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Indigenous Leadership

Our vision

One of our goals is to be the university of choice for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and staff. Central to this is the incorporation of Indigenous perspectives and knowledge into CDU’s core business.

Indigenous Leadership plays a role in providing advice and advocacy services to both academic and professional staff around working with Indigenous students, communities and organisations.

Indigenous Leadership Strategy

With an aspiration to be ‘Globally Recognised for Indigenous Leadership’, the ILS commits Charles Darwin University (CDU) to develop innovative programs informed by local and national agendas that are designed to:

  • improve Indigenous participation
  • create and maintain culturally-enriched and culturally-safe environments for Indigenous students
  • learn in partnership with Indigenous students, staff and community, and
  • increase CDU’s Indigenous staffing profile.

Read Our Strategy

ILS

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 

Development of our RAP will involve consultation with all staff across the University, as well as external Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and other interested parties. CDU also hope to engage the wider NT community and corporate community in support of our reconciliation aspirations. The RAP is based on developing relationships, respect and opportunities. 

Key elements of the process 

  • A working group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders will draft the RAP through extensive consultation with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Once ratified and registered with Reconciliation Australia, the RAP will be launched publicly.
  • The RAP will be implemented across the University and evaluated at least annually. 

Key areas of action 

  1. Indigenous leadership
  2. Cultural competency
  3. Symbolic and cultural recognition

Read Charles Darwin University's signed Statement of Commitment to Reconciliation (PDF 1MB)

Read Charles Darwin University's Reconciliation Action Plan (PDF 5MB).

Key documents

CDU undertakes high-quality research and evaluation activities relevant to contemporary practice and policy issues that impact the livelihoods and wellbeing of Indigenous people. 

This work is guided by appropriate methodologies to incorporate Indigenous knowledges and viewpoints. Our philosophy is to use a strengths-based approach to research and evaluation in a wide array of Indigenous settings. 

We are particularly committed to generating an evidence base that can be practically and strategically applied to a range of program, service delivery and policy contexts.

Indigenous education statements
Whole Community Engagement Initiative
Other documents

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