Engineering students on Country for cultural immersion
Five QUT engineering students have just spent five days in the Townsville region where they experienced authentic cultural experiences and explored engineering through the lens of Indigenous culture and identity.
Drew O'Sullivan, Zayah Morgan, Jordan Roulstone, Kiah Faiva, and Jonah Anderson were participating in the new QUT Faculty of Engineering Indigenous Australian Pilot Engineering and Culture Program in collaboration with the QUT Oodgeroo Unit and the Townsville-based, Indigenous-owned construction company WSU Civil.
They were joined by QUT alumnus Ajay Anganjuan, James Cook University students Cameron Dodson and Cody Brown, and QUT engineering faculty members Professor Les Dawes, Assistant Dean, Engagement with Indigenous Australians, Dr Craig Cowled, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Keith Alexander (student engagement coordinator).
The civil, chemical, structural, mechatronics, electric, IT and robotics engineering students visited Bindal, Wulgurukaba and Gudjala lands in North Queensland.
“This trip was the culmination of almost two years of discussions and collaboration with Waanyi elder and WSU general manager Brad Foster to provide engineering students with an unforgettable ‘On Country’ experience,” Professor Dawes said.
“The aim was for participants to immerse themselves in authentic cultural experiences that offer opportunities to explore engineering within the context of their own Indigenous Australian culture and identity.
“For faculty members like myself and Dr Cowled who accompanied them, we will be able to absorb insights and experiences in a way that will long inform our undergraduate engineering programs and high school recruitment.”
With the assistance of a grant from the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment, Science, and Innovation, the group stayed on Magnetic Island/Yunbenun from June 24-28.
Their schedule featured visits to multiple work sites, including the WSU/Shamrock Civil Australian Institute of Marine Science site at Cape Ferguson, Kirwan Replacement Police Facility in Townsville with FKG Group, and Civil IQ. They also toured locations significant to local Aboriginal groups, and participated in learning sessions with archaeologists and Traditional Owners on how their work intersects with engineering projects.
“Other highlights included attending the women’s State of Origin game at Queensland Country Bank stadium, creating their own didgeridoos and painting artifacts with Peter Santo, BBQs On Country, dancing with Auntie Gloria and family, sharing bushtucker and learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander war heroes,” Dr Cowled said.
“Everyone came home with a feeling of having fostered meaningful connections and for some, there will be the chance to return for a 30-day, more in-depth placement experience.”
QUT student Jonah Anderson found the experience extremely positive.
“The camp gave indigenous students the opportunity to thrive in a networking and cultural space like no other,” Jonah said.
“The amount of support, belief, and advocacy provided by the WSU and QUT partnership for us was overwhelming in the most positive way.”
The Faculty of Engineering will work closely with the Australian-first Faculty of Indigenous Knowledges and Culture at QUT which will begin taking students in 2025.
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 3151, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
