Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It was a great pleasure and, indeed, a relief to be present for the Newcastle Knights victory over the Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday. The Sea Eagles have lifted the legendary Bob Fulton the week before and almost did so again this week. We were lucky to get away with the win. I pay tribute to Bob Fulton, my childhood footy hero. We will farewell him at a state funeral service on Friday, where we will extend our sympathies to his friends and his family.

While the Knights' win was a highlight in my week, so too was the briefing those of us in the captain's box received from Professor Nathan Towney, Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous, Strategy and Leadership at the University of Newcastle. The weekend's games were part of the NRL's Indigenous round of events, a time when we both reflect on and urge more action on Indigenous disadvantage and we celebrate the very significant contributions Indigenous players have made and continue to make to the NRL. They are amongst the games biggest stars.

The University of Newcastle has a proud history of participation and engagement with Indigenous Australians. It is committed to reconciliation and to its responsibility as educator in this process. The university has an outstanding track record in Indigenous education and research and is a national leader in Indigenous engagement. A total of 4.6 per cent of its students are Indigenous, the highest percentage of any university in the country. A total of 2.4 per cent of its staff are Indigenous, the highest percentage of any university in Australia. Newcastle has graduated more than 110 Indigenous medical students, the highest number in the country. It has graduated more Indigenous teachers than any other university in Australia. The uni has three pathway programs for Indigenous students.

The University of Newcastle is a national leader in reconciliation, not only through the development of its own reconciliation action plan but also through supporting industry and businesses in the Hunter and Central Coast regions to develop their own reconciliation action plans. Since 1983, the Wollotuka Institute has operated as a support centre for Indigenous students studying at the University of Newcastle. The institute champions academically enriching and culturally affirming education across its campuses. I congratulate the university council, Vice-Chancellor Alex Zelinsky, Pro Vice-Chancellor Towney and all those at the university on their significant work and commitment to our First Nations people.

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