annual report/2006 - University of Melbourne

Table 5. Indigenous enrolments and completions
Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS).
Enrolment numbers have increased
from two Indigenous undergraduate
students in 2001 to six in 2006, with
19 Indigenous students engaged in
various levels of study through the
Faculty in 2006.
It is anticipated that an Indigenous
Liaison Officer appointed to MDHS
in 2006 will increase participation
rates further.
In another move to advance participation
rates, the University has focussed on
educational programs in the Goulburn
Valley, home to one of the largest
Indigenous populations.
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ASHE
ASHE, a joint initiative between the
Faculty of Education and the Aboriginal
community controlled Rumbalara
Football Netball Club, has continued
to thrive in its second full year of
operation. ASHE aims to create an
attractive and culturally sensitive
educational environment primarily for
Indigenous people. The goal of the
Academy is to use studies in sport as
the catalyst for broad education and
training that prepares people for work
or further study.
In 2006 ASHE welcomed two new
full-time student support positions
and further boosted employment
opportunities for students through a
successful work placement program
with the Department of Sustainability
and Environment. To celebrate NAIDOC
Week ASHE students ran the ‘ASHE’
LETICS traditional games carnival,
bringing together over 200 Indigenous
primary school students to learn
traditional sporting games. The ASHE
Program Coordinator and four ASHE
students joined staff from the CIE at the
2006 Croc Fest. Held in Swan Hill, the
Croc festival is designed to encourage
The University of Melbourne Annual Report 2006
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Enrolments 231 239 276 245 242
Completions 65 63 67 55 58
young Indigenous students to engage in
further education.
The number of Indigenous staff in the
University increased from 28 in 2005 to
33 in 2006.
Onemda
In 2006 Onemda VicHealth Koori Health
Unit continued to build collaborations
and partnerships with the Aboriginal
community through organisations such
as the Victorian Aboriginal Community
Controlled Heath Organisation, with
whom it has a Memorandum of
Understanding; the Victorian Aboriginal
Heath Service; the Koorie Heritage Trust;
the Maya Healing Centre along with a
number of other Aboriginal controlled
organisations.
Onemda has also strengthened
its international relationships with
Indigenous colleagues in New Zealand,
North America and countries in Europe
and the Pacific.
Onemda was established in 1999
to foster an academic environment
that values Aboriginal knowledge
and methodologies, and supports
ethical practice and Aboriginal selfdetermination.
In 2006 the Unit
developed curriculum for both trainee
doctors and public health students, with
an aim to increase Aboriginal content in
university courses across Australia.
3. Communication
Communicating the full range of the
University’s academic and cultural
activities and its new strategic direction
to internal and external constituencies
is of critical importance at a time
of great change. The new position
of Vice-Principal (Marketing and
Communications) was created early in
2006 to reconfigure the University’s
marketing and media relations capability
to support the Growing Esteem
strategy and to align and coordinate
the University’s marketing strategies.
A substantial restructure was achieved
during the year and a marketing and
communication strategy devised
to engage the University’s multiple
stakeholders.
Brand
The strategy involves an integrated
approach to marketing and
communications designed to build
awareness of the University and its
activities and develop the University’s
brand. The University aims to connect
with key audiences through consistent
and clearly branded communication
which serves to develop a distinctive
University identity that becomes
associated with a rich contribution to
the community and for its hallmarks
of international renown, quality and
excellence.
Brand architecture was put in place
during the year, with refined logo and
signage formats and the development
and articulation of the University Brand
Plan. A Brand Guidelines manual, Brand
Extranet and Brand Compliance system
is at an advanced stage for launch in
March 2007.
Throughout 2006 the Marketing and
Communications Division worked
closely with the Growing Esteem
Strategy Office and faculties to ensure
effective communication of the
Melbourne Model and the University’s
2008 course offerings both within
the University as well as to local and
international prospective students and
other stakeholders, including careers
advisors and alumni groups. The visibility
of the University in media publications
around the country has increased since
distribution of media releases via AAP
(Australian Associated Press) newswire.