A change of direction for Murrup Barak
Murrup Barak, the Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development, has started to benefit from key strategic and staffing changes throughout the tight knit organisation. Early indications demonstrate positive change is already underway with; the largest new and total enrollments of Indigenous students in the University’s history, growing retention rates and graduating classes, and much higher student satisfaction levels in both engagement and service provision.
Lead by Director Charles O’Leary and supported by the UMSU Indigenous Department, Murrup Barak has had a strong start to 2016 with a successful international cultural exchange with the Native American Cultural Center of Northern Arizona University, the first pre-orientation week Transition In Camp managed by the student body, and the modernisation of services within the center. Most notably, Murrup Barak’s growing engagement of current students has started to solidify, with the center keen to continue to take direction from students on important issues both inside the University and outside, including the debate on Constitutional Recognition.
A number of postgraduate and senior students believe that the center has “done a 180” from where they were a few short years ago. Where in the past Murrup Barak may have unsuccessfully attempted to forge this level of engagement with the student body, it has been uninspiring until recently with the establishment of a strong relationship with UMSU and its representatives. These developments were not without their challenges, particularly the gap in cultural competency and communication between previous staff members and the student body. But with the hiring and promotion of Kiernan Ironfield into Team Leader within Indigenous Student Services these problems are a thing of the past.
As the Student Outreach and Student Services teams have been reset and fresh faces have been introduced the high standards and capacity building expertise of Director O’Leary bodes well for the future and sustainability of the center. Staving off attempts to be integrated with Stop 1, Murrup Barak has been able to maintain their premises in Old Physics with hopes to renovate and expand their facilities with particular emphasis on student study spaces and accessibility to services. Stated recently by director O’Leary, “2016 is going to be our best year as an organisation and for the students we serve,” and if the path ahead is any indication he is likely right.