Giving psychologists a better awareness of Indigenous issues and a travelling science show are the recipients of this year’s University of Queensland’s Vice-Chancellor’s Equity and Diversity Awards.
Members of UQ’s School of Psychology and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit won the major $10,000 award for their Indigenous Mental Health Day.
The project was aimed at raising awareness among psychology students, practitioners and academics of Indigenous Australians’ mental health needs via a one-day workshop conducted in 2006.
The runner-up $5000 award went to UQ’s Physics Demo Troupe, which consists mainly of undergraduate student performers who travel Queensland doing science shows, talks and workshops for schools and the general public on a volunteer basis. The key focus is reaching students in rural and remote areas who miss out on the outreach opportunities available to students living near Universities.
The winners were honoured at an awards ceremony held at the UQ Centre tonight (May 16).
The ceremony also featured a lively panel discussion featuring Mr Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner; Dr Jackie Huggins, Co-Chair Reconciliation Australia and Deputy Director UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit; and Ms Frances Peters-Little, well known filmmaker and academic from the Australian National University.
The discussion topic for the panel was “Do we enjoy full citizenship?” and the panel discussed how far Indigenous people had come in the past 40 years since the 1967 Referendum, which enabled Indigenous people to be counted in the national census for the first time as well as allowing legislation to be passed for the benefit of Indigenous people.
The Award’s ceremony took place during UQ's fifth annual Diversity Week, which is held to increase the understanding of diversity, including of cultures, linguistic and religious diversity, disability, sexuality, gender, family and carer responsibilities, racism and Indigenous Australian history and culture.
The week features events including forums, lectures and tours held at UQ's St Lucia, Ipswich and Gatton campuses. Visit the Diversity Week website www.uq.edu.au/diversity-week for more information including all event details.
Media inquiries: Andrew Dunne at UQ Communications (3365 2802 or 0433 364 181). Photos of the award winners are available by contacting Diana Lilley on 3365 2753 or email d.lilley@uq.edu.au
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