Indigenous role to drive inclusion

FEDERATION University staff are looking to improve the institution’s opportunities and culture for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through a new role with the organisation.

Late last month, Wotjobaluk woman Katrina Beer was announced as the university’s first-ever associate deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous.

With the goal of achieving better outcomes and participation among First Nations people across the organisation’s education sectors, while promoting diversity and cultural competency, she said she’s excited to take on the position.

“I am proud and excited to be appointed as Federation University Australia’s first associate deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous,” she said.

“I am passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ and community advancement. This role will build on self-determination principles and embedding respectfully cultural ways of knowing, being and doing with a whole of university strategy response.”

Ms Beer has more than two decades’ experience across vocational and higher education sectors, and has been a part of FedUni since 2017, with her most recent role as senior manager of the university’s Aboriginal Education Centre.

Prior to her career with the institution, she ran her own vocational business, Yanikan-Werritj Training and Employment.

Last year, she helped FedUni take home the Wurreker Award for Innovative Koorie Learner Pathways, provided by the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association.

Associate deputy Vice-Chancellor, reconciliation, Professor Andrew Gunstone, who leads the university’s reconciliation matters, including the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice, said he looks forward to what Ms Beer will achieve in the new role.

“I am delighted that Katrina Beer has been appointed as Federation University’s inaugural associate deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous,” he said.

“Katrina and I have worked closely on a range of Indigenous and reconciliation matters over the past two years and I, along with the whole National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice team, are very much looking forward to continuing to work with her in her new transformational role.”