Yoorrook Taskforce
Our commitment to truth-telling
At Monash, we’re committed to truth-telling – a principle guided by the Yoorrook Justice Commission, the nation’s first truth-telling process, and advanced through Victoria’s Treaty process. We recognise the ongoing impacts of colonisation and the importance of amplifying First Nations voices across our teaching, research, and community.
Truth-telling means acknowledging history honestly, learning from it, and taking action to ensure Indigenous perspectives shape the University’s future.
Our commitment to truth-telling has been strengthened through the establishment of the Yoorrook Taskforce. This group has been formed to guide Monash’s engagement with the Commission’s recommendations. Chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Sharon Pickering, the Taskforce brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders and staff from across the University to ensure Monash responds meaningfully to the Commission’s work and honours our responsibility to listen, to learn and to act.
Yoorrook Taskforce
Monash University’s commitment to truth-telling sits within a long history of working with and walking alongside Indigenous communities. From honouring Yorta Yorta Elder Uncle William Cooper – whose legacy we continue through the William Cooper Institute – to supporting generations of Indigenous students, researchers, and scholars, our University has been shaped by the strength, resistance and continuity of the world’s oldest living cultures.
For more than 50 years, Monash has been home to the nation’s first Indigenous research centre, and we remain dedicated to advancing Indigenous knowledges, education and leadership. This commitment is embedded in Impact 2030 and in our Implementation Plan, which reinforces Monash’s role in championing Indigenous voices, knowledge and advancement (Outcome 4).
At Monash, we honour our past while working toward a future grounded in respect, justice, truth-telling, Treaty and Indigenous self-determination. Our commitment is long-standing, ongoing, and shared with the communities who continue to guide us.
Through this Taskforce we will:
- Uncover and share historical truths, including the contributions of Indigenous peoples to our institutional journey, where they have not been appropriately recognised.
- Elevate Indigenous voices and knowledges, ensuring they are represented meaningfully through education, research and community engagement.
- Act on what we learn by shaping policies, programs and partnerships that reflect our responsibilities and the aspirations of the Indigenous communities we serve.
Membership
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Professor Sharon Pickering | Vice-Chancellor and President (Chair) |
| Professor Tristan Kennedy | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) & Senior Vice-President (Deputy Chair) |
| Professor N'arweet Carolyn Briggs AM | Boon Wurrung Elder and subject-matter expert |
| Professor Lynette Russell AM | Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor and subject-matter expert |
| Professor Melissa Castan | Director, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law |
| Simon Kupec | Chief Operating Officer |
| Donald Speagle | Executive Director, Governance, Risk and Policy and University Secretary |
| Jamil Tye | Executive Director, External Community Engagement and Impact |
| Fabian Marrone | Vice President UMAC, Chief Executive Officer, Monash College |
| Sophie Vidinovski | Executive Director, Communications (UMAC) |
| Robert Gerrity | University Librarian |
| Renee Kemp | Deputy Chief People Officer |
Demonstrating our commitment to truth-telling
This is a living site and will be progressively updated as the Yoorrook Taskforce advances its work. As the Taskforce listens, learns and acts, new initiatives, stories and outcomes will be shared here to reflect Monash University’s ongoing responsibilities and sustained commitment to truth‑telling and meaningful change.
The next phase of this work will focus on ‘What is truth‑telling’ - a series of content that will explore historical truths, including the contributions of Indigenous peoples to Monash’s institutional journey. This work will support deeper understanding, transparency and accountability, and ensure that Indigenous perspectives meaningfully inform the University’s present and future.