The inaugural Council has built a high profile and goodwill in the Indigenous and academic community over the past two years.
The Council has made significant achievements measured against its Terms of Reference, including providing valuable advice to the Australian Government and a significant contribution towards raising the profile of Indigenous higher education issues in Australian universities.
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IHEAC Initiatives
On 18 July 2006 the former Minister for Education, Science and Training, Ms Julie Bishop MP announced a $1.73 million funding package to support the IHEAC report Improving Indigenous Outcomes and Enhancing Indigenous Culture and Knowledge in Australian Higher Education. The package includes:
- $750,000 to develop partnership projects to encourage universities to increase the number of cross-sectoral partnerships and pathways for Indigenous students;
- $600,000 to develop three or more lighthouse national projects of two years duration to develop cross-sectoral collaboration including guaranteed pathways, particularly for mature age students;
- $310,000 to commission research including a study of the first year experience of Indigenous students; a study of strategic models of what works in the higher education sector to support Indigenous people; and an evaluation of the role of the Indigenous Education and Support centres;
- $50,000 to award two International Scholarships under the Endeavour Programme; and
- $20,000 to recognise and award cross sectoral partnerships.
In relation to the first two of these, the Australian Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has funded nine School to University Pathways Projects and three Cross Sectoral Lighthouse Projects .
Applications are also open for the Endeavour Research Fellowship for Indigenous Australians. This fellowship provides up to $23,500 financial support for each of two Indigenous Australian postgraduate students or postdoctoral fellows to undertake short-term research for 4 – 6 months during 2009 in any field of study in a participating country in Asia, Pacific and the Middle East. Applications close on 31 July 2008.
The final component of the initiatives, for which $20,000 was allocated, is for the University Indigenous Education Partnership Awards.
Further information relating to all the initiatives may be obtained on this website or by phoning Ms Shona McQueen, Director, Higher Education Team, Indigenous Education Policy Branch, DEEWR, on 02 6240 5441 or by email shona.mcqueen@deewr.gov.au
Indigenous Staff Scholarships
The Council assessed and recommended a total of 15 Indigenous Staff Scholarship awards, for study in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The awards are presented at each annual the Council conference.
Australian Research Council
In 2006, Council provided significant assistance to the ARC’s Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme by supporting a proposal to develop a funding model for one or two Indigenous research networks, recommending Indigenous researchers to participate in a panel to assess in the areas of Education, Law, Health, and Social Sciences and the Humanities, nominating an Indigenous Researcher at professorial level for a three year appointment starting in January 2007, and providing advice to ARC on the scheme’s guidelines.
Significantly, the outcomes for the 2006 applications were highly successful. Of the 21 proposals received for the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme, 15 were approved for funding. Total funding approved from 2007 to 2009 was $1,038,114 with an average approved funding per project of $69,208. Five proposals were approved for funding for one year, six proposals were approved for funding for two year and four proposals were approved for funding for three years.
The overall success rate for the Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme was 71.4%, an excellent result.
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Australian Indigenous Doctors Association
Recognising the support provided by the Council to the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA), the Minister announced Australian Government funding of $60,000 to support AIDA to continue its project of introducing secondary students to the medical sciences.
The Ministerial Council on Employment Education Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA)
In 2006, the Council made recommendations to MCEETYA, particularly in relation to its ground breaking report “Strategic Directions in Indigenous Education 2005-5008” in which the Council played a significant part in MCEETYA’s consideration of pathways to training, employment and higher education.
Submission - Review of the Impact of the Higher Support Act 2003: Stage 1
In a letter dated 26 February 2007, the Council submitted comments for consideration during the review of the impact of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, Stage 1. The comments addressed the third element of the first stage of the review: the current pipeline arrangements for the funding of new Commonwealth supported places. The Council submission suggested a range of options for revising these arrangements to improve the participation of Indigenous students in the higher education system as well as improving higher education outcomes for Indigenous peoples.
The Council meetings 2005-2007
- 16 March 2005 - Canberra
- 8-9 June 2005 - Canberra
- 31 Oct & 3 Nov 2005 - Canberra
- 27-28 February 2006 - Canberra
- 6-7 June 2006 - Melbourne
- 21 September 2006 - Perth
- 22 February 2007 – Melbourne
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Conferences
The Council’s first annual conference, 1-2 November 2005 in Canberra
- The Council held its inaugural conference at Old Parliament House in Canberra. The title of the conference was Education Led Recovery of Indigenous Capacity: Reshaping the Policy Agenda.
- A speaker was Professor Mason Durie, Assistant Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Maori Research and Development, Massey University, New Zealand.
- The Conference focus was on reshaping policy and practice at institutional systems and government levels to assist in improving Indigenous student outcomes and contributing to Indigenous capacity building.
- As a result, the 2005 the Council conference report Improving Indigenous Outcomes and Enhancing Indigenous Culture and Knowledge in Australian Higher Education was produced. The report is based on seven key priority areas, which the Council believe will assist in improving higher educational outcomes for Indigenous people. The key priority areas require universities, schools and vocational training organisations to make some significant contribution towards systemic change to increase the educational, research and employment outcomes for Indigenous people.
- The report also provided the Council’s Strategic Plan based on five principles and seven key priority areas to focus on over three years 2006-2008.
- The Minister launched the Council report Improving Indigenous Outcomes and Enhancing Indigenous Culture and Knowledge in Australian Higher Education and announced a $1.73 million funding package of initiatives as an initial response to the Council’s policy advice contained in the report.
- The initiatives included:
- Development of partnership projects to encourage universities to increase the number of cross-sectoral partnerships and pathways for Indigenous students;
- Development of three or more lighthouse national projects of two years duration to develop cross-sectoral collaboration including guaranteed pathways, particularly for mature age students;
- Indigenous research including a study of the first year experience of Indigenous students; a study of strategic models of leadership in the higher education sector to support Indigenous people; and an evaluation of the role of the Indigenous Education and Support centres;
- Four International Scholarships under the Endeavour Programme. The Scholarships provides up to $25,000 for each Indigenous Australian postgraduate student or postdoctoral fellow to undertake short-term research for 4-6 months during 2007 in any field of study in a participating country in Asia, Pacific and the Middle East.
- Recognition of best practice cross sectoral partnerships which aim to increase educational outcomes for Indigenous people.
- Five Indigenous Staff Scholarships were awarded at the Conference.
The Council’s second annual conference, 18-19 September 2006 in Perth
- The Council held its second annual conference at the University of Western Australia, Perth. The theme of the conference was Partnership, Pathways and Policies – Improving Indigenous Education Outcomes.
- The conference was opened by Ms Julie Bishop, the former Minister for Education, Science and Training.
- Special Guest speaker was Ms Linda Jones, Lecturer of Ethnobotany at Sitting Bull College, North Dakota, USA, a keynote speaker, in presenting Challenges faced by Native American Students in Higher Education.
- The 2006 conference focus was on improving partnerships and pathways for young Indigenous people to progress into higher education and/or onto suitable employment. Conference participants discussed key issues informed by the Council Strategic Plan 2006-2008. Discussion centred on the identification and development of key partnerships to advance Indigenous higher education, the need to consider the current government policy settings and the role of senior leadership within universities. The conference deliberations will lead to a specific set of recommendations to the Minister.
- The Council’s report on the outcomes of the conference, Partnerships, Pathways and Policies – Improving Indigenous Education Outcomes was published.
- The conference dinner was held at the Matilda Bay Restaurant, in Peppermint Grove in Perth. Mr Jeff McMullen OAM, provided the formal conference dinner address The Major Civil Rights Challenge for our Generation – Closing the gaps in Indigenous Education and Health.
- Five Indigenous Staff Scholarships were awarded at the conference.
- Five Indigenous Elders Awards were presented at the dinner, in recognition of their significant contributions to Indigenous peoples through education and community work.
- Poster sessions were hosted at the Conference and awards were presented at the dinner.
Second Annual Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council Conference 2006
The second annual Indigenous Higher Education Conference was opened by the former Minister for Education, Science and Training, Ms Julie Bishop MP on 18 September 2006 at the University of Western Australia, Perth. 140 participants attended the Conference.
The Conference, titled Partnerships, Pathways and Policies: Improving Indigenous Education Outcomes focussed on improving partnerships between key organisations to develop guaranteed pathways for Indigenous young people to progress through secondary schooling to higher education.
Papers and presentations were made by Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council (IHEAC) members and guest speakers included:
- Partnerships for Pathways – schools, universities and vocational, training and education contributions to success
- Releasing Indigenous Potential – barriers to success, best practice models of support for Indigenous students, Indigenous employment – success after Degrees
- Indigenous Education Culture and Protocols – increasing the profile and status of Indigenous culture, physical and cultural environment, Indigenous participation in university governance and growing an Indigenous research culture.
The Conference participants held workshops following each presentation and provided feedback to the Council. The Council is preparing policy advice to the Minister for Education, Science and Training informed by the discussion and feedback received from the Conference participants and the Council’s expertise and research on the issues.
Photo: Left to Right - Dr Maggie Walter, Mr Gary Shipp, Dr Jeannie Herbert, Professor MaryAnn Bin-Sallik ed D (Harvard), Mr Joel Wright (NTEU), Professor Marcia Langton AM (Chair), Ms Berice Anning; Ms Julie Bishop MP, the former Minister for Education, Science and Training; Dr Mark Rose; Professor Roger Thomas, Ms Vicki-Ann Speechley-Golden; Ms Clare Andersen; Mr Samuel Nona; Ms Jill Milroy; Associate Professor Tracey Bunda.
Partnerships, Pathways and Policies - Improving Indigenous Education Outcomes - Conference Report of the Second Annual Indigenous Higher Education Conference, 18-19 September 2006.
Indigenous Elders Awards
At the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council’s second annual Conference on higher education, the Council presented five Indigenous Elders special awards in recognition of their significant contributions to Indigenous peoples through education and community work.
2006 Indigenous scholarships
The Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council (IHEAC) awarded the 2006 Neville Bonner Memorial Scholarship and five Indigenous Staff Scholarships at its Conference in Perth on 18-19 September 2006.
Applicants for Indigenous Staff Scholarships are considered by the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council, which provides advice and recommendations to the Minister for Education Science and Training.
The Neville Bonner Memorial Scholarship is approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training. The Scholarship is administered by the Australian National University in accordance with their Guidelines.
The Indigenous Staff Scholarships Programme is aimed at Indigenous staff (academic or general) who have actively encouraged Indigenous students to participate in higher education and complete their courses. The scholarships enable staff of eligible higher education providers to take one year of leave from their employment to undertake full-time higher education study in their chosen academic or professional area. This recognises their commitment to assisting students in higher education and enhances their own academic or professional standing.
Photo: Left to Right - Professor Marcia Langton AM (Chair of IHEAC), with the ISS recipients Mr John Evans, University of Sydney, Mr Max Lenoy, James Cook University, Ms Stephanie Jacob, Australian Catholic University, QLD, Mr Robin McNamee, Australian National University, Mr Clem Hansen Edith Cowan University, the Neville Bonner Memorial Scholarship recipient Mr Ross Bates, University of New South Wales, and Professor Roger Thomas (Deputy Chair of IHEAC).
The Council’s consultative workshop, 20-21 February 2007 in Melbourne
- The theme of the workshop was Strengthening the Indigenous Research Culture in Australian Universities and higher education.
- The focus of the workshop was on strategies to strengthen the Indigenous research culture and capacity within and across universities, as well as better promotion of the funding support available. The workshop examined how the research interest and activities of Indigenous researchers might be better recognised, celebrated and promoted.
- Policy advice will be provided to the Minister on the outcomes of the workshop.
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2007 - 2008 Budget
- In response to advice from the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council, a new access scholarship to improve higher education access for Indigenous people has been created. This involves a commitment of $27.7 million for up to 1,000 Indigenous higher education students annually, particularly those who need to relocate from rural and remote areas, to receive a one-off payment of $4,000 to take up a university or enabling course.
- The criteria for ABSTUDY has been enhanced ($5.2 million). This includes: changes to independence workforce criteria will benefit ABSTUDY students who have supported themselves through workforce participation for a specified period since leaving school; extension of Crisis and Bereavement payments to ABSTUDY recipients will assist in keeping students engaged in education; and extending the ABSTUDY Incidentals Allowance to students undertaking an enabling course at a higher education institution
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