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Support for Parliamentary Apology

20 February 2008

The Koori mural at the Monash Gippsland campus. The Koori Mural was designed by Marlene Drysdale and Lynne Holten and was created by a large group of artists made up of Aboriginal students from the Morwell KODE school, Monash Gippsland Campus staff and students at the CAIS Centre and elders and community members from the region. The Theme of the mural is "Reconciliation through Education".

Celebrations were held across three campuses last week in recognition of the Prime Minister's parliamentary apology to the stolen generation.

Over 200 staff members attended a celebration at the Clayton campus organised by the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies (CAIS). Similar celebrations were held at the Berwick and Peninsula campuses.

Director of CAIS and Deputy Dean of Arts, Professor Lynette Russell said the response to the breakfast was overwhelming.

"I've had dozens of emails from colleagues who have expressed their thanks to the Centre for arranging the get together," Professor Russell said.

"They were pleased to share the event in the company of colleagues.

"I was thrilled we were able to come together as a group and experience this historical day."

Professor Russell said the Prime Minister's apology vindicated the work of the Centre.

"It was a deeply moving apology and much more heartfelt than I'd anticipated," Professor Russell said.

"It went beyond the stolen generation issue and engaged with social injustices that Aboriginal people have experienced for over 200 years.

"It was clear that somebody had read the work that academic researchers have done and that their research has a social context."

Professor Russell said the University's response was remarkably honest and totally unexpected.

The Monash University Council passed a resolution echoing the sentiments of the parliamentary apology and reaffirming "its role to advance the educational and career aspirations of Indigenous Australians".

The resolution went on to say that this role would "occur on every one of Monash's eight campuses and in our staffing, educational and research programs".

"It was heartening to see Monash contribute to such an important debate and highlights its support of the work CAIS is doing," Professor Russell said.