The stories and photos on this page highlight UWA’s leadership in Regional, Rural and Remote projects across our State. Each year we dedicate more than $50m to regional projects that span agriculture, marine science, archaeology, astronomy, law, medicine, indigenous education and the arts involving research, learning, teaching and community engagement activities.
UWA Regional Strategy
The UWA Regional Strategy has been developed through a comprehensive consultation process, commencing in the last half of 2019, which has brought together UWA professional and academic staff, regional stakeholders and students from all over the state.
The staggering scale of opportunity and challenge across Regional WA has been broken down across six pillars that recognise the importance of: working with Aboriginal communities, building industry and stakeholder partnerships, creating a rich student experience and delivering excellence in research and learning. Underpinning these pillars are the imperatives of building digital connectivity and growing awareness of the rich knowledge and experiences the regions have to offer.
For each pillar you will find a more detailed description and a snapshot example of a current UWA project.
PILLAR ONE
Cultivate innovative regional partnerships and community engagement
Collaborations between UWA and RRR partners will serve as a mechanism for two-way sharing of knowledge, skills and expertise.
We recognise that developing lasting partnerships between UWA, Government (including DPIRD) and RRR communities requires UWA to learn from partners and contribute to them in tangible ways. We have the opportunity to develop ground-breaking, multifaceted partnerships to provide benefits to UWA, generate socio-economic impact for RRR communities, and to tackle some of the ‘Grand Challenges’ facing the world today.
How can UWA better engage or collaborate with your entity to improve outcomes for your community? Tell us here.
- Snapshot: Regional partnership Future Tails
- Strategies and initiatives to cultivate innovative regional partnerships and community engagement
PILLAR TWO
Experiences of regional, rural and remote WA
UWA will be enriched by opportunities to experience and learn with RRR colleagues and communities, through a range of field, clinical and on-country experiences and knowledge sharing initiatives.
Experiential learning is at the heart of UWA’s education philosophy. Our students develop a depth of knowledge and expertise in their chosen fields, as well as a breadth of experiences and skills that equip them to adapt and grow throughout their varied careers in a changing world. UWA students currently have access to a range of RRR clinical experiences through the WA Centre for Rural Health (WACRH) and the Rural Clinical School of WA (RSCWA), internships through the McCusker Centre for Citizenship, a number of regionally located field units, and on-country experiences, and extended study in a regional location through Albany’s Study InBroad program There exists a huge opportunity for UWA to extend the range of RRR experiences to enrich and broaden the experience of learning for UWA metropolitan based students.
How can we promote and provide regional, rural and remote experiences for all young Western Australians? Tell us here.
- Snapshot: Promoting regional, rural and remote experiences
- Strategies and initiatives to promote regional rural and remote experiences
Study InBroad gave me the opportunity to really connect with Country, and once that connection was made there was no looking back. I’m now here for at least the next three or four years, and am feeling so fulfilled, challenged and excited everyday working with Traditional Custodians to learn how to care for this beautiful Noongar Country. Susannah
Postgraduate student
Pillar three
Enhance digital connectivity
UWA will strive to ensure connections with and between our metropolitan and RRR communities are supported by strong digital infrastructure, policy and practice.
Technology makes it possible for people to connect, collaborate, learn and engage over great distances. The advent of COVID-19 has seen businesses, educators and individuals rapidly adapt to communicating, working and studying in digital environments. Continuing to embrace this shift and finding new and innovative ways to work together virtually, presents rich opportunities to overcome the obstacles distance creates for metro and RRR communities.
Digital connectivity is an underpinning enabler of the UWA Regional Strategy. The University must commit to identifying and working to overcome barriers to digital connectivity, be they based on infrastructure, policy or personal circumstance.
With an enhanced digital potential – what opportunities might open up for your community? Tell us here.
- Snapshot: Virtual On-country Experiences
- Strategies to enhance digital connectivity
Pillar four
Embed Indigenous knowledge protocols to strengthen engagement with, and outcomes for, Aboriginal communities
UWA will build trusted, robust and sustainable relationships with Aboriginal communities across all regions of Western Australia.
Recognising and valuing Indigenous peoples’ rights, knowledge, culture and values is a key commitment of UWA. This includes leading the region in a curriculum connected to Indigenous languages, culture and knowledge; embedding Indigenous knowledge as one of the pillars of UWA student life; increasing access and success for Indigenous students; and empowering research growth and capacity in Indigenous communities.
How can we work with Aboriginal communities to build trusted, robust and sustainable relationships? Tell us here.
- Snapshot: The Kimberley Indigenous Saltwater Science Project
- Strategies and initiatives to embed Indigenous knowledge protocols
Pillar five
Vibrant and inclusive student experience
UWA students will feel a strong sense of connection and belonging to the UWA community and have access to comprehensive support and exceptional co-curricular learning opportunities, regardless of their physical location.
UWA’s commitment to delivering a world-class student experience is demonstrated through our student experience strategy, Experience UWA 2025. The strategies and initiatives outlined in Experience UWA 2025 are designed to support all UWA students through learning opportunities; digital capability and engagement; wellbeing and success; community connection; employability; inclusion and diversity and Indigenous knowledge.
The UWA Regional Strategy will align with and complement Experience UWA 2025 and draw out some specific strategies and initiatives that will support students from RRR communities to fulfil their ambitions at UWA.
How can we best support student experience for a UWA student in your region? Tell us here.
- Snapshot: The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia
- Strategies and initiatives to facilitate a vibrant and inclusive student experience
I spent my RCSWA year in the Wheatbelt town of Narrogin. I had a wonderful time and found it to be a great clinical experience. Being at a small site meant there was continuity of care. I would see patients in GP, then in ED or the maternity ward and also with visiting specialists, which provided fantastic learning opportunities. MadelEine
Rural Clinical School of WA (RCSWA) graduate
Pillar six
Regional education and research
Working with RRR communities to understand their changing needs and aspirations, UWA will deliver tailored education offerings and research programs for the advancement of community prosperity.
The diversity of RRR communities across WA – ecologically, economically and demographically – is reflected in the range of education and research needs of each region, their local industries, and their communities. By understanding these needs and aspirations, UWA has the opportunity to develop new offerings and tailor existing ones to support the goals of local employers, industries, governments and communities, and to develop the next generation of leaders in RRR Western Australia.
What do we need to develop to best support the needs of your community? Tell us here.
- Snapshot: Bring Oyster Reefs Back to Oyster Harbour
- Strategies and initiatives to meet regional education and research needs
UWA organisations contributing to Regional, Rural and Remote WA
Many UWA schools, institutes, centres and other initiatives are connected with regional, rural and remote areas and communities, and contribute to their enhancement. Below are just some of the UWA entities who have a major focus on learning, teaching and / or research in these areas.
Centre for Regional Development
For more than 30 years, the Centre for Regional Development has undertaken research for, and disseminated scholarly and applied academic information to, a range of national and government agencies, private sector and community organisations, and natural resource management groups.
Future Farm
The Future Farm 2050 (FF2050) Project facilitates multidisciplinary research on future farming at local, national and international levels, leading to the development of economically viable but better farming systems. UWA Farm Ridgefield is available for UWA staff and students to undertake research projects, field trips and for teaching purposes.
Rural Clinical School
The Rural Clinical School of WA (RCSWA) helps rural communities sustain a locally trained and loyal medical workforce by placing penultimate-year medical students in country regions where they gain valuable hands-on experience and enjoy close mentoring, and to where they are more likely to return after they graduate.
UN Regional Center for Expertise WA
The UN Regional Center for Expertise WA (UNRCEWA) facilitates learning towards Education for sustainable development through networks of formal, non-formal and informal organisations, aiming to build innovative platforms to share information and experiences and to promote dialogue among regional and local stakeholders through partnerships for sustainable development.
School of Indigenous Studies
The School of Indigenous Studies provides a home for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students on campus and fosters social interaction that enables students to develop a sense of Aboriginal identity and community at UWA.
WA Centre for Rural Health
The WA Centre for Rural Health (WACRH) aims to improve rural, remote and Aboriginal health through education, student placement support, research and community service activities, as well as to facilitate quality allied health, nursing and pharmacy clinical placements for students from all Australian universities.
UWA Albany Campus
UWA Albany fosters higher educational opportunities for regional students. Working in rich, cultural and biodiverse surroundings on the edge of a pristine marine environment helps UWA Albany researchers and students investigate the complex challenges facing our planet. The Albany campus encompasses the Centre of Natural Resource Management (CNRM) and the Wave Energy Research Centre (WERC).
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