Indigenous leader appointed

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Tags: equity, Indigenous, teaching and learning, winter-2011

Cindy Shannon from The University of Queensland on Vimeo.

The University of Queensland has confirmed its commitment to supporting educational and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with the creation of a new Pro Vice-Chancellor role to lead all Indigenous initiatives across the University.

Indigenous health expert Professor Cindy Shannon has been appointed UQ’s inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education).

A Ngugi woman and descendant of the Quandamooka people of Moreton Bay, Professor Shannon will initially be responsible for leading the implementation of a comprehensive Indigenous strategy.

She will aim to strengthen leadership within the University in relation to Indigenous education and build links with the community as part of UQ’s new Strategic Plan 2011–2015.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield said by creating the new Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education) position and appointing Professor Shannon, the University was declaring its commitment to stronger leadership in Indigenous higher education.

“UQ has a responsibility to extend to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the same excellent opportunities that we offer all young Australians,” he said.

“For maximum impact we must work alongside Indigenous Australians, and the respect earned by Professor Shannon in academic and Indigenous circles makes her the ideal person to fill this demanding leadership role.

Professor Cindy Shannon, The University of Queensland's inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education) at the St Lucia Campus

Professor Shannon is the Chair of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation, which was established in 2008 and currently funds 450 scholarships to support Indigenous students in grades 11 and 12. She said her core goals as Pro Vice-Chancellor were to improve the participation and success of Indigenous students at university.

As part of her new role, Professor Shannon will be Director of UQ’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit (ATSIS), which was formed in 1984 as a centre of excellence and expert opinion on teaching, research and consultation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Professor Shannon, who was previously Director of the Centre for Indigenous Health at UQ, also brings a unique relationship with Aboriginal community controlled health services to the University. She has an ongoing affiliation with the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council and led the establishment of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health in South East Queensland in 2010 with a continuing role as its Academic Director.

“Through partnerships such as this, UQ can make a significant contribution to the COAG Closing the Gap targets for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Professor Shannon said.

“UQ will play a major role in supporting program design and delivery, high quality health services and related research and capacity building through education and training.”

By Kathy Grube

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