Units
CIB103 Indigenous Resistance, Revolutionaries and Rights
This university-wide elective will explore the diverse and profound ways that Indigenous peoples have engaged politically and intellectually with contemporary challenges to their standing as First Peoples. Taught through stories and a rights-based framework, this interdisciplinary unit will present Indigenous thought and knowledges and enable the application of these ideas to reimagine contemporary challenges and opportunities within our societies. The unit will introduce influential Indigenous thinkers and theorists from Queensland and explore their creative and intellectual contributions to public discourse, including their theorising on Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, and feminism. The unit will then explore how the social construction of 'race' has impacted upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and delve into anti-racist efforts and their local, national and global implications, highlighting their application to contemporary issues.
QUT002 QUT You: Walking on Country
This unit allows students to explore the place in which QUT is situated, reflect on its culture both past and present, and discover knowledge embedded in place. Students 'choose their own adventure' to explore the varying ways in which to think of the significance of place, geologically, historically, culturally, and politically. It provides a deeper understanding of Indigenous world views and an appreciation of the value of co-existing knowledge systems which can help us as we journey to a sustainable and racially just society.
KKB190 Yatdjuligin - Cultural Safety in Indigenous Australian Context
This unit offers a unique learning experience through weekly guest lectures from the Carumba Institute, which will support the development of expert-led tutorial sessions. The aim of the unit is to guide students on a journey from cultural awareness to cultural safety. This is achieved by engaging students in a critical deconstruction of their own cultural frameworks and examining how this influences their perceptions and interactions within Indigenous Australian contexts.
Undergraduate engagement programs
POP Week
The Pre-Orientation Program (POP), managed by the Oodgeroo Unit, is a series of academic and cultural activities designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students as they transition into university life.
As part of POP, the Carumba Institute delivers workshops that provide new Indigenous students with a dedicated learning experience focused on race, Indigeneity, cultural safety, and the unique experiences of First Nations students in higher education. Through shared knowledge and storytelling, Carumba creates a space for students to reflect on their own journeys, deepen their understanding of identity, and build confidence as they begin university.
Explore POP WeekVacational Research Experience Scheme (VRES)
The Carumba Institute Vacation Research Experience Scheme (VRES) program offers paid research placements for QUT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander undergraduate students during the winter and summer semester breaks.
Through VRES, Carumba provides culturally grounded research experiences across a range of disciplines, introducing students to Indigenist research practice and the postgraduate research environment. The program has been adapted to increase accessibility, allowing students to apply regardless of GPA or year level, widening participation and supporting Indigenous students at all stages of their university journey while building confidence, capability, and pathways into further study.
Winter: 4 weeks
Summer: 6-10 weeks
Artwork: 'the point of the spear', courtesy of artist Judy Watson and Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane.