1961

Abschol

Tom Roper was the National ABSCHOL Director, (an abbreviation of Aboriginal Scholarship), a national scheme, established by the National Union of Australian University Students, as the Aboriginal Advancement Department of the Union, in1961; to promote and aid education for Australian Aborigines; to provide funds for university and secondary scholarships; to research into Aboriginal advancement; to stimulate interest among European Australians in the special problems faced by Aboriginal people; and to play an active role in supporting Aborigines in their struggle for equal opportunity.

The focus of the scheme changed from providing scholarships to political action to improve conditions for Aboriginal people because of the low numbers of Koorie students at Universities. ABSCHOL was involved in the 1967 Referendum, a fact finding-tour of QLD reserves, a survey of Aboriginal Housing conditions in NSW, a conference on attitudinal change, a work camp at Wattie Creek to help the Gurindji and an inservice course on Aboriginal culture. In 1967, a National Secondary Fund was established to provide scholarships for secondary students because of the low number of Aboriginal tertiary students. In that year, $4500 was used for secondary scholarships in four states of Australia. Abschol finished with the introduction of Abstudy.

1964

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies was established in 1964 to:

• Promote Aboriginal studies
• Publish, or assist in the publication of, the results of Aboriginal studies
• Encourage and assist co-operation amongst universities, museums and other institutions concerned with Aboriginal Studies
• Assist universities, museums and other institutes in training research workers in fields relevant to Aboriginal Studies.

The AIATSIS has collected cultural knowledge from all around Australia. It is now seen as an important 'Keeping Place' of much Indigenous cultural knowledge, including Victorian knowledge. Aboriginal community members, teachers and administrators from schools around Australia are able to access this knowledge and this has led to the teaching of Aboriginal Studies in many schools.

Aboriginal Research Centre (ARC), Centre for Research into Aboriginal Affairs (CRAA), Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies (CAIS) at Monash University

In 1964, the Centre for Research into Aboriginal Affairs (CRAA) was established at Monash University to undertake research into Aboriginal issues and to maintain a library on Aboriginal histories. Colin Tatz was appointed as the first director. The CRAA became the Aboriginal Research Centre (ARC) and then the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies. Today, the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies (CAIS) provides study opportunities for students from around Australia to learn more about Australian Indigenous culture. CAIS at both Clayton and Gippsland campuses offers a range of subjects and courses for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students enrolled at Monash University.

The Indigenous Student Support Unit at CAIS offers support to Indigenous undergraduate students at any campus undertaking any degree course at Monash University. The Elizabeth Eggleston Memorial Library contains an excellent collection of Indigenous resources. The Research at CAIS is focussed on current Indigenous issues and history. There are two pathways to tertiary study provided by the Monash Indigenous Access Scheme. The first assists students applying from Year 12 via the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC) system. The second is the new Diploma in Arts (Australian Indigenous Studies) which replaces the Monash Orientation Scheme for Aborigines (MOSA).