Indigenous Congress
Indigenous Congress
The Monash Indigenous Congress is an advisory body made up of Indigenous staff and students across the university. The Congress provides advice and recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor and Monash University Council to ensure Indigenous voices, perspectives and knowledges inform university governance, strategy and decision-making.
Terms of reference
The Indigenous Congress will:
- Provide advice and recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor and President on matters relating to Indigenous students, staff, and communities;
- Provide advice and recommendations to Monash University Council on matters relating to Indigenous students, staff, and communities;
- Oversee the development and implementation of Monash's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Framework and supporting implementation pla(s);
- Act as a reference group for faculties and divisions on matters relating to Indigenous students, staff and communities, and provide advice on relevant policies, intitiatives, strategic documents and operational practices;
- Provide advice on the development of institutional responses to relevant policy and strategic initiatives taken by government and other external bodies; and
- Convene working groups or communities of practice to progress specificed areas of action with clearly identified goals.
Membership
The Indigenous Congress membership includes the following:
Ex officio members
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Senior Vice-President (Indigenous) (Chair)
- Deputy and Associate Deans (Indigenous)
- Director, William Cooper Institute
- Elder(s) in Residence
- Director, Gukwonderuk Indigenous Health Workforces Centre
- Director, Monash Indigenous Studies Centre
- Senior Director, Indigenous Employment, Monash HR
- Senior Communications Adviser (Indigenous), University Marketing, Admissions and Communications
- Indigenous professional staff members appointed at HEW level 9 and above, not otherwise captured in the membership, by invitation.
- Indigenous academic staff members appointed at academic levels D and E, not otherwise captured in the membership, by invitation.
Appointed members
Either appointed staff members for a team of two years and two appointed student members (one undergraduate and one postgraduate) for a term of one year.
Current appointed members:
Staff representatives
| Name | Role | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Dale Stevens | Centre Executive Coordinator, Monash Indigenous Studies Centre | 2026 - 2027 |
| Yvette Watson | Indigenous Academic Engagement Officer, William Cooper Institute | 2026 - 2027 |
| Washule Bucknall | Indigenous Initiatives Program Officer, Monash Library | 2026 - 2027 |
| Kevin James Moore | Indigenous Collections Coordinator, Monash Library | 2026 - 2027 |
| Jesse John Lee Fleay | Assistant Lecturer, Arts | 2026 - 2027 |
| Aaron Wyatt | Assistant Lecturer, School of Music, Performance Classical | 2026 - 2027 |
| Jacinta Walsh | Lecturer / Indigenous Research Fellow, Monash Indigenous Studies Centre | 2026 - 2027 |
| Jeanene Booth | Lecturer, School of Education, Culture & Society | 2026 - 2027 |
Student Representatives
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| Rebekah McEwen (postgraduate) | 2026 |
| Amarlie Lamont (undergraduate) | 2026 |
Meeting dates for 2026
| Meeting | Date | Meeting Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting 1 | Thursday 26 March 2026 | N/A |
| Meeting 2 | Tuesday 23 June 2026 | Meeting Report 2/2026 |
| Meeting 3 | Wednesday 5 August 2026 | Meeting Report 3/2026 |
| Meeting 4 | Wednesday 21 October 2026 | Meeting Report 4/2026 |
Contact Information
Chair: Professor Tristan Kennedy
Executive Support: Natalie Czerniawski
Email: DVC-Indigenous@monash.edu