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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING,DESIGN AND BUILTENVIRONMENTIndigenous Strategy2020-2025
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTOF COUNTRYWith respect for Aboriginalcultural protocol and out ofrecognition that its campusesoccupy their traditional lands,Western Sydney Universityacknowledges the Darug,Eora, Dharawal (also referredto as Tharawal) and Wiradjuripeoples and thanks them fortheir support of its work intheir lands (Greater WesternSydney and beyond).COVER IMAGE:CHRIS EDWARDSSWIMMY CREEKMIXED MEDIA ON LATVIAN LINEN100 CM X 145 CM2010WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY ART COLLECTIONIMAGE REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF ARTIST
IndigenousStrategy for Schoolof Engineering,Design and BuiltEnvironmentStrategic Outlook and VisionOur vision is to contribute tothe University’s 2020-2025Indigenous Strategic Planpursuit of teaching, learningand research excellence bytransforming and contributing tothe Indigenous Australians. TheSchool’s Indigenous Strategiesaim to consider some of theopportunities for improvingaccess and participation andcontributing to Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander communitiesin meaningful ways. Our steppedapproach is to determine short,medium and long-term prioritiestowards increasing Indigenousaccess, participation and success,and then moving towards systemdevelopment and leadershipopportunities.The strategy consists of sevenkey strategic objectives ofIndigenous engagement which aredrawn from the WSU Indigenousstrategy 2020-2025.1 Indigenous Students2 Indigenous Employment3 Indigenous Research4 Indigenous Learningand Teaching5 Indigenous Engagement6 Indigenous Leadership7 Indigenous Cultural Viabilityand Knowledge.3
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE ONEINDIGENOUSSTUDENTSSchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment aims to provide opportunities for IndigenousAustralian students to learn and succeed in an environment that promotes Indigenous excellence.This objectiveaims to provideopportunitiesfor Indigenousstudents to learnand succeedat Western.Furthermore, italso provides aplace for them tobe supported inboth their academicprogram andcareers during theirstudy at Western.For those who areinterested in aHigher Degree, theschool vision is topromote researchto Indigenousstudents.STRATEGIC SCHOOL ACTIONS01 Create aspirations andestablish an opportunity fromschools for the Indigenouscommunity to join our School.02 Increase the studentenrolments for Indigenousundergraduate andpostgraduate for the School,especially female students asthey are under-represented.KEY SUCCESS MEASURESThe total enrolled Indigenousstudents in 2021 is 1.5%.Therefore, the school set thetarget of 3% enrolled domesticIndigenous students by 2025.School has 1% of Indigenousstudent completion. Target of2% of completing Indigenousstudent by 2025.03 Support and build thecapacity of Indigenousstudents to improve retentionrate.4
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE TWOINDIGENOUSEMPLOYMENTSchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment targets to position the School as a place of choicefor Indigenous Australians to work in an environment that supports and nurtures their careers.This objectiveaims to increaseadditionalemploymentopportunities forIndigenous staffat the same timeoffers a uniqueservice to supportIndigenous intocareers and walksalong with themduring theiremploymentjourney to provideadvice andmentoring supportsto position WesternSydney Universityas a place of choicefor IndigenousAustralians towork.STRATEGIC SCHOOL ACTIONSKEY SUCCESS MEASURES01 Continue to build theproportion of Indigenous staffwithin the school.Currently School has 0.85%Indigenous staff and thetargeted percentage forIndigenous staff (academic andprofessional) in the School is 2%by 2025.02 Offer Traineeships in theSchool’s Professionalworkforce for IndigenousAustralians.03 Provide ProfessionalDevelopment opportunitiestargeting Indigenous staffwithin the School.04 Develop cultural awarenesstraining in conjunctionwith the office of the DVA(Indigenous Leadership).Create and maintain supportIndigenous leadership.Establishment of an IndigenousAward with Professional Bodiessuch as Engineers Australia.Ensure completion of culturalawareness training package by100% of school staff.5
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE THREEINDIGENOUSRESEARCHSchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment will develop the breadth and depth of IndigenousResearch with a vision to promote research that empowers Indigenous Australians.This objectiveaims increase thepartnering withIndigenous peoplein research witha commitment toIndigenous selfdetermination atthe heart of whatwe do. The Schoolwill contribute tothe transformationof the highereducation sectorby being a beaconof Indigenousbest practiceand by settinga high nationalbenchmark.STRATEGIC ACTIONS01 Support and increasethe quality and impact ofIndigenous research.02 Continue to developpartnerships and relationshipswith external partners forIndigenous scholarship.03 Encourage staff membersto collaborate across otherschools working on theIndigenous research.KEY SUCCESS MEASURESIn 2021, there is no HDRIndigenous enrolled in theSchool. Therefore, Schooltargets to increase the HDRIndigenous to 1% by 2025.Establishment at 1% of totalexternal partnership, researchgrants across multidisciplinarywithin the school by 2025.Increase at 0.5% of successfulAustralian Research Councilgrants in Indigenous research by2025.6
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE FOURINDIGENOUSLEARNING ANDTEACHINGSchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment to ensures all students develop understandingand knowledge about Indigenous Australians through the Graduate Attribute.This objective aimsensure all studentsunderstand andgain knowledgeabout IndigenousAustraliansthrough theGraduate Attributeand also ensureevery programhas implementedin IndigenousGraduate Attribute.STRATEGIC SCHOOL ACTIONS01 Provide Cultural Awarenesstraining for staff and studentto develop the culturalcompetence in the School.02 Encourage staff workcollaboratively withIndigenous people.03 Working closely withBadamani Centre forIndigenous Education indecision making.04 Support sustainable increasesin Indigenous employmentthrough Aspire Program.05 Provide scholarshipsand support for remotecommunities.KEY SUCCESS MEASURESCurrently there are 11% ofoverall Indigenous studentsengaged in the Aspire Program.Therefore, the School targets50% Indigenous studentsengage in the Aspire Program by2025.Tailored external collaboratorsto help them provide moreemployment opportunities toIndigenous Australians.Staff within the School is givenopportunity to develop theirunderstanding of Indigenousculture in order to apply theknowledge to their teachingpractice.7
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE FIVECOMMUNITYENGAGEMENTSchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment promotes Western Sydney University as a placethat works with and for the Indigenous Australian community.This objective aimsto promote Westernto Indigenouscommunitiesand provideopportunities forthem across theSchool’s futureinitiatives. Schoolalso commitsto buildingcollaborativepartnershipswith Indigenouscommunities.STRATEGIC SCHOOL ACTIONSKEY SUCCESS MEASURES01 Initiate cultural trainingopportunities for all existingand new staff in collaborationwith the Office of PVCAboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Education, Strategyand Consultation.Increase Indigenous communityengagement activitiesthroughout the School.02 Build the needs and interestsof Indigenous Australians intorelevant current and futureprograms and initiatives.Work closely with the BadanamiCentre for IndigenousEducation as a new form ofcommunication across theSchool.Invite Indigenous elders asspeaker into our school events.03 Ongoing support andparticipation in Universitywide Indigenous Engagementsuch as Heartbeat, Pathwaysto Dream.8
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE SIXINDIGENOUSLEADERSHIPSchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment aims to provide leadership opportunities forIndigenous Australians across staff, students and community throughout Western Sydney University.This objective aimsto support andprovide leadershipopportunitiesfor Indigenousstaff, studentsand communitieswithin the School.STRATEGIC SCHOOL ACTIONSKEY SUCCESS MEASURES01 Continue to actively engagewith external partners toprovide information to ourstudents that issues faced byIndigenous.Increase Indigenous leadershiprole 2% by 2025 within theSchool.02 Include an Indigenousrepresentative on the School’sExternal Advisory Committee(EAC).Increase Indigenousrepresentation with in theSchool in working groups andcommittees.03 Encourage and provideopportunities to studentundertake the leadership roleswith in the School. (Studentrepresentative at SchoolAcademic Committee, SchoolResearch Committee, etc).9
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE SEVENCULTURAL VIABILITYAND KNOWLEDGESchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment aims to build Indigenous cultural viability andknowledge across Western Sydney University.This objectiveaims to raiseawareness onIndigenous successand culture.Furthermore,it also givesIndigenousgraduates thechance to developtheir capabilitiesto work with andfor their peopleand communities.The objectivealso promoteswell-being,participation,engagement andachievementamong Indigenousstudents and staff.STRATEGIC SCHOOL ACTIONS01 Evaluate and monitorour Aspire Program forimproved quality standards,student success and coursecompletion.02 Build the Indigenouspresence across the Schoolby developing links withIndigenous role models inEngineering, Design and BuiltEnvironment.KEY SUCCESS MEASURESAcknowledge of the Country inevery formal School’s Meetingsand lectures.Increase Indigenous studentparticipation in leadershipactivities and roles usingstudent survey.Increase representation ofIndigenous Alumni in Schoolcommittees and governance.03 Create tailored pathways forIndigenous students and staffthrough capacity buildinginitiatives and programs.10
Western Sydney UniversityLocked Bag 1797Penrith NSW 2751 AustraliaWESTERNSYDNEY.EDU.AU
School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment will develop the breadth and depth of Indigenous Research with a vision to promote research that empowers Indigenous Australians. This objective aims increase the partnering with Indigenous people in research with a commitment to Indigenous self-determination at the heart of what we do. The School
