13 February 2008
Victoria University's Vice Chancellor Professor Elizabeth Harman said today that VU welcomes the Federal Government's national apology to Indigenous Australians.
Professor Harman said: "Saying sorry is an important first step towards true reconciliation and the establishment of equal opportunity for all Australians."
In 2001, Victoria University released its Reconciliation Statement. It acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of Australia; the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung people as the traditional owners of University land; and the loss and grief held by Aboriginal Australians caused by alienation from traditional lands, loss of lives and freedoms, and the forced removal of children.
Professor Harman said: "We need a united Australia which respects this land of ours, values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, and provides justice and equity for all. It is vital that universities take a lead role in this in education and research."
"Democratic societies demand equity and justice for all citizens. Indigenous Australians - the first Australians - are the last Australians in all economic and social indicators. This disadvantage urgently needs redressing."
"Educational systems must be culturally appropriate and welcoming to enable better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to ensure equality of opportunity with other Australians."
"Victoria University has Moondani Balluk to help increase participation in tertiary education for Indigenous students, to undertake collaborative Indigenous research, and to engage with Indigenous people, particularly those from the western region of Melbourne. Moondani Balluk also creates and fosters a culturally safe environment that welcomes and nurtures, shares Indigenous knowledge, and translates and embeds Indigenous practices into all its work, research, and curricula."
Victoria University's School of Education has for 12 years been working in Central Australia with IBM to bring innovative solutions to the education needs of children in remote communities. This program will grow further this year. As well, Victoria University is playing a major role with all the Victorian universities in a program of cooperation in Indigenous activities which will be developed further through this year. This will complement the active program in Vocational and Further Education under the Wurreker agreement."
"The University is strongly committed to improving participation rates of Indigenous Australians in employment, so in 2006 VU implemented its Yannoneit Employment Strategy! (YES!) which has already doubled the number of Indigenous people working at the University."
"As a practical demonstration of VU's commitment to bridging the equality gap I would like to announce today that VU will appoint four new indigenous academic positions at the University, including lecturers in Indigenous Teacher Education and the BA Kyinandoo Indigenous Studies program; and an Indigenous Community Liaison Officer will join the Indigenous Employment Coordinator in Human Resources."
Media Contact: Andy Gash, Snr Media Officer,
Marketing & Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: (03) 9919 4950; mobile 0411 255 900
