We acknowledge Indigenous Australians as our first scientists with deep and enduring knowledge of our lands, seas and waterways. See how the Faculty of Science is working to lead Indigenous research, engagement and knowledge through a shared endeavour to expand human scientific understanding.
I am committed to improving the lives and livelihoods of all Indigenous Australians. My role is to foster new and bolster existing efforts to both empower Indigenous communities and help make the University of Melbourne a more inclusive place for Indigenous people.
Murmuk Djerring
The University of Melbourne Indigenous Strategy 2023–2027.
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Indigenous Strategy in the Faculty of Science
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PLACE: Country, infrastructure
Overall ambition
Demonstrably improve campus environment for Indigenous people, including renaming buildings and truth-telling about the University’s past.- All new and existing staff attend decolonisation and cultural awareness workshop.
- Work closely with the “History of the University” project to assess building and other names.
- Research the relationship between the faculty and Indigenous Australia and take steps to publicly acknowledge that history.
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PEOPLE: Staff, students
Overall ambition
Increase staff and student numbers (overall and vertically) to more than population parity (parity is 3.3% - target 4%).- Excellence in Diversity Fellowships (Indigenous) will be undertaken over a period of two years and has been developed to attract, support, and retain outstanding early career researchers and Indigenous knowledge holders with significant potential for research, community impact and contribution to workplace culture.
- Talent maps our Aboriginal students to support them through studies to employment opportunities.
- Ensure that Indigenous staff (regardless of level) are prioritised to engage with development opportunities.
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COMMUNITY: External stakeholders, Indigenous communities, Indigenous partners, alumni
Overall ambition
Demonstrably improve engagement with Indigenous communities and provide remunerated opportunities for community engagement within the faculty- STEM outreach activity that will be co-designed with the Goulburn Valley community delivered to Indigenous students from grade 5 – 9.
- Engage with Indigenous people and cultures globally to promote knowledge exchange and foster international collaboration in research
and education. - Formalise partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders communities through an MoU to protect knowledge, interests and ICIP (Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property).
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KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge production from research and other pursuits
Overall ambition
Increase community-driven and/or co-constructed research, put in place clear and meaningful protections for Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP).- Develop Faculty guidelines, materials, and other support mechanisms to ensure that the Faculty is adhering to set protocols when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and community.
- Develop narratives of Country that the faculty occupies to recognise the long history of Indigenous occupation, knowledge production and scientific endeavour.
- Determine the potential of new student exchange opportunities to arise from community and international partnerships.
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PEDAGOGY: Our curriculum and its delivery
Overall ambition
Increase Indigenous content in curriculum, increase delivery by Indigenous knowledge holders.- Embedding Indigenous knowledges and pedagogies, enriching curricula, improving standards of excellence, and advancing Indigenous studies.
- Develop Indigenous lead and delivered content recognising and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander science.
- Host forums / workshops with relevant stakeholders both internal and external to the University to understand the importance of
including Indigenous knowledge into our curricula.
Indigenous Knowledge: Linking, learning, respecting
Watch the final Faculty of Science Dean’s Lecture for 2021, with a powerful panel discussion about Indigenous peoples as Australia’s first scientists, and their deep and enduring connection as part of Country.
Our priorities
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Contributing to Indigenous research and teaching
An important element of teaching and research within the Faculty of Science is to acknowledge Indigenous connections to Country, and to work towards greater research, engagement and inclusion with Indigenous Australia.
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Engaging Indigenous students in Science
We are actively working to increase the pool of talented young Indigenous Australians capable of becoming future leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
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Making the University of Melbourne a more inclusive place for Indigenous people
The Faculty of Science aspires to lead Indigenous engagement and reconciliation through a shared endeavour to expand human knowledge in all aspects of the sciences.
Initiatives we're involved in
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Indigenous Knowledge Institute
The Indigenous Knowledge Institute is one of five current Melbourne Interdisciplinary Research Institutes, aiming to advance research and education in Indigenous knowledge systems.
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Murrup Barak
We work closely with Murrup Barak, the Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development, on our initiatives in teaching, learning and research.
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The Narrm Oration
The Narrm Oration is the University’s key address that profiles leading Indigenous peoples from across the world in order to enrich our ideas about possible futures for Indigenous Australia.
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Residential Indigenous Science Experience (RISE)
RISE is a free week-long camp for Indigenous Year 9 and 10 students who are excited about science, technology, engineering, and maths.
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Rock Art Australia
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Tiwi Land Council Science Reference Committee
Photo of June Oscar at the 2017 Narrm Oration by Peter Casamento. Photo of Clarence Strait courtesy of European Space Agency, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.