Reconciliation at Curtin

At Curtin, we have a long history of being at the forefront of reconciliation in higher education.

Significant milestones in our journey include the opening of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in 1994, our public Statement of Reconciliation and Commitment in 1998 and in 2008, becoming the first teaching and research institution to have an endorsed Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Over time, we have learned to listen more deeply to First Peoples, guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Universities Australia Indigenous strategies and our RAPs.

We are committed to embedding voices and perspectives of First Nations peoples in our decision making through our Curtin 2030 Strategic Plan. Our current focus is on developing our approach to contemporary reconciliation at Curtin.

We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart

In 2019, we were one of the first Australian universities to publicly declare our support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee, Senior Executive Team and University Council all unanimously gave their support to the Statement.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart was issued in 2017. It is an invitation to the Australian people to walk together with First Nations Australians to build a better future.

Reconciliation highlights

Indigenous Staff at Curtin

Moorditj Yorga Scholarship Program

The Moorditj Yorga Scholarship Program helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women access a university education at Curtin through scholarship funding.

‘Moorditj yorga’ means ‘strong woman’ in the Nyungar language of Western Australia’s South West. Colloquially, it also means ‘deadly’.

Carrolup Centre for Truth-telling

Carrolup Centre for Truth-telling

The Carrolup Centre was established to create a dedicated home for the Herbert Mayer Collection of Carrolup Artworks, a collection of artworks by young children of the Stolen Generations hand-drawn at the Carrolup Native Settlement in Western Australia.

Curtin worked closely with Aboriginal Elders to create a Centre that will become place of truth-telling, healing and reconciliation.

Cultural capability learning experiences

Cultural capability learning experiences

Curtin’s cultural immersion learning experiences are designed to help participants understand, respect and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Available to staff, students and community, the experiences will enhance your knowledge of Nyungar and wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being, working and doing.

Our past Reconciliation Action Plans

Download our last Interim Reconciliation Action Plan 2020-2022.pdf Download our first Reconciliation Action Plan 2008-2013.pdf – 713KB