Flags recognise UQ commitment to closing the gap

The University of Queensland has further signalled its support for Indigenous cultures with the permanent flying of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags were raised at The University of Queensland’s Forgan Smith Tower, St Lucia today Thursday, February 24.

It was the highlight of a special Orientation Week ceremony in the Great Court that included a Welcome to Country, morning tea and Indigenous dancers.

Acting Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit Dr Col Dillon said although the flags had been flown before, this was the first time they would be permanently flown at the St Lucia campus.

“This is an historic event and provides very powerful symbolism to staff, students and visitors about the University’s commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and that the University is doing its part in closing the gap,” he said.

“It provides our Aboriginal and Torres Strait students now and in the future with a sense of belonging which these flags represent.

“More particularly, it is a formal recognition by the University that the land on which the University sits is land for which the nation’s first people provided custodianship.”

Dr Dillon said international students would have no doubts about the important role that the first peoples played in Australian society after noting the pride of place allocated to the flags.

Previously there were three flag staffs at the St Lucia campus — for the Australian Flag, the Queensland Flag and the UQ banner.

The University has erected additional six metre flag staffs on Forgan Smith Tower to simultaneously accommodate the Australian National Flag, the Queensland Flag, the Australian Aboriginal Flag, the Torres Strait Islander Flag and the UQ banner.

Media: For further information, please contact Dr Col Dillon, telephone 07 3365 6709