22 February 2023:The University of Canberra is proud to celebrate the success of Dr Ben Wilson, Associate Professor in Education, who has received the prestigious Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Teaching at the 2022 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT).
A Jagera man, Associate Professor Wilson brings a wealth of expertise, knowledge, and experience to his role as a university educator, having been a cultural consultant for over 10 years in the education sector.
Associate Professor Wilson is an advocate for student-centric learning, with a focus on experiential and inquiry-based learning. He emphasises sustainable, equal power relationships with students.
He looks to effect change in education systems by giving voice and power to – and recognition of the utility of – First Nations knowledge.
The award recognises the passion and commitment that Associate Professor Wilson brings to his teaching, and the innovative approaches that he employs in embedding Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing into the UC curriculum.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic, Professor Geoff Crisp, acknowledged the profound impact of Associate Professor Wilson’s work, both in the Faculty of Education and University-wide.
“Since joining us in 2019, Ben has made an enormous contribution to the life and culture of UC. He is a respected leader in his field, and he has played a fundamental role in transforming UC’s approach to the Indigenisation of the curriculum, especially in relation to Education,” Professor Crisp said.
“Ben has championed change both within the Faculty and the University more broadly, promoting meaningful and authentic approaches to the embedding of Indigenous perspectives and pedagogies into curricula, and recognising that Indigenous knowledge and voices add value and complement traditional education frameworks.
“Ben’s adoption of the Country as Teacherapproach –with his Education colleague, Dr David Spillman – has had a clear impact on student outcomes and success, consistently demonstrated through student feedback. His work recognises the importance of connection to Country and place, and the impact this has on student learning and wellbeing.”
Previously, Associate Professor Wilson worked with the Stronger Smarter Institute as a national facilitator, a role that took him to Indigenous communities across the continent. Further, he spent his early career as a high school teacher in both the public and private sectors in Meanjin (Brisbane).
The University of Canberra congratulates all the winners of all 2022 AAUT Awards and Citations.