Message from the Dean, 16 June 2020

It's been a dramatic few weeks, in a rather tragic year. We started with the horrific bushfires, then the coronavirus, and now inequalities and prejudice are being spotlighted all over the world in the Black Lives Matter movement against racism.

Among the many stories we are hearing one that particularly resonated with me was an interview with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. When asked what had gone wrong in the US, rather than comment on that, he looked within and talked about what Canadians had to do in the fight against racism.

In Australia, the movement has struck a deep chord as it highlights our own history of violence and discrimination towards First Nations people. It is something each of us needs to be aware of.

Someone who has consistently highlighted these injustices and looked for solutions, is Professor Marcia Langton. Marcia is Associate Provost at the University and head of our Indigenous Studies Unit. She was recently made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her contributions to tertiary education and as an advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Congratulations to Marcia and to all our colleagues who were recognised in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours.

In this video update I also discuss:

  • Moving into phase 2 of our COVIDSafe return to campus, see the roadmap and keep an eye on the website for further details
  • Episode five of our six part series 'Life Beyond Coronavirus: The Expert View' series about The Future of Work has just been released
  • This Thursday, I will host the Bushfires and Pandemics online forum about creating supportive communities that build resilience and optimism in our children

If you'd like to get in touch and tell me about what you're working on, or your experiences during this time, I'd love to hear from you.

Please continue to use the COVID-19 website as your source of information about the University response.

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