A history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit
A brief history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit (ATSISU) was first established as an ‘Enclave Program’ within the Department of Social Work at the University of Queensland in semester one, 1984.
The program was student-focused and directed, intended to provide support and encouragement to the roughly 35 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled at UQ at the time.
The program was managed by a sole resource officer, Barbara Davis, who provided support and encouragement to students both academically, through counselling and study programs, and practically through support with housing and accommodation, and scholarships and other funding.
Appointment of a Co-ordinator
At the same time as the support program was being established, a push by academics, students, and the broader community, for more awareness and understanding of the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within UQ, saw the appointment of a Co-ordinator of Aboriginal/Islander Studies – completely separate from the Enclave.
The role was established by the Vice-Chancellor’s Committee on Aboriginal/Islander Participation in University Education in 1984, with Jeanie Bell taking up the appointment in early 1985. The role of the Co-ordinator was intended to raise awareness within the University to cultural aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the legacies of colonisation, as well as promoting and centring the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarship, as a means of improving teaching outcomes and knowledge production.
The early years
In the first few years, both the Co-ordinator role and the Enclave grew in outreach and capacity. The Enclave Program commenced a Study Skills Program and employed additional tutors to support students requiring extra assistance. While both Bell and Davis described working closely and consulted often, their roles were distinct but also often overlapped and an amalgamation of their programs was suggested.
In 1986, the Aboriginal/Islander Studies Unit was proposed and was accepted by the Vice-Chancellor in February 1987. The Aboriginal/Island Studies Unit was formally amalgamated in July of 1987.
Operations of the Unit
During and after the period of amalgamation, the activities of the Unit continued to expand. In 1986, a School Liaison officer position was approved by the University. The liaison would visit high schools around Queensland and encourage young Indigenous people to consider studying at university. A Learning Skills Tutor was also employed, along with several additional tutors and counsellors into the study skills program.
The Unit also began employing casual research assistants who completed project work relevant to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at UQ (such as the AISU Student Handbooks and ‘Us Mob’ national newsletter) and also more broadly (such as reports on the Queensland Cultural Heritage Bill in 1987, and the Aboriginal Education Policy in 1988).
These activities speak to the diverse roles and responsibilities that the Unit began to assume, outside of its initial scope. Staff also attended conferences and seminars, performed consultancies, and served on boards of organisations, immersing themselves deeply in the politics of Indigenous education at the time.
The impacts of the Unit’s formation are evidenced by the increased enrolments and graduation rates amongst the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student body. By 1989, UQ reported having the highest number of Aboriginal graduates in Queensland, and the highest retention rate of Indigenous students in Australia.
The Anniversary Project
This brief overview is based almost solely on records housed in the UQ Archives. Through the UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit 40th Anniversary Project we hope to imbue this history with the individual experiences and voices of those involved with the Unit over the decades. For information on how to participate you can visit the project website or email Dr Anna Temby at a.temby@uq.edu.au.