was delving in drugs. They were an escape.

“I just didn’t know what I wanted.”

But he has since put these issues behind him.

ON THE RIGHT PATH: Micah Roe now studies law at JCU

Now at age 25 and in his second year of studying, Micah is on track to attaining a law degree at James Cook University after he was granted a cadetship by a Brisbane law firm.

Gadens Lawyers, the only firm he applied at is sponsoring Micah in his degree.

Micah travels to Brisbane to work during the holidays at the firm’s expense, and said he was blessed at having opportunity to connect with experienced solicitors.

“It’s given me a head start with some things. It is great in the fact that I get to apply the skills I learn in class to practical situations,” he said.

“Some of the people I have connected with are going to be invaluable to me.”

Growing up, Micah didn’t have a white picket fence childhood – he came from a poor, single parent home in a small town in the Burdekin.

Education wasn’t a priority in Micah’s family, but sport was.

His mother pressured him into swimming and he excelled, making the Queensland and Australian teams throughout primary and high school. It was his “ticket to success”.

“(School) wasn’t a channel for me, my ticket out of where I’d come from was sport. So that’s the way things were,” he said.

“You only put into kids what you think is best for them and she (mum) thought what was best for me was to go down the avenue of sports so she didn’t sew too much education into me. It was secondary.”

Micah quit swimming when he graduated, had no skills or education behind him and was unhappy with his OP of 18.

“Coming out of school I didn’t really have anyone around me. It all came crashing down when I realised it’s not that easy,” he said.

Micah worked full time for the next seven years in construction, aviation and mining among other jobs just to make money and fill in the time.

Back to heritage

It was when he embarked on a hitch-hiking mission in the middle of Australia to rekindle his Aboriginal culture, Micah realised.

“I saw the injustice of the lack of government care for the communities out there. It just dawned on me how unjust the system is in terms of providing health and education services,” he said.

“That opened my eyes. All roads led to studying law and it was more of a heartfelt decision,” he said.

Micah hopes to be involved in Indigenous politics and human rights when he graduates, but a minister of the Gospel of Grace is his dream profession.

“I will always be an advocate for young people doing law. For me it’s done so many things, given me so much confidence in my ability to think, interpret, stand up and argue an opinion I support,” he said.

“I think it’s a really good time for Indigenous kids to get into law for the changes that are coming for the future,” he said.

In five years, Micah sees himself married with children and using his degree to create change for the Indigenous population.

“A central driving point behind why I am doing the law degree is to see Indigenous people progress in terms of positive contribution to the community,” he said.

Micah said he is thankful for the cadetship and loves university, but there’s just one problem.

“The material isn’t hard. What I find hard is just sitting down and doing work. I’m not a still person,” he said.

JCNN explores the role of support networks, such as the Family Inclusion Network, in the Townsville child services community. 

By Anastasia Koninina

Eve* was happy to see her son. She had brought him his favourite – a big bowl of fresh garden salad. She watched as he finished it, followed by three homemade scones with fresh homemade strawberry jam and whipped cream. While he ate he closed his eyes, took a whiff of it and said, “Mum, I smell home”.

“I burst out in tears in front of him and hid my eyes behind my sunglasses and kissed his head but I couldn’t stop crying,” Eve said.

“He hugged me and said, ‘I love you so much mum and I always pray to come home’.”

Eve’s case is typical of the posts on lukesarmy.com, an online forum self-described as “a place for victims of Department of Community Services (DoCS) to come to for support and advice, to expose DoCS corruption, and to become friends”.

Michael Borusiewicz created the site after his son Luke died at age two in foster care, allegedly as a result of a head injury.

FIGHTING FOR SUPPORT: A screenshot of a post on lukesarmy.com

James Cook University’s Emeritus Professor of Social Work and Community Welfare Rosamund Thorpe said parents whose children go into care not only experience profound loss, but many suffer from extreme powerlessness in relation to the child protection system of government departments, non-government agencies and child courts.

Professor Thorpe and her colleagues in Townsville established the Family Inclusion Network (FIN Queensland) to address this issue.

The charitable organisation aims to provide independent support and advocacy to parents, grandparents and significant others whose children have been and are still involved in the Queensland child protection system.

HERE TO HELP: Professor Rosamund Thorpe

Professor Thorpe said parents whose children were taken away by the court should no longer feel discouraged or helpless as they can get support from FIN.

“We aim to keep children and parents in contact with each other,” she said.

“We support parents who work to get the children back home into their care.”

“We have support groups and morning teas to which people can come and we give them information there,” Professor Thorpe said.

“In addition, we also support people individually when they have meetings with DoCS, and support people at court.”

According to the FIN final submission, child abuse and neglect costs Australian taxpayers an estimated $5 billion per year.

Based on records from the Queensland Department of Communities, 8063 children were living away from home as at 30 June 2011.

National Child Protection Clearinghouse (NCPC) data shows that, as of June 2010, there were 35,895 children in out-of-home care Australia-wide and 52 per cent of these were children between the age of one and nine.

Professor Thorpe’s own research revealed that in many cases, regardless of the reasons surrounding the child’s removal into care, children want contact with parents and to know they belong to someone.

“We think it is important for children to maintain a relationship with their family regardless of the bad things because almost all parents have done good things,” she said.

“There are positive relationships and children feel connected with their family.”

However, FIN acknowledges not all children are able to live with their families and receive adequate care.

“We thought the important thing for families was to be included in the process because they remain important to their children if their children are in foster care,” Professor Thorpe said.

She said FIN also supported Aboriginal families whose children are in the care of DoCS.

FIN highlights the importance of Aboriginal children being able to continue developing strong connections with their community and their culture.

“All children need to be supported and represented throughout the child protection process including at separation and reunification periods in a culture that is trauma sensitive and responsive to parents and children,” Professor Thorpe said.

Although FIN has been operating in several states in Australia since 2003, it is not a funded organisation and relies on the goodwill of the community, community groups and its membership to raise funds.

*Name has been changed.

Sharon Moore and Lynette Ireland (Mackay) are making award-winning contributions to Indigenous curriculum at JCU.

by Hannah Sorensen

WINNERS: Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

JCU lecturers Lynette Ireland (Mackay) and Sharon Moore (pictured above), from the School of Indigenous Australian Studies, won the faculty and overall JCU citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning at the recent FAESS Fest.

They won the award for their work improving student engagement in JCU’s Linking Indigenousness subject over the past two years.

“As this subject focuses on Indigenous Australians, we knew students were going to encounter emotionally difficult topics like colonisation, culture, history, and the whole process of reconciliation,” Ms Moore said.

“So we had to frame our subject to create space and make sure our students felt like a part of it.”

Ms Moore and Ms Ireland have been striving to make the subject more inclusive for students by working within what they call the ‘cultural interface’.

“The cultural interface is shared ground where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people meet,” Ms Moore said.

“Sometimes that meeting ground is not so smooth – there are ambiguities and contradictions – but there is also movement towards reconciliation.”

Ms Ireland said that working within the cultural interface allows students to understand the past and use this understanding to move forward into the future.

“It allows us to look back at history and at colonisation, and at the people situated within those times,” Ms Ireland said.

“It allows us to examine those people in terms of their humanity.

“We may not agree with them, but we’re not about laying guilt or portioning blame – we’re trying to understand the situated stories of the times.”

Ms Moore and Ms Ireland are working with students to encourage and facilitate courageous conversations about Indigenous issues.

“We term them ‘courageous conversations’ because we’re dealing with difficult material that people find quite confronting,” Ms Moore said.

“We knew that we had to deal with these topics in meaningful ways that open up the potential for students to ask difficult questions – to engage emotionally and intellectually with the material and to compel students forward to change.”

“They’re only beginning conversations but they are that first step,” Ms Ireland said. “I think that’s important because you never know where those steps will lead you.”

Ms Ireland and Ms Moore have turned their classroom into a place where students can come to ask the tough questions.

“The idea was to create a safe environment so people felt they could ask any question they wanted to and have a response that wasn’t being judged,” Ms Ireland said.

“We knew that racism would come up and that stereotypes would be presented. Our idea was deconstructing a lot of the representations students had in their minds.”

The duo said that the subject can be challenging for students in the beginning but courageous conversations were vital to improve understanding and awareness of Indigenous culture.

“The reality is that most Australians have never met an Indigenous person. And if you’re living in North Queensland I think that’s quite shocking,” Ms Moore said.

“We might see each other at the supermarket or in our day-to-day lives but have you actually had a conversation with an Indigenous person?”

To combat this lack of contact the pair has incorporated field trips with Indigenous community members into the Linking Indigenousness program.

Townsville students have the chance to get out of the classroom and meet with local elder ‘Uncle Rusty’ Butler.

“It breathes life into the theoretical,” Ms Ireland said.

“By sharing their stories in open and caring ways, they allow our students to approach them and to engage in positive and respectful cultural exchanges.”

Ms Moore and Ms Ireland said that they were excited by JCU’s positive reception to their work, with Linking Indigenousness now compulsory for all education students.

“I think what impressed me when we presented at Curriculum Refresh was that, after we did our session, the audience was asked for recommendations and someone put their hand up and said ‘We think Linking Indigenousness should be made compulsory for all students at James Cook University’,” Ms Moore said.

Click here for a video of Ms Moore and Ms Ireland discussing their citation-winning work.