Celebrating our new Indigenous Learning Circles
Staff, students and industry partners enjoy a didgeridoo performance by proud Yorta Yorta, Wiradjuri, Gunggari and Bidjara man Robert Bamblett at the Indigenous Learning Circle Wantirna opening celebration.
In summary
- Our new Indigenous Learning Circles have been officially opened with events at our Hawthorn, Croydon and Wantirna campuses.
- The opening events celebrated Indigenous culture and highlighted Swinburne’s demonstrated commitment to reconciliation.
- This project is part of our next gen_campus transformation to develop campuses for the future where we can all learn and innovate together.
Hundreds of Swinburne University of Technology students, staff, and industry partners have gathered to celebrate the launch of new Indigenous Learning Circles.
Attendees enjoyed Indigenous performances, games and food as we officially opened the new outdoor learning spaces at our Hawthorn, Wantirna and Croydon campuses.
Designed in collaboration between our Indigenous students and staff, our Moondani Toombadool Centre, Wurundjeri elders, Indigenous Architect Jefa Greenaway, and landscape architect from Mantirri Design Paul Herzich, the Indigenous Learning Circles integrate aspects of Country, people, culture and art to encourage connection to Country and cultural exchange.
This project is part of our next gen_campus transformation to develop campuses for the future where we can all learn and innovate together.
A special celebration
Opening celebrations for our new Indigenous Learning Circles were held at Hawthorn on 29 February, Croydon on 7 March and Wantirna on 13 March.
Each ceremony was led by Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Engagement, and proud Wiradjuri man, Professor John Evans, as MC, with Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pascale Quester and Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Vocational Education Madelyn Bolch among speakers.
Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jr performed a smoking ceremony and welcome to country.
He spoke at Wantirna and Croydon about the co-creation with Wurundjeri elders, while Jefa Greenaway spoke at Hawthorn about the design concepts.
At Hawthorn, attendees were entertained by Yorta Yorta musician Benny Walker and Swinburne PhD student and proud Peerapper and Palawa man Jordan Gibbs on didgeridoo.
At Croydon and Wantirna, proud Yorta Yorta, Wiradjuri, Gunggari and Bidjara man Robert Bamblett performed and spoke about the history of the didgeridoo.
Swinburne Chief Operating Officer Nancy Collins said these were especially momentous celebrations as the first of our next gen_campus projects to be completed.
“These spaces are unique both in their design and their ethos, so this is a great start to our next gen_campus transformation, which is all about reimagining the use of on-campus spaces and delivering future-focused facilities,” she said.
For Country and community
In addition to being places where people can learn and reflect, our Indigenous Learning Circles will host events with cultural significance and connect with our existing Aunty Dot Peters AM Flowering Grasslands.
These spaces will support the engagement and success of all vocational and higher education students, acknowledging that not all learners are best suited to a traditional setting.
The project also demonstrates Swinburne’s commitment to reconciliation and self-determination.
Swinburne was the first Australian university to achieve ‘Elevate’ status from Reconciliation Australia for our Reconciliation Action Plan and have been vocal supporters of the Uluru Statement from the Heart since 2019.
Professor Evans said while there is still work to do, the Indigenous Learning Circles are another significant step in the right direction.
“This is another way we’re embedding Indigenous perspectives in the curriculum here at Swinburne, and in turn that encourages more Indigenous students and staff to join us at Swinburne,” he said.
“As Jefa Greenaway mentioned at the Hawthorn event, learning has a strong role to play in Indigenous emancipation, and Swinburne acknowledges the role we can play in that through projects like this.”
-
Media Enquiries
Related articles
-
- Student News
- University
Students decorate next gen_campus with innovation, technology and collaboration
The Decorate your next gen_campus design competition celebrates Swinburne’s next gen_campus transformation with student art depicting the themes collaboration, innovation and technology
Tuesday 18 June 2024 -
- University
- Engineering
Mechanical engineering gets a next gen_campus transformation
Swinburne University of Technology’s mechanical engineering facilities have been upgraded as part of our next gen_campus transformation.
Wednesday 15 May 2024 -
- University
Your new Latelab and student hub is on the way!
We’ve worked with students to co-create a bigger and better 24/7 Latelab and student hub. And now we’re starting to build!
Tuesday 05 March 2024