A new Indigenous-led pathways-based education facility for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students has opened in Shepparton, providing an exemplar for community-led strengths-based initiatives.
The Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence, opened in Shepparton on 7 August, is the first of its kind in Australia, offering opportunities to not just help close the gap by improving First Nations education outcomes, but also redefine community understanding and appreciation of Indigenous cultures.
The opening is a culmination of decades of work that places First Nations firmly at the heart of higher education and a watershed moment for the Goulburn Murray region.
With Shepparton housing one of the highest Indigenous populations in regional Victoria, the Centre will create a significant uplift in opportunities and pathways for the community. Building on successful educational programs delivered in partnership with the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and GOTAFE, Munarra will deliver a broad range of VET and higher education courses leading to improved education and employment outcomes in the region.
Munarra builds on highly successful foundational programs such as the Academy of Sport Health and Education (ASHE), which started with six students 20 years ago. ASHE is now a thriving education program offering VCE and TAFE qualifications and has supported over 1,200 students through their transition to employment or further education. In mid-2024 ASHE will be co-located in the Munarra Centre. ASHE will continue to offer VCE and TAFE qualifications along with articulation arrangements for students to undertake relevant diplomas and Bachelor degrees, highlighting the importance of accessible pathways between TAFE and University.
Munarra is a key element of the broader Goulburn Murray Regional Prosperity and Productivity Plan. The 15-year plan flips how First Nations people are viewed and understood in the regional economy. Rather than looking through a lens of benevolence and intervention, the Plan draws upon the many strengths of the Yorta Yorta and First Nations people who reside in the region to provide a strategy that empowers and strengthens the community. While acknowledging and addressing the past is critical, the focus is squarely on the future and the readiness of the region to convert investment into productivity and prosperity inclusive of Yorta Yorta and other First Nation peoples.
The official opening of Munarra is a moment to imagine the many possibilities and opportunities associated with a thriving Indigenous-led centre for excellence located in regional Victoria. Munarra is poised to play an urgently needed role in bridging the gap in education opportunities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Over the years, many programs and interventions have attempted to improve education and training outcomes, with Indigenous-led programs and learning spaces proving the most effective in delivering positive change.
Munarra is well placed to participate in the Government’s Regional Study Hub initiative. Becoming a Regional University Study Hub would elevate Munarra’s role in supporting students to identify appropriate pathways into tertiary education. Regional students have aspirations for tertiary education but often lack the confidence to convert them into reality. An Indigenous-led Regional University Study Hub in the Goulburn Murray would further empower local organisations to lead change and provide wide-ranging, culturally appropriate support to students from underrepresented groups, setting them up for success.
Looking further ahead, a proposed Indigenous Research Hub, located within Munarra, is part of a commitment to building Indigenous research capabilities and research partnerships, resulting in research that addresses local challenges and delivers economic and social benefits to Indigenous communities and the broader society. An Indigenous Research Hub located in the Goulburn Murray will encourage engagement in research and science among Indigenous people and local communities, leading to greater inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in research, science and policy processes.
The Indigenous Research Hub will play a critical role in building the pipeline of First Nations researchers by harnessing the success of the trailblazing Poche Dungala Kaiela Fellows Program, which supports First Nation PhD candidates from the Goulburn Valley region. Five local Indigenous women have graduated with their PhD’s in the last five years, highlighting the potential of Indigenous-led programs to build Indigenous higher education social capital and First Nations leadership within rural communities. Providing academic, cultural and financial support to study on Country is fundamental to the program’s success.
Early this year, the Federal Government released the Universities Accord final report that highlighted the importance of Indigenous-led education in delivering the social, economic, and cultural advancement of First Nations people, and improving regional higher education. Central to the Accord is a commitment to First Nations’ self-determination. In the context of education, this means going beyond participation, to guaranteeing First Nations people are in decision making roles and have the autonomy to shape their education, including what, how, when and where it takes place.
The Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence offers an impactful case-study showcasing the potential for Indigenous-led initiatives, institutional collaboration, and a whole of community effort to deliver positive change in regional communities.
Authors:
- Paul Briggs AO – Munarra Limited Board Member (Chair of AFL’s Indigenous Advisory Board)
- Travis Morgan – Munuarra Limited Board Member
- Professor Barry Judd – Munarra Limited Board Member, and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Indigenous, University of Melbourne.