First Nations

We acknowledge the importance of collaboration and partnership, to walk together as one with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through our journey of reconciliation.

Torrens University Australia proudly acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands where our campuses are located and pays respects to the teaching, learning and research undertaken since time immemorial. We pay our respects to those who have cared and continue to care for Country.

Our vision for reconciliation

Torrens University Australia envisions being a champion for equal education outcomes for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and an inclusive and diverse workplace that is not just culturally safe, but culturally rich and proud. Our vision for reconciliation is an Australia that embraces unity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.

Our reconciliation action plan

Our current Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan lays the foundations to guide our work that contributes towards a shared vision of reconciliation and prepares us for future Reconciliation Action Plans.
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Introducing our First Nations leaders

Lyndsay Urquhart | First Nations

Lyndsay Urquhart

Lyndsay is a proud Koori woman from the Dharawal community of western Sydney and the Manager of First Nations Strategy & Engagement at Torrens University. With a strong background in arts, education, and First Nations advocacy, she has led national programs across cultural, government, and community sectors. Lyndsay brings a wealth of experience in cultural leadership, community engagement, and Indigenous intellectual and cultural property. Lyndsay has earned a Masters in Philosophy, and has a Bachelor of Public Communications.
Aniesha Ahsee | First Nations

Aniesha Ah See

Aniesha is a proud Wiradjuri Cook Islander woman of Chinese descent from Wellington and Dubbo NSW. As the First Nations Success Coach, part of her role is to support First Nations students throughout their studies - providing guidance, sharing opportunities like scholarships, and fostering a strong sense of cultural connection at Torrens University.

Embedding Indigenous knowledge into curriculum

At Torrens University Australia we enrich the education we deliver by embedding Indigenous knowledge into curriculum. We are enshrining a mindset in our students to acknowledge, respect and champion Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their culture.

Health

In our Health Sciences team, we have several Indigenous Identified Academic roles teaching subjects including ‘First Peoples Culture, History and Healthcare’ and ‘Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Australian Indigenous Populations’. This builds the capability and enhances understanding and cultural responsiveness of our future health professionals to provide appropriate health services to First Nations people.

Design and Creative Technology

Our Design and Creative Technology faculty integrates Indigenous thinking within Work Integrated Learning (WIL) curriculum and our students are often engaging with First Nations communities. Our students greatly benefit from this transfer of knowledge and are often transformed by the experience.

Social Enterprise Hub

Through our Social Enterprise Hub our business students have had the opportunity to take on roles with organisations like Linking Futures, an innovative cross-cultural education and facilitation initiative helping businesses, government and First Nations’ clients to work together to meet the expectations of the communities in which they operate. Bilbie XR Labs is leveraging XR technologies to create engaging and interactive experiences with our Design and Creative Technology students to help foster a better understanding and appreciation of our shared history, environment management, and cultural interactions within a contested terrain across Australia.

NO MORE campaign
Students collaborate with leading Aboriginal initiative NO MORE
Students partnered with NO MORE to tackle domestic and family violence, creating a campaign and app concept as part of their Industry Consulting Project.
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Looking Into the Stories
Bulbuwil Project brings Stolen Generation stories to life through design
Design students at Torrens University Australia were challenged in a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) brief to create a physical memorial to pay respects to survivors of Australia’s Stolen Generation. For the students involved, it quickly became so much more than just an assessment.
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Torrens University RAP
Students create innovative concepts to communicate Reconciliation Action Plan
Torrens University Australia initiated a Work Integrated Learning project to engage and educate students, whilst at the same time developing their cultural capability as they share ideas on how to communicate the university’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
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Research

Dr Hayden McDonald is the Program Director of Torrens University Australia's Master of Business Analytics program. His research is focused on examining how to improve the social and cultural governance of organisations. He is passionate about strengthening relationships between First Nations and other Australians through improved governance mechanisms. Dr McDonald had a lead role on a research project funded by CPA Australia: Making management controls inclusive: The importance of embedding Indigenous cultural values in key-performance indicators. The project examined the role of management controls in the implementation of Reconciliation Action Plans.

Read more about Dr Hayden McDonald's research

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First National Health Science academics team
Strengthening our First Nations Health Sciences academics team
Torrens University Australia places great importance on embodying and embracing our Reconciliation Action Plan – and embedding it into everything we do.
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Clarice Forrc
Student working with Linking Futures to create social impact on Aboriginal communities
Clarice leveraged the Social Enterprise Hub to gain real-world experience and invaluable skills to help secure a role as a Business Analyst and shape her future career.
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Danielle Leedie Gray
Alumni's advice on how to become a freelance graphic designer with a niche
Meet Danielle Leedie Gray, a freelance First Nations Graphic Artist, Illustrator and Designer.
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First Nations | Torrens University
Acknowledgment of Country
We are committed to a positive future as we move together on our journey of learning. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners for the major Australian cities in which we operate, Brisbane (Meanjin): Yuggera / Jagera Country, Sydney (Warrane / Warran): Gadigal Country, Melbourne (Naarm): the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung of the Eastern Kulin, and Adelaide (Tarndanya): Kaurna Country.

Artist credit: Samantha 'Sammy' Hill