VIC Premier
First Nations people will be at the heart of theological training at a new Indigenous Studies Centre, funded by the Andrews Labor Government.
It will be housed at the heritage-listed monastery at the University of Divinity St Paschal’s precinct, which will undergo an $877,700 refurbishment.
The Indigenous Studies Centre is being developed in collaboration with Indigenous staff and, in an Australian first, will feature theology courses taught by Indigenous people using Indigenous perspectives and Indigenous teaching methods.
Students of all backgrounds can enrol in programs exploring theology from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and world Indigenous perspectives.
Trawloolway woman Naomi Wolfe is Academic Dean of the University of Divinity’s Indigenous Studies program and said the collaborative learning approach would break-down cultural stereotypes and barriers.