Oodgeroo staff
Director
Anita Lee Hong is a descendant of the Badjalla language group located throughout Queensland. Born in Cairns, Far North Queensland, Anita was educated in Cairns and has spent most of her life there until she moved to Perth in March 2002. She completed a Masters of Human Rights Education in 2006, a Graduate Certificate of Tertiary Teaching in 2003 and a Bachelor of Applied Science Indigenous Community Management and Development (Vice Chancellor's List) in 2002 at Curtin University.
Anita lived and worked in Perth for eight years before taking up her current post as Director of the Oodgeroo Unit. She was the former Associate Professor/Director at Curtin University's Centre for Aboriginal Studies.
Other positions held at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies were: Lecturer, Associate Program Co-ordinator; and Program Co-ordinator Block Release Programs. Prior to commencing at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies she had 13 years employment with the Australian Public Service. As her academic career progresses, Anita becomes more aware of the formidable challenges facing Indigenous women as they seek to build academic careers, as well as the great achievements of those who have actually broken through old barriers.
Academic staff
Senior Lecturer
Odette Best is gifted with multiple bloodlines, which include being a descendant of the Wakgun people of the Goreng Goreng Nation (grandmother), a Boonthamurra descendant (grandfather) and Koombumberri people (adopted father).
She is a Registered Nurse having trained at the Princess Alexander Hospital in Brisbane and further to this holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences (University of Sydney), a Master of Philosophy (Griffith University) and a PhD (University of Southern Queensland). Odette's role at the Oodgeroo Unit is Senior Lecturer. Within this position, she teaches into a number of courses that are administered by the Oodgeroo Unit. Further to this she also teaches into the School of Nursing and the School of Public Health.
As Senior Lecturer, Odette also holds the support portfolios for Creative Industries and Faculty of Health students. She is passionate about supporting Indigenous peoples in their pursuits of academic excellence.
Lecturer
Dr Juliana McLaughlin is an academic at the Oodgeroo Unit, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia. She completed a PhD at QUT in 2002, which focused on Australian aid to Papua New Guinea (PNG) education. From a postcolonial perspective, the study provided a critique of education for development, dependency theory and the cultural politics implicated in international education. She is from Manus Island, PNG.
Dr McLaughlin lectures in Indigenous Studies, Culture Studies and Education, decolonising methodologies and research ethics. She is the liaison academic for the Faculties of Education and Science and Engineering. Her research interests include Culture Studies and post colonialism, decolonising and Indigenising curricula, re-conceptualising students' support and retention programs, development education and curriculum reform. These research interests are driven by a commitment and responsibility to decolonising methodologies, research ethics and protocols. She leads an ALTC project supporting pre-service teachers by embedding Indigenous knowledge on teaching practicum. She is the current President of the Australian New Zealand Comparative and International Education Society.
Lecturer/Academic Advisor
Deb Duthie is the lecturer and Academic Advisor based at Gardens Point Campus. Her family are from the Cherbourg (Wakka Wakka) and Tennant Creek (Wamarungu) areas. Deb has a Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services) and a PhD, both through the Faculty of Health at QUT. She has taught at QUT in social work and human services for 12 years, and has practiced directly in the domestic violence and homelessness sectors.
Deb's role at the Oodgeroo Unit is lecturing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies and social work/human services practice, undertake research, and support and encourage students to achieve academic excellence during their studies. She believes that your university experience must be safe and supportive.Please drop in at any time – she is located in Y Block, Level 5, Room 512D.
Professional staff
Professional Services Team
We are your first point of contact for office inquiries. The Professional Services Team provides high-quality operational and administrative support to students and staff of the Oogderoo Unit.
Team Leader
Taal Hampson is of Torres Strait Islander descent and has lived in Brisbane all his life. His office is located at B Block room 208 Kelvin Grove campus.
Taal has worked at QUT since 2006 and joined the Oodgeroo Unit in 2012. He has completed a Bachelor of Business Management (Human Resources) from the University of Queensland, St Lucia campus in 2010. Working close with the Oodgeroo Director, Taal's role is to undertake high-level administrative duties and provide strategic support and advice in all areas relating to Oodgeroo Unit business.
Administration Officer
Cindy Prior is a Ballardong/Wadjuk woman from the south west of Western Australia. She is the Administration Officer at Gardens Point campus and the first point of contact when you come into the office.
In Cindy's role she provides assistance to prospective and current students, staff and the public and ancillary support for the activities of the Oodgeroo unit. She has thirteen years experience in the university sector within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Units, both at Flinders University and QUT and has held various positions during this time.
Cindy is also studying at QUT towards a Bachelor of Arts degree (majoring in Australian studies and Ethics and human rights).
Administration Officer/Personal Assistant to Director
Tracey McKellar is a descendant of the Kunja People of southwest Queensland. Tracey strongly identifies as Aboriginal in the communities she has worked and resided, but "home" is balanced between Wynnum and Cunnamulla / Eulo. Tracey is the Administration Officer for the Oodgeroo Unit based at the Kelvin Grove Campus and is also the Personal Assistant to the Director of the Oodgeroo Unit. She comes to the Oodgeroo Unit with over 18 years experience in office administration
Learning Support Team
The Learning Support Team is focused on supporting students across all QUT campuses and those undertaking external study. We are committed to providing academic and cultural support and delivering the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS) to students.
Team Leader (Learning Support) - on extended leave
Melanie Syron comes from the Biripi and Awabakal nations and is originally from Newcastle where she completed a Bachelor of Aboriginal Studies at Wollotuka, School of Aboriginal Studies at the University of Newcastle. Melanie is based at the Kelvin Grove Campus and is dedicated to supporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students achieve their goals in higher education and also a member of the Oodgeroo Unit's teaching team.
Acting Team Leader (Learning Support)
Bridgette Williams identifies as a Birri-Gubba woman of the Birri nation from north Queensland (grandfather) and has descendants of South Sea Island heritage from Tanna Island (grandmother). Bridgette is located at B Block room 207, Kelvin Grove campus and is on Gardens Point campus every Thursday.
Bridgette has completed a Bachelor of Sociology/Politics and International Relations at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Bridgette has been highly involved with Indigenous student support programs and organisations for many years and has extensive knowledge and experience with the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme Tertiary Tuition (ITAS TT). Bridgette's role is to oversee all the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (Tertiary Tuition) and provide a high standard of administrative support, advice and service for students.
Learning Support Officer
Naomi is based at Gardens Point campus. She is a Birri woman who is a graduate of Queensland University of Technology and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities.
Naomi has worked in both the government and non-government sectors before working here with the Oodgeroo Unit and is based at Gardens Point campus. Her role is to provide support to Indigenous students to enable them to acquire or enhance the skills needed to succeed in the university environment and to improve the retention and degree completion of Indigenous students at QUT.
Learning Support Officer
Annie Tyhuis (nee Pilot) is from Erub Island (Darnley), Eastern Torres Strait and her Clan is Saisarem. Annie is a graduate from Kerr's Business College, Brisbane and obtained a Cert III in Business from Challenge Recruitment. She has worked in the areas of Accounts/Finance for 21years prior to her employment at QUT and is a practicing Justice of Peace (Qualified).
Annie is based at Kelvin Grove Campus, B Block, Level 2, B235/Room 227. She supports Indigenous students to help them succeed at university and improve the QUT's retention rate of Indigenous students.
Marketing and Communications Team
The Oodgeroo Unit Marketing and Communications team is focused on the recruitment of prospective Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students in the various degrees QUT have to offer. The team actively promotes the Oodgeroo Unit and QUT to Indigenous communities locally and nationally. We are the first point of contact for:
- schools requiring information or presentations
- the public and private sectors offering career opportunities for Oodgeroo students
- community engagement initiatives.
Team Leader
John Gibson is a descendent of the Gumbayngirr Nation from the North Coast of New South Wales and the Team Leader, Marketing and Communications for the Oodgeroo unit and his office is on Kelvin Grove Campus, B Block Room B230.John has a BA of Communications (Media Arts Production) from University Technology, Sydney and has experience in the tertiary student support space, specifically with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student body.
Working across a broad range of areas, one of John's main roles is to promote the Oodgeroo Unit with a over arching goal of increasing Indigenous student numbers through a variety marketing strategies
Recruitment Officer
Amy Skeen is a descendant of the Gubbi Gubbi people of the Sunshine Coast and is the Recruitment officer for the Oodgeroo Unit. Amy is located at Kelvin Grove Campus, B Block Room B229. She has lived, worked and volunteered in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community on the Northside of Brisbane for over 15 years. Amy has worked for QUT since 2006 in various departments, such as the Library, the Creative Industries Faculty and the former Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering.
Amy's role is to actively recruit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students into QUT both locally and nationally. She also represents the unit and QUT at community events.
Widening Participation Team
Widening Participation Program Coordinator
Joel Anderson is a descendant of the Awabakal people from the New South Wales Central Coast. Joel is the Widening Participation Program Coordinator for the Oodgeroo Unit and is located at the Caboolture Campus, H Block Room 107.
Joel has a Bachelor of Human Services and Bachelor of Education (Middle Years of Schooling) from the University of Queensland's, Ipswich Campus. Whilst completing his degree he has worked closely with a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community and Government organisations and local Secondary Schools in the Ipswich and Lockyer Valley Regions.
Throughout this time he has developed a strong understanding of the potential difficulties students may face whilst applying for and studying at University and an array of strategies to overcome such difficulties.
Joel's role is to engage with the Moreton Bay Region Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to support and implement programs designed to increase aspiration, access and participation in Higher Education. Joel also provides support to enrolled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the QUT Caboolture Campus.
Student Support Office (Caboolture Campus)
Mel Broderick is a descendant of the Bidjara people of Charleville. Mel is the Student Support Officer (Caboolture Campus) for the Oodgeroo Unit and is located at the Caboolture Campus, H Block Room 105.
Mel has worked in the Queensland Government, Department of Education and Training, private training organisations and non-government organisations. During this time she has completed a Certificate III Business Administration and Certificate II Community Recreation. She has worked consistently in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and brings these experiences to her current role.
Mel's role is to provide administrative support to enrolled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the QUT Caboolture Campus and assist the Widening Participation team engage with the Moreton Bay Region Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to identify pathways into university.
