University of Southern Queensland has celebrated Indigenous elders and traditional owners as part of NAIDOC Week 2023.
More than 50 people from the community came together at the university’s Ipswich campus on Tuesday (July 4, 2023) in a cultural celebration marking this year’s theme, ‘For The Elders’.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor (First Nations Education and Research) Professor Odette Best officially welcomed guests to the event and introduced the various staff within her portfolio.
Yuggera elder Aunty Jill Davidson performed a Welcome to Country and said NAIDOC Week was a significant event not just for elders, but also for Indigenous youth.
“It’s about paving the way for the young people and the opportunity to pay respect to elders,” she said.
University of Southern Queensland Head of College (First Nations) Ben Wilson said the event was an opportunity to pay respect to elders and share stories.
“This is a particularly significant NAIDOC Week because our elders hold the wisdom of Country,” he said.
“This is an opportunity for us to really give back and say thank you to them for sharing their knowledge and wisdom for so long.”
This event was the first of many organised by the newly established UniSQ First Nations Education and Research portfolio.
