Federation University is on a mission to do better by its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and is asking the community to help shape the way forward. Partnership Committee members attended a consultation session as part of the university’s development of a new First Peoples’ Strategy, connected to its 2040 Strategic Plan.
The session brought together community members, educators, and advocates to talk about what needs to change to support Koorie students all the way through university — not just getting in the door, but actually completing their studies. Data shared at the event painted an honest picture: while many Aboriginal students are successfully completing individual units, they aren’t always finishing full courses. Federation University currently sits at 38th out of 38 universities in Australia on this measure, and is actively working to turn that around.
Discussions focused on practical ideas like school partnerships, on-Country learning experiences, and culturally safe camps that introduce young people to university life. One of the strongest messages from the room was the need for a whole-of-university approach — meaning everyone at the university, not just Aboriginal staff, should share responsibility for creating a welcoming environment.
Partnership Committee member described the session as reinforcing the importance of “culturally grounded, shared responsibility” .For young Koorie people in Gippsland thinking about higher education, these conversations are a step toward a university experience that truly feels like it belongs to them too.
March 2025 | Gippsland Region