Learning and teaching can help bridge the gap

Rhonda Hagan

Universities can help bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by adapting their learning and teaching methods, according to USQ lecturer Rhonda Hagan.

By embedding Indigenous perspectives into University programs, Mrs Hagan, who is based at the University’s Centre for Australian Indigenous Knowledges (CAIK), believes students can enter the workforce with a greater understanding of Indigenous issues.

As part of Learning and Teaching week at USQ, Mrs Hagan will address the University tomorrow (Wednesday February 3) on the importance of embedding Indigenous perspectives.

'There is still a significant gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in many instances, especially in the area of health,' she said.

'This embedding of Indigenous perspectives can be across all faculties in every program and will give graduates the knowledge to be able to work with Indigenous Australians in all different kinds of professions.

'For example, in education teachers need to have an awareness of Indigenous history when they are teaching. In Engineering they need to be aware of native title issues, while nurses must be aware of the health concerns of Indigenous people before they go out into their communities.

'All it takes is for lecturers to include these Indigenous perspectives in their everyday teaching.'

Ms Hagan added that it would also help to dispel any long held stereotypes.

'People do stereotype Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and this is a great way to wipe this out if there is a greater understanding of Indigenous people and their culture.'

While it was important that Universities were working to achieve this, it is just as vital that students had some understanding of these issues before undertaking tertiary study.

'We want to embed this into programs all the way through University but this really has to start when these students are younger,' she said.

'This means that some of these things are being taught in primary and high school.'

Some programs at USQ already have started embedding Indigenous perspectives and Mrs Hagan is hopeful that it will become universal practice across the University.

'There was a good response to the work we have done so far so we have also collaborated with Law, Education and Engineering at the University and the hope is that we can develop a framework that can be embedded into programs throughout USQ.'

USQ’s annual Learning and Teaching week showcases exciting developments in teaching and learning practice and highlights staff excellence at the University.

Contact Details:
Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559, 0400 025 429