Establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory panel to guide teaching, research and collaborations in the tertiary setting: our school's reflections

Abstract

This discussion paper outlines the process undertaken by the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory panel (AP). Guided by the School’s strategic commitment to fostering two-way learning between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and non-Indigenous staff, students and community members, the initiative explored the potential of an Elder in Residence role. Strategic funding enabled a roundtable discussion with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses, midwives and social work practitioners, who provided critical insights into the preferred structure and purpose of such a role. Participants advocated for an AP, rather than a single Elder in Residence, to reflect the diversity of disciplines within the School. The formation of the AP represents a meaningful step towards decolonising education and research. It embeds First Nations authority, supports ethical research practices and reorients the epistemological foundations of nursing, midwifery and social work to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing.