2009 Project Recipients

Community Engagement Grant Scheme

 1. Project Title: Art for Country: contemporary Aboriginal arts from the South Coast

Project Leaders: Dr Michael Adams and Mr Garry Jones, Woolyungah Indigenous Centre

Summary: The project will undertake collaborative community-based research to document something of the lives of the Illawarra and South Coast Aboriginal artists involved in the Pallingjang series of exhibitions held by Wollongong City Council, focusing in particular on the relationship between artist and environment, and how this manifests in their artistic practices.  The project will combine this with a series of commissioned essays by Aboriginal artists and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers. The project will result in the production of the first book-length treatment of contemporary Aboriginal South Coast arts and will showcase both the region and the artists in a landmark publication.

Awarded: $9,968.50

Partners: Wollongong City Gallery, NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change and South Coast Aboriginal organisations and artists.

2. Project Title: Developing Ecological Awareness among youth in the Illawarra

Project Leader: Mr Chris McLean, Faculty of Science

Summary: The project aims to provide linkages among UOW researchers and postgraduate students, local schools, Wollongong City Bushcare groups and the NSW Department of Education Regional office through hands on, practical science and environmental education. This will be achieved through a number of practical science and environmental education activities including a senior high school forum entitled “Biodiversity and Conservation in a changing world”, and a community of schools science and environment day where primary schools will be able to visit local high schools to learn about science through facilitators with activities including dry ice experiments, microscopy work and native vegetation reestablishment.

Awarded: $5,000

Partner: Department of Education and Training Regional Office and selected local high schools.

3. Project Title: Stage 1 – Health Workers Advisory Committee for an Experts Patient Programme in Clinical Skills Training

Project Leaders: Ms Helen Simpson, Ms Isabelle Potter and Ms Jo Otero, Graduate School of Medicine

Summary: The project is the first stage of a new venture to develop an Expert Patient Programme. These Expert Patients will be people with specific illnesses from the community in a stable condition. After training the patients will be involved in teaching medical students during appropriate sessions. A Community Advisory Committee will be established drawing membership from organisations who work in mental health, drug and alcohol, multicultural and chronic disease services. The Committee will be able to advise on the content of various Expert Patient Training Programmes.

Awarded: $9,062.72

Partners: SEIAHS Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health Community Services; Breast Cancer Support Group; MS Society Community Liaison; SEIAHS Multicultural Services

4. Project Title: Acknowledgement of Dharawal Country

Project Leaders: Mr Jade Kennedy, Ms Susie Pratt, Ms Theresa Hoynes, Faculty of Commerce

Summary: The main outcome of this project will be a unique, short film acknowledging Dharawal Country that is produced in close collaboration with the local Aboriginal community. The aim of the project is to increase awareness of Aboriginal customs, culture and protocols to students, staff, visitors and our local non-Indigenous Community. The intention is for the film to become a resource for the University of Wollongong Community to use to acknowledge Country, which will demonstrate a genuine engagement with the local Aboriginal Community.

Awarded: $6,500

Partner: Local Aboriginal Communities including Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation; the Illawarra Aboriginal Lands Council and the Southern Aboriginal Community.