Country-guided practices
To meet the current sustainability challenges and be better caretakers of our environment, architects, designers, and construction managers need to become familiar with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, seeing, and doing. This is accomplished by acknowledging Country as the author, guide, and reference point for creating design that blends, moulds, and correlates with Australia's cultural landscape. Using best practices, Country-informed design meets the specific criteria set forth in the National Standard of Competency for Architects 2021 (NSCA 2021).
We also acknowledge those who walked before us.
Learning on country
As part of their studies with SABE, our students are exposed to traditional smoking ceremonies, teaching from Indigenous staff across our disciplines, learning on and from our bush-campus environment, and the opportunity to undertake special projects based in the Northern Territory, Far North Queensland, and throughout New South Wales.
Country-guided practices in Indigenous design
Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into the built environment
Embedding the narratives of cultural place into the built environment
Integrating embodied spiritual Knowledge into the built environment
Framing arts-based knowledge in elements of the build environment
Applying relational knowledge and Indigenous methodologies within research
Care for Country and Australia’s First Peoples is an active principle within our School.
Indigeneity both as a value and an animating force, is one of the main driving powers within our School. This value has influenced the design of all of our undergraduate and graduate programs. The focus on Indigeneity extends to SABE’s research efforts with our requirement for Indigenous participation in all its forms.
Our School respects the vast body of Aboriginal knowledge that needs to be shared, for the experience of a different wisdom – including human, societal, and environmental wisdoms.
Barry - Special Elective
Students on Special Elective
Student at Special Elective
Special Elective
Barry and Students on Special Elective
Students at Special Elective
The eight-ways framework
The eight-ways framework of Aboriginal pedagogy brings Indigenous ways of knowing and being into our classrooms. It comprises eight interconnected pedagogies that are grounded in people and place, which fits neatly with our School’s aims and philosophies.
The approach to teaching and learning is non-linear, introspective and highly reflective, involving repetition and returning to concepts to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their learning.
Source: 8 WAYS by Dr Tyson Yunkaporta
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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.