Changemakers: Bernadette and Henry Atkinson of the Wollithiga tribe have been honoured after a Monash University scholarship has been named in their honour.
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Elder Uncle Professor Henry Atkinson and his daughter Bernadette Atkinson, of the Wollithiga tribe, have been acknowledged as true advocates of Aboriginal education after a Monash University scholarship was named in their honour.
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The father-daughter duo has worked relentlessly to improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Concerned by the lack of awareness of First Nations history and the lack of Indigenous people in teaching positions, Uncle Prof Atkinson was motivated by his concerns to begin lecturing and consulting with Monash University.
He was heavily involved with the introduction of the Indigenous Education Unit, which was established in the late 1990s as a means to provide pre-service teachers with a better understanding of First Nations history and offer practical techniques for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
He later facilitated and arranged a yearly university trip to the Northern Territory for pre-service educators wanting to immerse themselves in Aboriginal culture and history.
By making it his mission to educate educators, Uncle Prof Atkinson has enriched the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people.
Now retired from Monash University, he consults with Deakin University about a similar unit titled Education in a Global World unit.
His daughter, Ms Atkinson would later follow in her father’s footsteps by joining the Indigenous Education Unit, following many years as the only Aboriginal student enrolled at Monash University.
With a double degree in Arts and Education and a Masters of Education under her belt, Ms Atkinson was acutely aware of the lack of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people considering teaching as a career.
Her contribution to Indigenous education is nothing short of impressive.
She has co-authored several research papers, has worked as a lecturer in Indigenous education and as a cultural education coordinator at the Koorie Heritage Trust.
Now, with the role of Koorie education coordinator in the Department of Education, she continues to work towards improving the lives of First Nations and Torres Strait Islander people.
When Uncle Prof Atkinson first received the call from Monash University asking for his blessing to use his name he said he was taken completely by surprise.
“Monash rang me and said they wanted to acknowledge me by naming a scholarship after me and I said, ‘well no, it's got to be both me and Bernadette’ because we have both made significant contributions to the Indigenous Education Unit,” he said.
“And they agreed to it.”
Uncle Prof Atkinson said accepting the scholarship for him was about showing younger generations that there were opportunities out there available to them.
“My main purpose has always been to improve the lives of Aboriginal people and to make sure the culture stays alive,” he said.
“There is a long way to go but as far as this scholarship goes, it opens the door much wider than what the current doorway is for Indigenous persons.”
Improving outcomes: Concerned by the lack of awareness of First Nations history and the lack of Aboriginal people in teaching positions, Wollithiga elder Uncle Henry Atkinson developed Monash University’s Indigenous Education Unit.
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Cath Grey
The scholarship will be awarded to one student a year.
The student must be an Indigenous Australian who intends to enrol in one of the following degrees in the Faculty of Education at a Monash campus in Australia; Master of Professional Psychology, Master of Counselling or Master of Education.
The student must have accepted their course offer and be enrolled in a full-time load.
If the successful recipient is undertaking a Master of Professional Psychology, they will receive $32,200 paid towards their tuition fees plus $20,000 cash per annum for up to two years.
If they are undertaking a Master of Counselling, they will be awarded $28,900 towards tuition fees plus $20,000 cash per annum for up to two years.
If they are enrolled in a Master of Education, the recipient will receive $25,500 towards tuition fees plus $20,000 cash per annum for up to two years.
Uncle Prof Atkinson said the amount of finance that Monash had offered could make a real difference in someone’s life.
“What we’re trying to achieve here is a better life,” he said.
“The amount of money that Monash has offered can only help us to grow our own educators, which is something that we have been trying to push and encourage for a long time.
“And it will only make it easier on the parents or the individuals who are paying the university fees because let’s face it, education isn't cheap.”
Uncle Prof Atkinson said it was important to note that there were a range of different scholarships on offer across other faculties and institutions if this scholarship was not suited to people’s career objectives.
He said he hoped that one day a unit similar to the Indigenous Education Unit would be made compulsory for all educators.
“I would really like to see that,” he said.
“And why stop there? Why not be inclusive and provide that thread of knowledge throughout all faculties and universities?
“Teaching Aboriginal culture and history is not just about teaching Indigenous children, it’s about teaching non-Indigenous children as well. If these two groups can come together and learn about the history of where they come from then that is an extremely valuable lesson to learn.”
