Staff and students protest over Brabham suspension The sudden suspension of respected Aboriginal academic, Professor Wendy Brabham has caused a staff and student revolt at Melbourne’s Deakin University. The removal early last week of the Director of the Institute of Koorie Education has seen silent protests every lunchtime since Professor Brabham was escorted from the building by security guards less than half an hour after being ordered out by the University. Each lunchtime since Professor Brabham’s dismissal, staff have gathered in a circle of silence for up to 10 minutes around a tree trunk cut from Professor Brabham’s homeland near Mildura. Professor Brabham is a nationally respected Indigenous academic and Traditional Owner from the Wamba Wamba, Wergaia, Nyeri Nyeri and Dhudhuroa First Nations, who has led Indigenous education at Deakin University since 1991. It has been alleged Professor Brabham was suspended by her supervisor in the presence of security guards but was not given an adequate explanation for her suspension. Professor Brabham said she was removed from her workplace “as if I had committed a criminal act and I haven’t because all the allegations are refutable”. Professor Brabham said she has been victimised because she had already lodged harassment complaints against the Vice Chancellor of the University. “I believe this is the latest attempt by the Vice Chancellor to remove me from my position,” Professor Brabham said. “I have a bullying and harassment complaint against her and ever since then she has started she has tried to get me to resign or retire, even with inducements like offering me an Emeritus Professorship; the new building was built and opened earlier this year, having my name on that in order to be able to induce me to go.” Professor Brabham believes her treatment is indicative of the way Aboriginal managers are treated in Universities. “I believe it is wrong how Aboriginal managers are treated in Universities if they are not compliant with University executives and if they maintain cultural integrity and if they By National Indigenous Times reporter Geoff Bagnall maintain trying to be responsive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in relation to accessing higher education for students,” she said. “What is at risk here is not just my job but the credibility and the autonomy of the institute, its programs and the wellbeing of its staff and students,” Professor Brabham said. It took eight days for the University to furnish Professor Brabham with an explanation for her removal and National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) Victorian Division Secretary, Dr Colin Long has claimed the University had breached its employer obligations and also showed cultural disrespect to Professor Brabham and Indigenous communities. “Deakin University has breached its obligations under the collective agreement and disregarded its own policies and procedures. More alarming is the cultural disrespect shown to both Professor Brabham and Indigenous communities,” Dr Long said. Deakin University declined to comment on the matter past supplying an emailed statement which said: “Out of respect to those involved, Deakin University cannot comment on this matter which will continue to be dealt with in accordance with Deakin University enterprise agreement obligations and Deakin’s procedures,” the e-mail said. “Deakin is extremely proud of the achievements of the Institute of Koorie Education, particularly its community-based education model and will continue to support the Institute and its programs.” Staff and students were rallying in support of Professor Brabham as the National Indigenous Times went to press, support that brings Professor Brabham a great deal of comfort. “It gives me heart,” Professor Brabham said. “I’ve been getting so many e-mails from people supporting me. All I’ve done is be a strong Aboriginal teacher, that’s all I’ve done, that’s my crime. I’m very passionate about that and challenging people on that,” she said.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 10:56:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015