The role of Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Excellence (PVCIE) at the University of Tasmania is to promote a vibrant, intellectual, and highly visible Indigenous (especially Tasmanian Aboriginal) presence within the life, culture and knowledge traditions of the University community.
The University of Tasmania's Strategic Plan for Aboriginal Engagement 2021-2024 (PDF 5.3 MB) sets out an evidence-based approach to achieve these aims, encompassing programs of supporting student success, innovative teaching and learning, research that supports community development and respects Indigenous cultural and intellectual property, creative and empowering engagement with Aboriginal communities, and effective governance to ensure appropriate use of resources and accountability in decision-making. During 2020, our strategic plan was evaluated and reviewed to reflect our philosophy of continual improvement and international best-practice.
The University's Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Excellence (PVCIE), Professor Sadie Heckenberg, leads a team dedicated to whole-of-University respect and embedding of Indigenous perspectives, knowledges and culture across research, teaching and community partnership. We want to ensure that engaging with the University of Tasmania, whether as a student, staff or community member, provides the experience of a University that celebrates Aboriginal Tasmania's deep history, its diversity of cultures and values, and continually builds its Aboriginal connections.
Funding received from the Australian Government’s Indigenous Student Support Program (ISSP) is expended under the guidance of the University’s ISSP Governance Committee utilising the ISSP Terms of reference (PDF 159.6 KB).
Aboriginal Leadership Group (ALG)
The Aboriginal Leadership Group (ALG) serves as a key advisory and governance body guiding the portfolio's structural progress, policy development, and community-connected strategies across all UTAS campus regions.
Strong Aboriginal leadership is crucial for successful Aboriginal business at the University of Tasmania. The Aboriginal Leadership Group (ALG) consists of three members, they are:
- Professor Sadie Heckenberg - Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Excellence (PVCIE)
Professor Sadie Heckenberg provides strategic, academic, and executive leadership across the University of Tasmania to advance institutional commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, research, and cultural safety. Anchored by the core principles of self-determination, truth-telling, and honoring the legacy of those who walked before, the Office oversees the broader strategic vision and structural accountability of the Indigenous Excellence Portfolio. - David Warrener - Head of Service Riawunna
- Associate Professor Clair Andersen - Aboriginal Higher Education Advisor
- Tara Bailey - is a proud Palawa woman and the Aboriginal Talent Partner. Tara works alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, community, and colleagues to create meaningful employment and career pathways. Tara supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, provides specialised advice, and leads delivery of the Aboriginal Employment Plan, strengthening culturally safe recruitment, retention, representation, and staff experiences.
Indigenous Leadership Group (ILG)
- Rachel Woodford - is the Business Manager for the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Excellence, providing high-level operational leadership across the portfolio. She has worked extensively across Indigenous higher education, leading teams, strengthening business operations, and supporting strategic priorities. She holds a Master of Indigenous Business Leadership and values a collective approach to Indigenous Success.
- Jen Evans - Professor Jennifer Evans is a Queer Dharug scholar, Senior Leader for Aboriginal Health Leadership at the University of Tasmania Health, Deputy Director of the Institute of Indigenous Knowledges, and Lead of the latawina Blak Health Collective. An internationally recognised expert in Indigenous and decolonising methodologies, they advance health equity, research, education, and cultural safety.
ISSP Committee
The ISSP Committee governs mandatory compliance guidelines, funding applications, and reporting requirements—overseeing components like the Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP). Membership requires mandatory operational representation across both university Education and Employment domains.
Strategic Plans
The Indigenous Excellence Portfolio is structurally guided by an overarching Portfolio Strategy, which formally replaces the previous Strategic Plan for Aboriginal Engagement
Sitting under this foundational strategy are four core, cross-portfolio institutional plans designed to enforce institutional accountability and cross-divisional ownership across the university:
- Cultural Inclusion Plan (maintained and executed internally within the Portfolio)
- Indigenous Peoples Education Plan
- Indigenous Peoples Employment Plan is implemented by People and Wellbeing (currently listed as People and Culture).
- Indigenous Peoples Research Plan
Strategic Portfolio Divisions
The Portfolio brings together three core operational arms to drive academic, cultural, and community-focused infrastructure:
- Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Excellence (OPVCIE): Executive governance, institutional strategy, and university-wide policy mapping.
- Institute of Indigenous Knowledges (IIK): A place of innovative collaboration, Indigenous-led research, and strategic vision.
- Riawunna Centre: Providing dedicated, culturally safe spaces, academic advising, and community student support networks across campus hubs.
Aboriginal strategies and reports
The Pro Vice-Chancellor Aboriginal Leadership and the University of Tasmania believe in the importance of being open and transparent to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community regarding Aboriginal Business.
Please find relevant Aboriginal strategies and reports below:
Indigenous Student Success Programme (ISSP) performance reports and financial acquittals:
- ISSP - 2024 Financial Acquittal (PDF File, 4.2 MB)
- ISSP - 2024 Performance report (PDF File, 486.3 KB)
- ISSP - 2023 Financial Acquittal (PDF File, 378.5 KB)
- ISSP - 2023 Performance report (PDF File, 438.9 KB)
- ISSP - 2022 Financial Acquittal (PDF File, 136.4 KB)
- ISSP - 2022 Performance report (PDF File, 469.2 KB)
- ISSP - 2021 Financial Acquittal (PDF File, 344.5 KB)
- ISSP - 2021 Performance report (PDF File, 710.9 KB)
- ISSP - 2020 Financial Acquittal (PDF File, 466.0 KB)
- ISSP - 2020 Performance report (PDF File, 7.0 MB)
- ISSP - 2019 Financial Acquittal & Performance report (PDF File, 2.1 MB)
- ISSP - 2018 Performance report (PDF File, 1.1 MB)
- ISSP - 2018 Financial Acquittal (PDF File, 995.8 KB)
- ISSP - 2017 Financial Acquittal (PDF File, 83.3 KB)
- ISSP - 2017 Performance report (PDF File, 1.3 MB)
Contact us
To connect with our executive or operational project teams, please contact our office directly:
Locations
University of Tasmania
(Sandy Bay, Inveresk, and Cradle Coast Campus spaces)