2024 Return to Country Oration

The 2024 Return to Country Oration discusses the transformative impact of education. The FEIT delegation is joined by inspiring Bourke locals who share their own stories on the value of higher education.

In 2024, the Return to Country Program saw a group of Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology Indigenous staff and students travel to Bourke, NSW and visit the surrounding region. The delegation was led by the Faculty’s first Associate Dean, Indigenous - Dr Joseph West, a Murawarri Engineer from the Culgoa River region in regional New South Wales and a Fulbright Scholar in the School of Computing and Information Systems at the University of Melbourne.

As a key part of the Return to Country program was The University of Melbourne’s Return to Country Oration aimed to help foster a national dialogue regarding access and pathways to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) higher education for students in regional and rural communities.

The event served as a forum for highlighting the participation of Indigenous students in engineering, and acknowledging the obstacles they face when approaching tertiary education.

The event brought bring together influential figures from the local community to participate in dialogue regarding higher education and its importance.

‘Every stage in the pipeline to becoming an engineer is nearly empty for Indigenous Australians, including the very first one – the desire to become one. Universities have an important role to play in lighting the spark of interest.’

Program

Event emcee
Jordan Carter, Ngarrindjeri and Wemba Wemba, Indigenous Engagement Coordinator 
Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne

Welcome to Country
James Moore, accompanied by Maranguka Dancers

Delegate Address
Hon Mark Coulton MP, Minister for Parkes

Life on Country
Aunty Vera Bino and Aunty Josie Bino, Murrawarri Elders, educators and community leaders

Shoot for the stars
Tully Mahr, Gundungurra, Master of Mechanical Engineering student, The University of Melbourne

Always was a computer scientist
Susan Beetson, Ngemba Traditional Owner, University of Queensland

Indigenous Futures in Engineering and Information Technology
Dr Joseph West, Murrawarri, Associate Dean Indigenous – Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne

Facilitated Q&A: Pathways and access to tertiary education

Facilitator: Dr Joseph West, Murrawarri, Associate Dean Indigenous – Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne

Panel members:

  • Tully Mahr, Gundungurra, current Master of Mechanical Engineering student.
  • Susan Beetson, Ngemba Traditional Owner, University of Queensland
  • Aunty Vera Bino and Aunty Josie Bino, Murrawarri Indigenous Elders from Weilmoringle
  • Shaun Graham, Principal, Brewarrina Central School
  • Murray Cronin, Principal, Bourke High School

Closing Address

Prof Frank Vetere, Acting Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne