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Indigenous initiatives

In the spirit of reconciliation, Bond University acknowledges the Kombumerri people, the traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which the university now stands. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

Here at Bond, we’re dedicated to celebrating and platforming the Indigenous community. The University has a longstanding and deeply embedded commitment to building strong relationships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through a series of initiatives, informed and upheld by our Indigenous Education and Workforce Strategy.

Our core goals include creating equitable educational opportunities for Indigenous students, prioritising a culturally safe and supportive learning environment, and engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at all levels of work, research and study across the University. Bond’s campus culture and learning environment is inclusive and welcoming, and is only strengthened by the strong, vibrant Indigenous community present on campus.

About Bond's Indigenous community

  • 97: Indigenous scholarships awarded since 2012* 
  • 86%: Bond University's Indigenous student success rate in 2020 compared to a sector average of 75%  
  • 33%: Indigenous students on scholarships in 2021*
  • $6 million AUD: Total value of scholarships (2012-2021)*
  • $86,000: Total amount of textbook and living expense bursaries awarded since 2014
  • 2.5%: The percentage of Bond's student population that was Indigenous as of 2020

The above data is current as at December 2021. 

* Includes all tuition scholarships awarded to Indigenous students, excluding non-merit-based scholarships such as loyalty discounts, fee remissions, etc. 

** Department of Education, 2020. 

Nyombil Centre

It’s our mission to foster and support the educational journeys of our Indigenous students, and one way we achieve this is through the Nyombil Centre. Established in 2012, the Nyombil Centre is a dedicated resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students that enables them to access academic support, find community, and engage with Indigenous staff members. This safe and encouraging environment sets the tone for the University’s approach to supporting Indigenous students and staff.

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Indigenous Scholarships

Student support is at the heart of everything that we do at Bond, and this attitude is reflected by our generous and comprehensive scholarship program. By providing full-fee and part-fee scholarships to Indigenous applicants, we aim to create equitable educational opportunities and to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from their first encounter with tertiary study, through to graduation, their career and beyond.

Every year, Bond University offers a range of scholarships to outstanding school-leavers, mature-aged students and postgraduate applicants (GDLP only) who have excelled academically, or have had extensive involvement with community engagement and extracurricular efforts. Since 2012, we have awarded 97 Indigenous scholarships to exceptional students from across Australia.

VIEW OUR SCHOLARSHIPS
Meet Indigenous Scholarship Alumna Daijah Martens

Indigenous Education and Workforce Strategy

About the strategy

Our Indigenous Education and Workforce Strategy is a framework designed to provide clear actions that directly support the creation of an inclusive and supportive environment for all Indigenous students, staff and researchers. This strategy also sets out key aims for promoting cultural awareness within the Bond community, both as part of the educational system and on a larger scale as it pertains to the University’s academic and professional staff.

Events and initiatives

As part of our commitment to enriching the University’s cultural diversity and uplifting Indigenous voices, every year we host a variety of related events and initiatives. The most significant of these is our annual Indigenous Gala, which serves as a major fundraising opportunity for our scholarship programs and the Nyombil Centre. It is also a celebration of Indigenous culture that features Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers, speakers and special guests throughout.  

Bond University is home to Australia’s largest private collection of Indigenous art on public display. Dubbed the ‘Corrigan Walk’ after patron Dr Patrick Corrigan AM, the local community is encouraged to view and celebrate these artworks by attending a guided tour of the collection.  

Other initiatives include a range of on-campus and external events designed to commemorate Indigenous history, culture and practices and champion them within the wider Bond University community.  

 

VIEW UPCOMING EVENTS

Learn more about Indigenous support at Bond