Supermarket juggernaut Woolworths has pledged $10 million to help build Australia's first student residential college to be designed, managed and led by Indigenous people.
The College, the first of its kind in Australia, is an initiative of the University of Technology Sydney. Figures reported in the media suggest the project will come in at about $130 million.
The facility will incorporate an Indigenous library, a family history research centre and an arts centre. It aims to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to choose a residential college that celebrates their culture, identify and traditions.
The facility, which has the support of more than 50 Indigenous leaders, aims to provide new educational pathways for First Nations students.
"Not only will this College be Indigenous led, it will welcome students of all nations and cultural traditions and will be a model of the inclusive society we wish to work and live in," Woolworths Group chief executive Brad Banducci says.
"We believe in the power of education to transform lives - when supported by employment pathways, the College will not only place culture at the heart of learning, but will provide career opportunities and cultural sharing across the entire group," he says.
Currently, fewer than half of young Indigenous people go through to tertiary education after high school across Australia. Completion rates are lagging because existing environments don't make Indigenous students feel at home.
Professor Andrew Parfitt, UTS Vice-Chancellor and President at UTS described the new facility as being an inclusive environment that will provide scholarships and cost-covered accommodations for Indigenous students. He also aims to build strong connections with schools and employers in a bid to nurture future Indigenous leaders.
Building works for the College will begin in 2025 and plans to be completed in 2027. It will accept non-Indigenous and international students but is expected to have a majority of Indigenous students.
More information on the project can be found here.
