CQUniversity's Nulloo Yumbah Centre celebrates 25 years of service to Central Queensland Indigenous communities by encouraging active reconciliation...

CQUniversity will employ more Indigenous people (20 more by 2012) and incorporate more Indigenous content in its courses under a University-wide program, announced by Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Employment Forum on Tuesday, supporting what he described as "the need for a stronger Indigenous voice on campus".

Associate Professor William Oates speaks at this week's forum.Participants in the Forum -- part of celebrations associated with the 25^th anniversary of CQUniversity's Nulloo Yumbah Centre for Indigenous Learning, Spirituality & Research -- were called upon to make reconciliation an active part of their work life.

Nulloo Yumbah Director Associate Professor William Oates said "reconciliation should be a lived experience amongst our staff. If as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people we do not commit to and practice reconciliation between ourselves how can we expect non-Aboriginal people to reconcile with us.

"We need to take the lead and show how it is done."

Nulloo Yumbah in the language of the Darumbal people means ‘our home' or ‘place'. The Darumbal people are the traditional owners of Rockhampton and the surrounding area. The original University buildings are on Darumbal meeting grounds.

The University will undertake an audit to identify Indigenous content in programs and review the impact of its Reconciliation statement, signed in 2002, which acknowledges a commitment to a just and meaningful partnership of reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout CQUniversity's campuses and the communities it serves.

"We hope to produce a reconciliation plan for each University area with the goal to increase Indigenous content and engagement in our programs," Professor Bowman said.

He believes there is mutual benefit for both the University and Indigenous communities in working collaboratively.

"There is no other community that we as a University need to link with more ... Linking with the Indigenous community will enrich our University."

Earlier this year, CQUniversity signed a Memo of Understanding with Central Queensland Indigenous Development (CQID) to have a building constructed at Rockhampton Campus in 2011. This building will form a hub in Central Queensland for Indigenous community members, agencies and service organisations.

Professor Bowman said the University, which has been taking significant steps towards becoming more engaged with its Indigenous communities, would be able to work with CQID to develop work-readiness programs.

"We hope to offer Certificate 1 and 2 study programs and as we move forward as a dual-sector university provide opportunities in vocational education.

"We hope that by bringing more Indigenous people on campus we will de-mystify the whole university experience."