Dr. Uncle Lewis Yarlupurka O’Brien Oration

Oration Abstract

In the Uncle Lewis O’Brien Oration Professor Bunda discusses Indigenising Curriculum at the University of Queensland as a key deliverable of the University’s Reconciliation Action Plan. She details the philosophical framing of Indigenising Curriculum; structural governance required to support the initiative and the resource and professional development needed to sustain the initiative. In addition, Tracey makes known what work remains to strengthen IC as a normalized curriculum inclusion and highlights strengths of the approaches undertaken.

The Oration will be of interest to those curriculum practitioners and knowledge justice seekers.

Biography

Tracey Bunda is a Ngugi Wakka Woman and the Professor- Indigenous Education at the University of Qld. Tracey has had a 4 decade career in higher education, working at various universities holding senior leadership roles. Tracey is a Chief Investigator for the following research projects- ARC Discovery – The Climate Child led by University of Southern Cross; ARC Centre of Excellence – Indigenous Futures led by the University of Qld; ARC Linkage Grant – Peer Parent and Family Advocacy in Australia led by UQ; MRFF – Suicide Prevention in Aboriginal Communities of Central Australia led by the Batchelor Institute. She is the recipient of the 2024 AAUT Career Achievement Award for contributions to student learning, high quality teaching, innovative research and educational leadership. Tracey was also made a Fellow of STARS (Students Transitions Achievement Retention Success) in 2025. Her latest coedited publication with Katelyn Barney, Levon Blue and Laura Deane is Indigensing Curriculum at the University of Qld: A Handbook

https://uq.pressbooks.pub/indigenising-curriculum-handbook/.