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About the team
The Cultural Capability team operate within the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic (DVCA) Portfolio since it’s creation in 2014, (previously the Elder-in-Residence Team), and has several strategic objectives aligned to working in partnership with employees, students and community. The team is responsible for the cultural immersion, training and education of Curtin’s employees and students through the Indigenous Cultural Capability Framework (ICCF). The framework helps to shape the curriculum, providing support and guidance to Curtin University employees, students, community and industry about the journey of truth telling and strengthening the narrative about the shared history of this land we now call Australia. The team teach valuable ways of engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities with a goal of ensuring Curtin is a safe and supportive environment Curtin’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Meet the team
- Jayde Conway, Lead
- Kathleen Nelly, Project Officer
- Teleisha Smith, Cultural Immersion Facilitator
- Sharla Oxenham, Cultural Immersion Facilitator
- Belinda Gibson, Teaching Support Officer
What can you find on this page?
In addition to delivering the ICCF programs, the team provides guest lectures in classes and tutorials, offers guidance on unit content, and gives general advice about Indigenous education and practices. This webpage also aims to support employees by providing information on a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander topics. The information on this page covers engaging with the Noongar language, learning about the seasons and numbers, understanding culturally significant dates and terminology, recognising your country, and finding help regarding First Nations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, along with various updates throughout the year.
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Strategic Objectives
Curtin’s 2030 Strategic Plan
In Curtin’s 2030 Strategic Plan, the team is committed to the DVCA Strategy of a Page priorities towards the Student Life and Community portfolio and in the partnerships pillar. Through this commitment, the team aims to embed the voices and perspectives of First Nations peoples at the forefront of decision-making to create an environment in which everyone thrives.
Equity Collaborations
The team are co-located and work closely with the Equity & Inclusion team inside Building 101 and collaborate on strategic objectives to support equity initiatives across the university. There is a close relationship and collaboration with the Centre for Aboriginal Studies and other areas to deliver cultural support, guidance, feedback and partnership on many initiatives and projects supporting the university experience and success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying at Curtin.
Learning and Teaching Strategy
The team are strategically aligned towards ensuring the implementation of the Learning and Teaching Strategy. Under the strategic goal of Indigenous design and delivery. With significant work towards using a framework of Indigenous knowledge systems, pedagogies, and cultural knowledge to educate and guide employees across Curtin in gaining the necessary cultural capability skills to embed the design and delivery of Indigenous knowledge into curricula.
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Understand cultural terminology
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
In Australia, there are many terminologies used to describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. At Curtin, the preferred terminology is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (employees or students), this term is used in alignment with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) terminology. AIATSIS encourages people to “explore the context of what they are writing and ask people their preferences to suit their publications, before publication.” This is done through ways of engaging with different groups of people.
Torres Strait Islanders
This term is used to reference those who are from the Torres Strait Islands and can be used together with Aboriginal when referencing both as a group or separate. Therefore, it is recommended to not use the acronyms of “ATSI or TSI” when referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, please see AIATSIS on why.
Indigenous People
The words “Indigenous” has been adopted by the United Nations (UN) to define “Indigenous people” used together in reference to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. It is important to ensure writing about Indigenous People that you use it conjunction together as “Indigenous People.” This is due etymology stating that the word “Indigenous” was historically used to define the origin’s as “Indigenous plants” or from the land, being of Indigenous to a land. This choice of wording some people find offensive and is why context matters when using it. Additional terminology considered is “Indigenous Australian” as a general term as guided by the UN and AIATSIS, further information on why language matters can be found here.
First Nations People
First Nations is a global terminology for Indigenous peoples around the world also referenced as “First Peoples”, “Sovereign People” or “First People of Australia” and is used to acknowledge diverse groups of First Nations peoples across Australia. It is recommended to explore the meaning from AIATSIS or again the context and to engage with people for their Self-Identification before using the word. There is discourse that advices some people prefer this spelling and while it is not correct or incorrect, it is used based on different contexts and preferences.
Explore culturally significant dates and events
Trigger warning:
Content on significant dates may be emotionally triggering, please consider this before reading and be mindful that langauge terms of First Nations / Aboriginal are aligned to the domestic/international naming conventions.
Apology Day occurs on 13 February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly to the Stolen Generations and their descendants whose lives had been blighted by past government policies of forced child removal and assimilation.
International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March every year to recognise women around the world for their achievements, this year’s United Nations (UN) theme is Accelerate Action.
Close the Gap Day is celebrated on the third Thursday in March every year, to highlight the need for governments to prioritize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s social, health, justice, education, wellbeing and economic outcomes for First Nations.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed globally on March 21 globally and marks the day police in Sharpeville, South Africa opened fire on peaceful antiapartheid demonstrators protesting in response to the Pass Laws Act of 1952.
Bringing them Home Report was released on May 26, 1997 and was the result of a national inquiry investigating the forced removal of Indigenous children from families and was a pivotal moment in the healing journey of many Stolen Generations members.
National Sorry Day is on May 26 every year, the day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart was released on 26 May 2017, with over 250 Aboriginal delegates from all over Australia gathered at Uluru, Northern Territory, on the lands of the Anangu people, at the First Nations National Constitutional Convention to sign a landmark statement.
Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum was a landmark achievement following decades of activism by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous people, as over 90 percent of Australians voted in favour of amending two sections of the Australian Constitution.
National Reconciliation Week is celebrated from May 27 – June 3 every year and commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey. It is the anniversaries of the successful 1967 Referendum and the High Court Mabo Decision.
Mabo Day is on June 3 to commemorate the 1992 landmark legal case, brought about by Eddie Koiki Mabo and fellow Mer Islanders, recognising the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to their lands overturning “terra nullius.” and paving the way for Native Title.
National NAIDOC Week is celebrated from July 5-12 every year to celebrate history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Aboriginal Flag first flown on July 12, 1971 at Victoria Square in Adelaide, South Australia, on National Aborigines Day and became the official flag for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra and is now the official Aboriginal flag.
Looking for a cultural significant date not listed?
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National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is celebrated on August 4 annually, and is an opportunity for all to learn about the crucial impact that community, culture and family play in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.
United Nations – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated on August 9 annually in recognition of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in Geneva in 1982. The day is to celebrate the protection of over 476 million Indigenous Peoples rights and raise awareness
Wave Hill walk-off ceremony was on August 16, 1975, as the then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam handed back the lands of the Gurinji people. A historic nine year workers strike fighting dispossession of lands led by Vincent Lingiari, became a catalyst for the national Aboriginal land rights movement.
Indigenous Literacy Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday of September annually, the day commemorates and honour’s the rich stories, cultures, and languages of First Nations peoples. It raises awareness about the literacy challenges children face across Australia and mainly in remote Indigenous communities.
United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) Anniversary is celebrated globally on September 13 marking the UN formally adopting UNDRIP at the General Assembly and establishes a universal framework for the survival, dignity and well-being of the Indigenous peoples of the world.
Voice to Parliament Referendum was on October 14, 2023. Australians voted no to a Voice to Parliament Referendum ‘To alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.’ This date remains a significant date for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Uluru Closure of Climbing was on October 26, 2019, as the official “Handback” of Uluru to Anangu traditional owners occurred on this day in 1985. It marks a significant cultural event for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as it ensures protection of country and culture.
Pinjarra Massacre occurred on October 28, 1834 at Pinjarra, and recognises the Massacre in Western Australia on Bindjareb Noongar men, women and children by a detachment of 25 soldiers, police and settlers led by Governor James Stirling. The Cultural Capability team deliver an experience of ICCF on the significance of this event.
Redfern Park Speech Anniversary was delivered by Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating on December 10, 1992. His speech marked the first ever public acknowledgement by the Commonwealth Government of the dispossession of country from First Nations peoples.
Native Title (State Provisions) Act 1999 was passed by Western Australian Parliament on December 21, 1999. The Act provides a procedure for future acts proposed over land where Native Title rights may co-exist with other interests in land. This was a significant achievement for WA Aboriginal people
The Australian Aboriginal flag became freely available for public use on January 25, 2022 after the Australian Liberal Government led and acquired the copyrights from it’s designer, Harold Thomas for the public and free use without permission or royalties needed.
Australia Day / Survival Day / Invasion Day has many names, occurs on January 26 annually and marks the the official national day of Australia as the day the first fleet settled in Australia. It also is considered a significant day of mourning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as it marks mass genocide.