Record and Preserve Cultural Heritage

In 2024, the University of Newcastle remained engaged in initiatives to preserve and transmit intangible cultural heritage, especially Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and languages.

Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage

At the University of Newcastle, we recognise that cultural heritage extends beyond physical artefacts: traditions, languages, storytelling, and knowledge systems are equally vital to sustaining identity and continuity. We are committed to supporting and sustaining intangible cultural heritage through initiatives that engage community, foster reciprocity, and embed cultural knowledge across teaching, governance, and community engagement.

Elders in Residence & Nguraki Program

• Through our Wollotuka Institute, we operate an Elders in Residence program, where Nguraki (Awabakal term meaning Elder, Wise Person, Cultural Mentor) guide the transmission of lore, Dreaming stories, and cultural protocols within the university context.
• These Elders and Cultural Mentors are active participants in teaching, curriculum design, cultural advisement, and community engagement, helping embed Indigenous knowledge systems into academic and campus life.
• Nguraki also contribute to the University’s internally developed Cultural Standards, which reflect localized expressions of cultural integrity, respect, and practice across campus operations.

Community Workshops & Genealogical Projects

• The University, through Wollotuka, supports community‑driven projects such as Family Tracing workshops that assist First Nations participants in researching ancestry and reconnecting to cultural heritage.
• Such projects provide culturally appropriate, respectful spaces for preserving oral histories, lineages, and community narratives — key intangible heritage elements.

Inclusive Cultural Works

• The University also supports cross‑cultural initiatives like All Cultures Weave, an artwork project integrating traditional weaving practices and diverse cultural contributions into a collective permanent sculpture. This project honours First Nations knowledge of weaving while engaging broader communities in cultural expression.
• These expressions help preserve living cultural practices (weaving, storytelling, craft) and highlight connections between Indigenous and diasporic traditions.

Committed to excellence

The University of Newcastle is committed to excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research. This means producing world-leading research into issues, topics and concepts that are guided by, and responsive to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

We are committed to working with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led partnership structures, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, researchers, students and staff to develop Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led research agendas.

Ideally this research will be led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Chief Investigators and in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations and peoples.

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property

Responsible for driving a whole-of-University approach to Indigenous success.

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The Wollotuka Institute

Committed to the advancement and leadership of Indigenous education at a local, national and global level.

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Thurru Indigenous Health Unit

Providing national leadership in the provision of community responsive Indigenous health education.

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Purai Global Indigenous History Centre

Integrating global and transnational analytical perspectives and frameworks with research on Indigenous and diaspora histories and other related histories of race.

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