Indigenous student support

Acknowledgment of Country

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.

Fostering community and cultural support

Our Indigenous student cohort has continued to grow and strengthen over the years. The Nyombil Centre was created specifically for our Indigenous student cohort to provide tailored support during their transition to university and through their journey as a Bondy. 

At its heart, the Nyombil Centre was formed to meet the academic and cultural needs of our Indigenous Bondies to overcome each student’s unique challenges, in particular, those related to cultural differences, which they may face in moving from remote communities while undertaking the new challenge of university study. 

A group of Bond University Indigenous Scholarship students sit on stairs outside.

Building educational opportunities

Bond University is deeply committed to building strong relationships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with our primary goal of improving educational opportunities within a culturally safe and supportive learning environment.

The Bond University Indigenous Consultative Committee (ICC) is responsible for the strategic direction, development and oversight of all Indigenous programs and initiatives within the University, including the Bond University Indigenous Education and Workforce Strategy.

Our commitment to reconciliation  

As a member of the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) community, Bond University joins over 1,000 dedicated corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have formally committed to reconciliation through the RAP program since its inception in 2006. 

Facts and figures at a glance

97: Indigenous scholarships awarded since 2012* 

86%: Bond University's Indigenous student success rate in 2020 compared to a sector average of 75%**

35%: 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. 

Celebrate and support

Discover the ways we celebrate and support our Indigenous community at Bond University.

Explore more

  • Juliette living and learning on Kombumerri country

    Embarking on a world-class university education can be a cultural challenge for Indigenous students who may have to move hundreds or thousands of kilometres from home. For Juliette, the comfort of being on country is only as far away as Jellurgal.

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  • Bond enrols record number of Indigenous students

    Bond University has marked the start of National Reconciliation Week by announcing it has enrolled the largest cohort of Indigenous students in the University’s 32-year history.

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  • Jondayah's journey to Bond University

    Jondayah grew up on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait before finishing her studies at boarding school, and then receiving a scholarship to study at Bond University.

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  • Bond scholarship sparks Jayden's success

    Bond alumnus and Indigenous scholarship recipient Jayden Chadburn reflects on his time at Bond and new role as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Gold Coast Titans Women’s team.

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