One of Australia’s leading educators Associate Professor Michael Christie will be recognised formally for his prestigious Senior Australian Teaching and Learning Fellowship at an awards seminar at Charles Darwin University.
Dr Christie recently was awarded the fellowship valued at $300,000 to continue his work integrating Aboriginal culture and practices into tertiary teaching.
As a part of the awards seminar, CDU also will recognise the 12 years of service by Yolngu languages coordinator and culture advisor, Waymamba Gaykamangu.
Dr Christie and Waymamba Gaykamangu, along with John Greatorex and Betty Marrŋanyin, were recognised with the country’s highest teaching award in 2005, the Prime Minister’s Award for University Teacher of the Year.
The team was awarded the country's premier university teaching award in recognition for the Yolngu Studies program, the only program available nationally or internationally where Aboriginal people teach their own languages and culture at vocational, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels under the supervision of their own community elders.
Dean of Charles Darwin University’s Faculty of Education, Health and Science, Professor Graham Pegg will act as master of ceremonies, with Head of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, Professor Richard Johnson also attending.
The program planned by Dr Christie, entitled “Increasing the participation of Indigenous knowledge holders in tertiary teaching through the use of emerging digital technologies”, is designed to further the collaboration between Yolngu educators and consultants in East Arnhem Land, the School of Australian Indigenous Knowledge Systems, the School of Education, and the School of Creative Arts and Humanities.
The awards seminar will be held at 9am on Wednesday, 25 June in CDU’s Mal Nairn Auditorium.