Griffith University is committed to the creation of a curriculum that is informed by and respects the knowledge systems of our first peoples - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Currently Griffith University has the second largest number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academic staff in Australia, with 17 academics involved in teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies and knowledges across a range of different disciplines.
Griffith is embarking on a whole-of-University approach to inclusive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. This approach was approved, by consensus, in March 2008 by Academic Committee, whose members are keen to ensure that our approach is sustainable in the longer term. The goals of this initiative are three-fold
- Curriculum
- To develop a culturally appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander curriculum which is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, knowledges and perspectives, and to support its sensitive implementation in degree programs
- Learning and teaching strategies
- To design culturally sensitive learning and teaching strategies and to train, develop and support academic staff in their use
- Research
- To establish culturally appropriate protocols and curriculum to encourage and support the conduct of research related to, or involving Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island communities by staff and students.
Griffith has decided on a two-level structure for this initiative: an Indigenous Curriculum Advisory Group to oversee the initiative as a whole, and a Working Party to progress the agenda. In the spirit of reconciliation, we have adopted a partnership approach with the membership and leadership of both groups shared between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders and academic staff.
- The Advisory Group is co-chaired by Uncle Graham Dillon, who was the Chair of Griffith's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee 2005-2008, and Professor Kerri-Lee Krause, Director, Griffith Institute for Higher Education and Dean (Student Outcomes).
- The Working Party co-chairs are Dr Chris Matthews, Coordinator, Indigenous Research's Network, and Professor Keithia Wilson, Chair, Educational Excellence Committee. The composition of the Working Party reflects a partnership between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academic and equity staff from across the University, and includes an Indigenous postgraduate student. The initiative is supported by a full-time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Project Officer (late 2008- early 2010). The Working Party commenced work on the initiative in June 2008, and it is envisaged that implementation will take place over a three-year time-frame.
The present process both acknowledges, and builds on the work of the previous Griffith Indigenous Australian Studies Working Party, and their Final Report (June 2005).
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges at Griffith: Final Report (PDF 318k) (Griffith users only)
- Educational Excellence Committee considered the discussion paper in September 2007
- Pathways to Indigenous inclusive teaching and learning practices: Discussion paper (PDF 124k) (Griffith users only)
University courses offered
The Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art, and the Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art with Honours (QCA-1187 and QCA-2061) are programs that focus fully on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander course content.
The named courses below satisfy the requirements to qualify as those that focus fully on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander course content.
Semester 1 2011 Course name Course code Australian Indigenous Practice 2032HSV Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Practice 7074HSV Reconstructing the Aboriginal Australian 3034HUM Indigenous Australian Peoples and the Law 5066LAW Indigenous Health 3121PBH Dreamtime and Machine Time 1904QCA Origins Project I 1912QCA Australian Indigneous Art and Culture (First Contact) 2914QCA Source: Course Outline system
In Semester 1 2011, in addition tothe above, 184 of the courses offered included some element specific to Indigenous perspectives. These courses were offered by 20 elements, and the elements which offered 10 or more courses were Education (46), Humanities (28), Human Services (20), Nursing (18), Criminology (13), and Law (12).
Semester 2 2011 Course name Course code Studies of Indigenous Australia 3030EDN Australian Indigenous Practice 2032HSV Contemporary Aboriginal Issues 3053HUM Indigenous Health 7210PBH Indigenous Art, Protocols and Practice 1213QCA Contemporary Australian Art and Issues 1906QCA Origins Project I 1912QCA Origins Project II 1913QCA Traditional and Contemporary Ritual 1914QCA Indigenous Critique 2909QCA Idenity Project II 2911QCA Visions for Tomorrow Stage II 3904QCA Individual Exhibition Project 3909QCA Source: Course Outline system
In Semester 2 2011, in addition to the above, 229 of the courses offered included some element specific to Indigenous perspectives. The courses were offered by 25 elements, and the elements which offered 10 or more courses were Education (64), Nursing (34), Humanities (28) and Human Services (25).