Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T11:38:13.341Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reinventing Another Unaipon: Indigenous Science Leaders for the Future

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2017

Karen Trimmer ,
Graeme Gower  and
Graeme Lock
Karen Trimmer
Affiliation:
School of Linguistics, Adult & Specialist Education, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba 4350, Queensland, Australia
Graeme Gower*
Affiliation:
School of Education, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Western Australia, Australia
Graeme Lock
Affiliation:
School of Education, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Western Australia, Australia
*
address for correspondence: Graeme Gower, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The education of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander students in Australian universities has received considerable attention in both the literature and government policy in the 21st century. The participation and graduation rates for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander students in higher education Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs have remained low and are becoming a particular focus in universities across Australia. This paper reflects on the life and contribution of David Unaipon, the enrolment data from a small sample of universities across Australia and the literature to discuss potential strategies for improving the access to, participation in and graduation from higher education STEM courses.

Keywords

IndigenousUnaiponhigher educationIndigenous student supportSTEM courses
Type
Research Article
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 47 , Issue 2 , December 2018 , pp. 216 - 225
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Advisory Council (ATSIHEAC). (2013). Indigenous science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Retrieved December 22, 2015 from http://doc.education.gov.au.system/files/doc/other/atsiheac-background-paper-stem-pdf.Google Scholar
Asmar, C., Page, S., & Radloff, A. (2011). Dispelling myths: Indigenous students’ engagement with university. AUSSE Research Briefing, 10, 1–17.Google Scholar
Australian Broadcasting Commission Science. (2009). Australia's first astronomers. ABC Science. Retrieved December 23, 2015 from http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/07/27/2632463.htm.Google Scholar
Australian Broadcasting Commission. (2014). New inventors: Tribute to David Unaipon. Retrieved December 28, 2015 from http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s1501003.htm.Google Scholar
Berhrendt, L., Larkin, S., Griew, R., & Kelly, P (2012). Review of higher education access and outcomes for aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Final Report. Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education: Canberra.Google Scholar
Berney, L., & Penberthy, N. (2014). The man on our $50 note was born on this day. Australian Geographic. Retrieved December 29, 2015 from http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/on-this-day/2014/09/on-this-day-in-history-david-unaipon-born.Google Scholar
Boulton-Lewis, G., Marton, F., Lewis, D., & Wills, L. (2004). A longitudinal study of learning for a group of Indigenous Australian university students. Higher Education, 47 (1), 91–112.Google Scholar
Brennan, B. (2010). Aboriginal astronomers world's oldest? Australian Geographic. Retrieved December 29, 2015 from http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics-culture/2010/05/aboriginal-astronomers-worlds-oldest/.Google Scholar
Christie, M. (1987). Aboriginal perspectives on experience and learning: the role of language in Aboriginal education. Geelong: Deakin University.Google Scholar
Christie, M. (1993). Aboriginal science for the ecologically sustainable future. Science and Uncertainty. Retrieved December 29, 2015 from http://www.uow.edu.au/~sharonb/STS300/science/nature/articles/artindigenous1.html.Google Scholar
CSIRO. (n.d.). Lighting pathways for Indigenous students. Retrieved from http://www.csiro.au/en/Education/Programs/Indigenous-STEM.Google Scholar
Culturequest. (n.d.). Boomerang. Retrieved December 29, 2015 from http://www.culturequest.us/aboriginal_tools/boomerang.htm.Google Scholar
Day, D. & Nolde, R. (2009). Arresting the decline in Australian Indigenous representation at university. Student experiences as a guide. Equal Opportunities International, 28 (2). Retrieved December 15, 2015 from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/02610150910937899.Google Scholar
Devlin, M. (2009). Indigenous higher education equity: Focusing on what works. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 38, 1–8.Google Scholar
DiGregorio, K., Farrington, S., & Page, S. (2000). Listening to our students: Understanding factors that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students’ academic success. Higher Education Research and Development, 19 (3), 297–309.Google Scholar
Herbert, , J. (2010). Indigenous studies: Tool of empowerment within the academe. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 39 (Supplement), 23–31.Google Scholar
Hillman, K. (2005). Student valuation of academic achievement. Sociological Quarterly, (0038-0253), 10 (3), 384–391.Google Scholar
Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council. (2006). Partnerships, pathways and policies – improving Indigenous education outcomes. Conference report of the Second Annual Indigenous Higher Education Conference, 18–19 September, Perth, Western Australia.Google Scholar
Inspiring Australia. (2013). Indigenous engagement with science: Towards deeper understandings. Department of Industry, Innovation & Science. Retrieved December 29, 2015 from http://www.science.gov.au/scienceGov/Documents/Indigenous%20Engagement%20with%20science.pdf.Google Scholar
James, R., & Devlin, M. (2006). Participation and equity. A review of the participation in higher education of people from low economic backgrounds and Indigenous people. Centre for the study of Higher Education, University of Melbourne.Google Scholar
James, R., Krause, K.-L., & Jennings, C. (2010). The first year experience in Australian Universities: Findings from 1994–2009. Centre for the study of Higher Education, The University of Melbourne.Google Scholar
Jaunay, G. (n.d.). David Unaipon – inventor. Retrieved January 5, 2016 from http://www.jaunay.com/unaipon.html.Google Scholar
Jones, P. (1990). Unaipon, David (1872–1967). Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, 12,(MUP). Retrieved January 12, 2016 from http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/unaipon-david-8898.Google Scholar
Kamenev, M. (2011). Top 10 Aboriginal bush medicines. Australian Geographic. Retrieved January 15, 2016 from http://australiangeographic.com.au/topics/history-culture/2011/02/top-10-aboriginal-bush-medicines/.Google Scholar
Kidman, A. (2014). The Australian Da Vinci: How David Unaipon (almost) changed our nation. Gizmodo, Australia. Retrieved January 15, 2016 from http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/03/the-australian-da-vinci-how-david-unaipon-almost-changed-our-nation/.Google Scholar
Kippen, S., Ward, B., & Warren, L. (2006). Enhancing indigenous participation in higher education health courses in rural Victoria. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 35, 1–9.Google Scholar
Lampert, J., & Burnett, B.M. (2012). Retention and graduation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in initial teacher education: A review of the literature. Paper presented at the Australian Teacher Education Association Annual Conference. 1–4 July, Stamford Grand Hotel, Glenelg, South Australia.Google Scholar
McGagh, J., Marsh, H., Western, M., Thomas, P., Hastings, A., Mihailova, M., & Wenham, M. (2016). Review of Australia's Research Training System. Report for the Australian Council of Learned Academies, Retrieved January 10, 2016 from http://www.acola.org.au.Google Scholar
Monroe, M. (n.d.). Australia: The land where time began. Aboriginal weapons and tools. Austrutime. Retrieved January 15, 2016 from http://austrutime.com/weapons.htm.Google Scholar
Nakata, (2004). Ongoing conversations about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research agendas and directions. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 33, 1–6.Google Scholar
Nakata, M., Nakata, V., & Chin, M. (2008). Approaches to the academic preparation and support of Australian Indigenous students for tertiary studies. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 37, 7–14.Google Scholar
National Union of Students’ Indigenous Student Department. (2008). Submission to department of education, employment and workplace relations review of Australian higher education. 31 July–2 August, Sydney, New South Wales.Google Scholar
Norris, R. (2014). Australian First Nations and people-how to misunderstand their science. The Conversation. Retrieved June 2, 2017 from https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1405/1405.7108.pdf.Google Scholar
Owen & Sons. (2015). Origins of the boomerang. Retrieved January 31, 2016 from http://www.owensboomerangs.com/styled-7/index.html.Google Scholar
Pechenkina, E., & Anderson, I. (2011). Consultation paper on indigenous Australian higher education: Trends, initiatives and policy directions. Prepared for the review of higher education access and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.Google Scholar
Pechenkina, E., Kowal, E., & Paradies, Y. (2011). Indigenous Australian students’ participation rates in higher education: Exploring the role of universities. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 40, 59–68.Google Scholar
Racismnoway, (2015). David Unaipon (1872-1967) Writer, public speaker and inventor. NSW Department of Education. Retrieved January 31, 2016 from http://www.racismnoway.com.au/teaching-resources/factsheets/50.html.Google Scholar
Rigney, L.-I. (2001). A first perspective of Indigenous Australian participation in science: Framing Indigenous research towards Indigenous Australian intellectual sovereignty. Kaurna Higher Education Journal, 7, 13.Google Scholar
Rose, D., Rose, M., Farrington, S., & Page, S. (2008). Scaffolding academic literacy with Indigenous health sciences students: An evaluative study. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 7 (3), 165–179.Google Scholar
Sansom, M. (2014). CSIRO push for more Aboriginal science and maths students. Government News. Retrieved January 31, 2016 from http://www.governmentnews.com.au/2014/10/csiro-push-aboriginal-science-maths-students/.Google Scholar
Shah, M., & Widin, J. (2010). Indigenous students’ voices: Monitoring Indigenous student satisfaction and retention in a large Australian university. Journal of Institutional Research, 15 (1), 28–41.Google Scholar
Sonn, C., Bishop, B., & Humphries, R. (2000). Encounters with the dominant culture:Voices of Indigenous students in mainstream higher education. Perth, WA, Edith Cowan University.Google Scholar
State Library of New South Wales. (n.d.). David Unaipon – Legendary Tales. Retrieved December 29, 2015 from http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/history_nation/indigenous/unaipon/unaipon.html.Google Scholar
Steptoe, D., & Passsananti, J. (2012). Bush medicine: Aboriginal remedies for common ills. Australian Geographic. Retrieved December 30, 2015 from http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/history-culture/2012/05/bush-medicine-aboriginal-remedies-for-common-ills/.Google Scholar
The Aurora Project. Retrieved January 15, 2016 from http://www.auroraproject.com.au/.Google Scholar
Trimmer, K., Wondunna-Foley, L., & Ward, R. (2015). Exit decisions of ITE students. Paper presented at the More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers Initiative 2015 Conference, Adelaide, 30/9/2015.Google Scholar
Trudgett, M. (2011). Western places, academic spaces and Indigenous faces: Supervising Indigenous Australian postgraduate students. Teaching in Higher Education, 16 (4), 118–130.Google Scholar
Universities Australia. (2014). Indigenous higher education. Retrieved December 29, 2015 from https://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/uni-participation-quality/Indigenous-Higher-Education.Google Scholar