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Welcome to the Oodgeroo Unit

Your Oodgeroo Unit community is based on a foundation of embedded sovereignty and cultural values. Team members are selected for their cultural knowledge and experiences, in addition to their professional connections and expertise.

The Oodgeroo Unit community has access to QUT's extensive range of support services and expertise, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support services across south east Queensland. We invite you to connect with us to have a yarn about your needs and explore how we can assist you on your tertiary educational journey.

The Oodgeroo Unit is located across both the Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses, featuring spaces thoughtfully designed to align with the university's Campus to Country vision and values. These spaces embody a commitment to creating environments that honour Indigenous culture, foster a sense of belonging, connection, and identity.

Future students

High school engagement

The Oodgeroo Unit provides a diverse range of in-school and on-campus activities for Indigenous Australian students from Years 8 to 12. These activities are designed to inspire and build aspirations for higher education.

Through these programs, the Oodgeroo Unit aims to foster early engagement and support Indigenous Australian students in realising their academic potential.

Submit your expression of interest

Scholarships and bursaries

QUT offers a range of scholarships and bursaries tailored specifically for Indigenous Australian students.

These opportunities are available at various stages of study, assisting to alleviate financial burdens and empowering Indigenous Australian students to reach their full potential while studying at QUT.

Browse scholarships

CATSID for students

The Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Descent (CATSID) may be required to access certain QUT services, programs, and support.

This confirmation ensures that Indigenous Australian students can participate in initiatives specifically designed to support their educational journey, ensuring the right resources and opportunities are available to them.

Learn more about CATSID

Current students

Getting started

The Pre-Orientation Program (POP) is a series of academic and cultural activities designed to help Indigenous Australian students transition smoothly into university life.

Through POP, students are introduced to the Oodgeroo Unit and QUT before the first weeks of teaching begin, providing them with valuable insights, resources, and a supportive community to enhance their academic journey from the start.

Discover POP

Tutoring

The Keystones of Success: Supporting our Future Leaders program offers tailored tuition and study support to Indigenous Australian students.

This program is designed to help students achieve academic success by personalising assistance to their unique learning needs and fostering leadership potential, ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to excel in their studies.

Explore the program

Celebrating success

At the completion of your studies, you and your family will be invited to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pre-graduation celebration - a joyful night filled with pride, culture and community spirit, to honour the achievements of graduating students, special award winners, and all areas of Indigenous Australian excellence.

About the graduation celebration

Meet the team

Our team is dedicated to fostering a strong sense of belonging and connection for Indigenous Australian students, providing a safe and comfortable space for them to study, share ideas, voice concerns, and access a wide range of services and expertise at QUT.

With diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds and extensive professional and practical experience, our team shares one common goal: a deep commitment to student success. We are passionate about creating a supportive environment that empowers students to thrive both academically and personally throughout their time at QUT.

Oodgeroo team

Oodgeroo Noonuccal

In 1996, QUT honoured the significant contributions of Aboriginal poet, writer, and political activist Oodgeroo Noonuccal by renaming its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Unit in her memory.

Oodgeroo Noonuccal, born Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska in 1920 from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), a member of the Noonuccal tribe. Her name, Oodgeroo, meaning 'paperbark tree' reflects her connection to the land and her culture.

A powerful advocate for Blak rights, she was not only a poet and activist, but also an environmentalist and educator, making profound contributions to Australian history and Indigenous rights before her passing in 1993.

Carumba Institute

We collaborate closely with our colleagues at the Carumba Institute, which provides a world-class Indigenous research and educational environment that foregrounds Indigenous sovereignty.

Together, we recognise the central importance of land to Indigenous Australian culture, identity, and spirituality, as well as the significance of intellectual work that affirms Indigenous Australians' rights to country.

We also acknowledge the critical role that Indigenous Australian knowledges play in shaping a sustainable future for all.

Explore the Carumba Institute

Get in touch

If you have any questions about studying with us, or the services we offer, get in touch.

Find us at
Level 3, B Block
Gardens Point
Level 2, D Block
Kelvin Grove