Acknowledgement of Country
Adelaide University respectfully acknowledges the Kaurna, Boandik and Barngarla First Nations Peoples and their Elders past and present, who are the First Nations’ Traditional Owners of the lands that are home to our campuses across South Australia. We also acknowledge other First Nations lands across Australia with which we conduct business, their Elders, ancestors, cultures and heritage.
Adelaide University has bold ambitions. We are committed to prioritising equity, eliminating educational disadvantage and embedding First Nations knowledges and cultures at the heart of our institution. These ambitions are important, but it is the actions that underpin them that matter.
In striving to become a university of choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we have already taken great strides. Building on the progress made by the foundation institutions and Aboriginal leaders who came before us, we have developed dedicated access pathways, student scholarships, First Nations Knowledges common core courses and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Strategy.
Adelaide University also stands as the first university in Australia to have an Aboriginal name enshrined in its founding legislation: Tirkangkaku. In gifting this name, the Kaurna People, the Traditional Custodians of the Adelaide Plains, have placed their faith in Adelaide University. Now, we must honour the responsibilities it bestows.
This is ambitious work – but it is also work that deals in hope. We have a rare opportunity to do things differently. To reimagine what a university can be when it collaborates with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities from day one. To lead Australia by example. We carry this honour with great care, guided by the relationships built and the commitments made.
Professor Steve Larkin
Deputy Vice Chancellor Indigenous
Adelaide University
Kaurna Learning Circle
Adelaide University is committed to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. First Nations Student Support provides a culturally enriching environment that supports students throughout their university journey.
“We’re here to walk beside you, listen to your voice and help you get the most out of your time at university. This is a time of growth, learning and change and First Nations Student Support is your community, here to guide and support you as a learner.”
Uncle Rodney O’Brien, Kaurna Elder
Cultural Adviser, Adelaide University
Adelaide University consciously operates within a reconciliation framework, championing the respectful coming together of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in a spirit of reciprocity. Our goal is to become a university of choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, embedding First Nations knowledges and cultures at the heart of our institution. We strive to embed principles of reconciliation across all campuses, teaching, research and engagement activities, cultivating an ethical and inclusive environment where two-way knowledge sharing, and respect for our collective histories and cultures, are common practice.
The Indigenous Portfolio is central to Adelaide University’s ambitions for the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, working collaboratively with other areas of the University to enable opportunities across teaching and learning, research, and engagement.
Manager, First Nations Student Support: Leata Clarke
Cultural Adviser, Kaurna Elder: Uncle Rod O’Brien
Coordinator, First Nations Tutorial Program: Amy Pfitzner
First Nations Tutorial Program Officer, Peer Mentoring & Student Leaders Program: Marissa Lumasag
Administration Support Officer: Tracey Agius
Administration Support Officer: Sreng Tang
First Nations Student Support Officers
Rachael Anderson
Dani Carter
Alison Hughes
Dylan Hunter
Cindy Larkins
Deborah Puro
Gilbert Rigney
Delise Sampson
Anna Strzelecki
Sam Williams
