Culturally safe space officially launched in Mackay

By Isis Symes

CQUniversity’s Mackay City campus has unveiled a new room that will provide First Nations students, staff and community members with a culturally safe environment in which to study and work.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Nick Klomp said the space was an “incredibly important addition to the campus”.

“CQUniversity is proud to be one of Australia’s most accessible and inclusive universities, in particular, we are focused on transformative engagement and partnership with First Nations staff, students and communities,” Professor Klomp said.

“All of our campuses stand on Country that has been cared for by First Nations communities for tens of thousands of years. Importantly, they have been places of learning for countless generations before us. That’s why we are so proud to continue to endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart and constitutional recognition, and why we are forging ahead with the implementation of our latest Reconciliation Action Plan.”

The launch of Mackay’s culturally safe space is testament to that ethos.

“We hope that the culturally safe space will provide a haven on campus where First Nations people feel comfortable and confident expressing their views, perspectives and ideas,” Professor Klomp said.

“From a student perspective, our hope is that this culturally safe space will empower our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to achieve their higher education goals.”

More than 70 people including Mayor Greg Williamson, CQUniversity staff, students, community and industry partners attended the official opening event - with local Elder Uncle Philip Kemp providing the Welcome to Country.

Professor Klomp said the space in Mackay was not the first culturally safe space for CQUniversity.

“We are committed to establishing at least one culturally safe space at each of our campuses.”