General News
6 February, 2022
Place of Being: Horsham’s new event space for First Nations events
Construction is underway for a First Nations event and community space at Federation University Wimmera campus in Horsham.
CONSTRUCTION is underway for a First Nations event and community space at Federation University Wimmera campus in Horsham.
Including a sandpit, fire pit and seating the area is set to be available for events and ceremonies for the university and wider community.
The space is part of a university-wide project called Places of Being, where each campus will have a Place of Being for First Nations students.
Federation University Aboriginal student success officer Kathrine Clarke said it was a project she introduced to put a First Peoples’ “fingerprint” on the university.
“I wanted them to be at all campuses,” she said.
“We had the proposal drawn up and presented that to them and we got the funding for it which is what we were aiming for.
“Each campus was scouted and made sure that it was something that could fit.”
Ms Clarke said there were community consultative committees created for each campus to help direct the project, including elders, artists, community development workers and students.
“One thing that I have always done and always encouraged others to do is build an advisory group of people that you know were going to contribute to the project in a way that we needed the project to develop,” she said.
“The consultations were based around the look of the space and how big the sandpit would be.”
Wimmera community consultative committee member Tanish Lovett said as a traditional owner and past student of the university she had been on the committee since 2021.
“On the committee, I was asked as a traditional owner what I would like to see as a safe space here for Indigenous students,” she said.
“There will be a fire pit in the middle of the ceremony circle, a sand circle where dances could be held, and traditional bush plants in the area.”
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Ms Lovett said there had to be a reason why there wasn’t a high representation of Indigenous people at the university.
“Hopefully this will make it more welcoming and help people feel like it is a safe place to continue their studies,” she said.
“It won’t only be for students, there are other events that could be held here and it would be something Federation University could be proud to host events at.”
Ms Clarke said the university’s Aboriginal Education Centre had noticed there was a lack of cultural elements that were appropriate for hosting ceremonies.
“We also wanted a space for students if they were travelling away from home, they would still find a bit of culture and community at the campus they were staying at,” she said.
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Ms Clarke said there were also plans for a staging area, grass mound seating and hopefully a tree carving.
“We’re hoping to display acknowledgements of all community members and elders that have come through for TAFE, Fed Uni so that the community doesn’t see a barrier when it comes to education,” she said.
“One of the things we are hoping is that it will inspire them to want to go on and follow their passions and further enhance their career pathway.
“It's going to be a space open for all and once it is all done the space will be able to be used by other organisations or anyone that would like to book it for events or projects.
“We encourage the community and anyone living within Horsham or surrounds that may have something happening and want to use the space they just have to get in touch with the team.”