Welcome to commencing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students starting their studies in Semester 1, 2023, attended a Welcome session at the Library as part of their pre-orientation week. 

Students learned about relevant library services, viewed special collections materials and asked questions. This built a sense of comfort and cultural safety.

About the Welcome session 

Students visited the Fryer Library’s FW Robinson Reading Room and teaching space at St Lucia campus. Caroline Williams, University Librarian, warmly welcomed everyone to the Library. 

Simon Farley, Fryer Librarian, spoke about the history of the Fryer Library the significant collections it holds for research, teaching and the community.

Students viewed the UQ has a Blak History exhibit (read Blak, Black, Blackfulla: Language is important for language context), a selection of books, photographs, objects, audio recordings and manuscripts that tell the story of: 

  • significant Indigenous sites at St Lucia, including the White Australia has a black history mural in the Student Union Complex.  
  • past Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff and the beginning of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.  
  • political activism on campus, such as land rights movements and the origin of the Australian Black Panther Party.  
  • the genesis of 4ZZZ radio station and Murri Hour.  
  • the history of the University of Queensland Press (UQP) and their support of Indigenous literature.  
Trivia session lead by Library staff. Students seated around table with exhibition on it in Fryer Teaching space.
Raelee Lancaster, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services and Collections Officer, led the Trivia session with students in the Fryer Library.

The session was delivered with the Library's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services and Collections Team and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit at UQ.

We wish the students all the best for the year ahead.

Get to know your Library

We encourage all our new students to get to know your Library and to use our services and spaces.

Last updated:
17 February 2023