Indigenous Perspectives

Trinity’s engagement with Indigenous Australia has two principal perspectives:

• From the perspective of Indigenous Australians, we aim to increase the opportunities for able students to have equality of access to the best possible higher education in this country.
• From the perspective of all Australians, as well as those from other countries who are members of the Trinity community, we aim to increase knowledge about the issues and features of Indigenous Australia.

Increasing access to the best possible higher education

From 2009 onwards, an exciting new program will be available for Indigenous students at the University of Melbourne, thanks to a partnership between Trinity College, the Faculty of Arts, and the Centre for Indigenous Education.

The BA Extended achieves greater equity in access to the University of Melbourne. This course is designed for motivated and aspiring Indigenous students who show potential to do well at university. It is developed and taught through a close partnership between Trinity College at the University of Melbourne, the Faculty of Arts and the University’s Centre for Indigenous Education.

Importantly, the students live in residence at Trinity College and 6 other participating colleges of the University. Collegiate life combines with the course's innovative curriculum to provide a smooth transition to tertiary studies. The students are immersed in the academic, social, sporting, cultural and pastoral care programs and networks that college life provides.

Trinity provides teaching expertise for many of the early subjects in the BA Extended course. These subjects draw on 18 years’ experience in preparing international students for entry to the University of Melbourne through Trinity College Foundation Studies. Trinity teachers provide the academic skills to give Indigenous students optimum chances of success.

For more information about the BA Extended program please contact:
Michelle Earthy
Center for Indigenous Education
University of Melbourne
Tel: (03) 8344 7722
Email:cie-info@unimelb.edu.au

Since 2001, Trinity has also worked through three other main avenues to increase access to the best possible higher education for able Indigenous Australians.

These are:

• Residential scholarships for students taking degrees at the University of Melbourne
  
• Participation by Indigenous school students in the annual Young Leaders Summer School. Applications are invited (forms available via this link) from Indigenous Australians currently at secondary school who would like to participate in the July or December programs
  
• Other engagement of various kinds, including the work undertaken by Rosemary Blight, Drama teacher in Foundation Studies, at Nungalinya College in Darwin, or the program of visit between the Theological School and Wontulp-bi-Buya College in Cairns, as well as Nungalinya College.
  

Increasing knowledge about Indigenous Australia

• Its Indigenous Visiting Fellows program, which has seen Indigenous artists, writers, musicians, and leaders join the College for periods of time and share their knowledge
• Increasing its collection of Indigenous literature in the College Library and art in various locations throughout the College
• Instituting the program of visits to Minyerri by students and staff
• Providing opportunities for seminars, lectures, and conferences on Indigenous themes to be held at the College or brought to the attention of the College community.

Keep in touch with what else is going on in Trinity's Indigenous Perspectives by going to our News page, and have a look at a range of recent articles and blogs.

• Download Indigenous Perspectives Brochure (Size: 728Kb, Type: PDF)