‘Return to Jurassic Park’ CSU Indigenous Education Review Condemned
21 September 2004
Last week the Charles Sturt University announced its plans for a major restructure of its Indigenous Education services. The review, compiled by three external Indigenous academics, was released earlier this month and was immediately condemned by Indigenous staff and community members as seriously lacking full and proper consultation.
“This review not only lacks full and proper consultation with Indigenous people, but the recommendations contained therein, are inconsistent with current Commonwealth Indigenous funding guidelines, which seriously threatens the future of Aboriginal participation at Charles Sturt University”, said Mr Joel Wright, NTEU National Indigenous Officer.
The review was conducted over a three day period only, and given the locations of the University’s campuses at Dubbo, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and Thurgoona (Albury), it would have been impossible to consult with all Indigenous stakeholders affected by this review in this time.
The legitimacy of the consultation process has been further damaged as the Vice Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter announced in principle support for the recommendations with a press statement last week, even before Indigenous staff and community responses to the review had been finalised.
The contentious recommendations within the review relate to the abolition of the University Indigenous Advisory Council and the abolition of the Indigenous student support centres. These have been mainstreamed as a trade off for the establishment of an Indigenous Academic Institute for Teaching and Research at the University.
Under the review recommendations, the proposed Indigenous Academic Institute will be established at Dubbo and this has caused further concerns with Indigenous staff and community members given the high concentration of University competition in this region between University of New England, Southern Cross University, Newcastle University and University of Sydney at Orange.
In addition, the review recommends in the first instance a number of positions be made redundant and this is inconsistent with the University’s obligations under its enterprise bargaining agreement. The NTEU met with management yesterday to air staff, community and the Union’s concerns with this restructure as proposed and will prepare a detailed response to the review by October 15th.
“The University is commonly referred to by Indigenous Academics nationally as ‘Jurassic Park’ due to the institution’s outdated and archaic Indigenous Education and Employment policies and this title is reinforced by the recommendations in this review”, Mr Wright said.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
NTEU Indigenous Officer - Joel Wright (03) 9254 1910