On the occasion of NAIDOC Week join our Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy), Dr Leanne Holt, in celebrating and recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples under this year’s call to action ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’.

At Macquarie we have much to celebrate and look forward to. Since we launched our ten-year Indigenous Strategy in 2016, the University has worked beside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities to advance outcomes through higher education.

This deepened commitment saw us last year launch the Centre for Indigenous Global Futures to forge respectful and reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities locally, nationally and internationally, as well as non-Indigenous scholars and industry. The Centre is committed to continuing to build world-leading collaborative research capacity that is Indigenous-led and sustainable.

In April the University Council voted to adopt a new name for our main campus. Every time we say Wallumattagal Campus we will be reminded of the traditional name of the country on which the University has been built. This is a significant move and one that demonstrates respect for Aboriginal people. People whose long history and contributions to this land have, and continue to, sustain our environments, education and culture.

The recent change of government has reignited a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs and a commitment to the Statement from the Heart that defines three priorities, voice, truth and treaty. In the next few years, we will have the opportunity to contribute to what will be significant moments in Australian history.

Aboriginal peoples have the oldest living culture in the world, thousands of years of knowledges that have survived the harshest environments. The sharing of cultures and knowledges makes us richer. We can learn so much from each other, however we need to continue to create a space in Australia where we reject racism and where we forge respectful, reciprocal relationships. We are privileged to work and study in a university committed to Indigenous higher education and social justice and we have the opportunity to make a real difference.

How will you contribute to our University’s legacy? How will you ‘Get up! Stand Up! Show Up!’?

Dr Leanne Holt
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy)

---

Include an Acknowledgement of Country in your email signature

On the occasion of NAIDOC Week we encourage all Macquarie staff to include an updated Acknowledgement of Country in your email signature:

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which Macquarie University stands – the Wallumattagal clan of the Dharug nation – whose cultures and customs have nurtured and continue to nurture this land since time immemorial. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.