The University’s first Professor of Law and Indigenous Studies, Dr Larissa Behrendt, has set an agenda to broaden and raise the standing of the academic and research profile of Indigenous studies at UTS.

Professor Behrendt, who belongs to the Eualeyai people, brings to UTS her experience from studying indigenous rights and international law in the United States and working with First Nations people in Canada.

One of her first objectives is the official renaming of Jumbunna CAISER (Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies, Education and Research) as the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning to signal that change is afoot, and to indicate the new direction it will take.

Professor Behrendt and her team hope to host the new Reconciliation subject currently being developed through the UTS Equity and Diversity Unit, and offer it across the University.

They will also work collaboratively with the faculties to increase Indigenous content and the relevance of professional courses to Indigenous students in a way appropriate to each faculty.

"By increasing Indigenous content in courses across the University we will increase academic and research opportunities in Indigenous studies," she said.

"The Business and Education Faculties already offer an excellent specialist degree. They also offer other undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities for Indigenous Australian students who are interested in adult education and community management. However, I’m confident there are many more opportunities across the University."

Professor Behrendt is also keen to generate collaborative cross-faculty research projects, which will attract Indigenous postgraduates, and students of Indigenous studies from UTS and Australia generally.

Plans to improve access and support for Indigenous students and to involve members of the Indigenous community more actively in the UTS program are also on the agenda.

A Community Research Officer will be appointed to prepare grant applications and to ensure the research and academic work undertaken by Jumbunna staff and Indigenous students is disseminated to the community.

Professor Behrendt believes this will make Jumbunna’s work more relevant to Indigenous communities and show the value of university education.

See the full story in UTS News online.