Vanessa Lam
5 August 2016: The University of Canberra hosted a number of events across campus including a morning tea for staff and students to celebrate NAIDOC Week.
The University's Dean of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership and Strategy, Professor Peter Radoll said NAIDOC Week, held this year from 3-10 July, was "about celebrating all things that are Indigenous and important to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community."
At the morning tea held on 4 July, Professor Radoll thanked the University and staff for their efforts in supporting and celebrating Indigenous excellence.
"Going back some years you wouldn't have a lot of input or support from organisations such as this one. The University of Canberra has committed to addressing some of the big challenges facing the Aboriginal community through education and I'm immensely proud of that," Professor Radoll said.
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University staff at the ACT NAIDOC Ball. Photo supplied.
The theme for this year's NAIDOC Week was Songlines and University staff and students were invited to explore how through Songlines, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were able to preserve and share sacred stories and ceremonies for tens of thousands of years.
"Songlines were a way of remembering and understanding nature and the pathways to particular areas," he said.
"So the idea is to try and bring that back a little bit. NAIDOC themes not only keep us focused on what we're doing in terms of being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but connects us back to our roots as well and that's really important."
In addition to holding seminars on campus discussing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and education, the University also sponsored the ACT NAIDOC Ball's ACT NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year 2016 award and attended the annual NAIDOC Family and Community day.
Staff and students from the University's heritage, museums and conservation course also held a curator's talk where they discussed research and conservation work on the University's Indigenous art and artefact collection.
University of Canberra professor of education Chris Sarra was also named 2016 NAIDOC Person of the Year at this year's National NAIDOC Awards. Professor Sarra received the award in recognition of his extraordinary efforts to improve Aboriginal educational outcomes throughout Australia.
For more information on NAIDOC Week visit the website.
