Media releases

Students and staff from Federation University Australia’s Mt Helen Campus were proud to participate in Reconciliation Week festivities in Melbourne as part of the Archie Roach Leadership Academy.

Federation University Australia Regional Engagement, led by Associate Dean, Dr Tim Harrison, partnered with Anglicare Victoria, The Long Walk and other organisations in a week-long camp with school students from Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-Operative-Horsham, Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-Operative, and The Borroloola Community Education Centre in the Northern Territory.

“This week long experience has been twelve months in the planning. The Regional Engagement Team are proud and privileged to be a part of a wonderful academy with so many dedicated organisations who care about the engagement and education of Indigenous Students,” Dr Harrison said.

The Archie Roach Leadership Academy and week-long camp focuses on:

• Promoting a successful completion of secondary school
• Building aspirations towards tertiary education and future employment
• Gaining knowledge of intercultural understanding
• The Value of their personal and social wellbeing

Students of the academy participated in a FedUni workshop discussing resume writing, interview techniques and employability skills. 

The workshop titled ‘Breaking Barriers, Building Futures’ was written exclusively for the Archie Roach Leadership Academy by current FedUni student Benjamin Tovey.

“The workshop was a great way to set the scene and direction of the experience camp. The session provided the students with an insight into the many career choices that are currently available to them,” Dr Harrison said.

“The skills developed, will assist them now as they seek part-time employment whilst completing their Secondary School Education, and later in life when they enter into the professional workforce.”

David Law, Archie Roach Leadership Academy and Youth Engagement Manager at Anglicare Victoria, said: “The importance of Federation University Australia being involved in the academy was paramount. As a regional and multisector university, FedUni offers multiple locations and various pathways ranging from TAFE to higher education.

“We are extremely grateful to Tim, the Regional Engagement Team and all the staff from the Bachelor of Social Science for their continual support and partnership with Anglicare Victoria and the Archie Roach Leadership Academy.”     

The camp concluded with participants from the academy walking alongside Michael Long (AFL Legend and Indigenous Rights Activist), FedUni staff and FedUni student Mentors in the ‘Long Walk’ from Federation Square to the MCG where they were able to attend The Dream Time at the ‘G’ match.