By KIRSTY CHAN
More needs to be done at Monash to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, says MSA Indigenous office bearer Stephanie Ward.
"Compared to other universities, we are very far behind on Indigenous treatment to our own students," said Ms Ward, who was elected last year.
Monash has a Yulendj Indigenous Engagement Unit as part of its efforts to provide support to the Indigenous community at Monash.
However, Ms Ward said that “besides that one building, we are not represented anywhere."
Ms Ward acknowledges the support given by Monash but said what they can do is “very limited” and that Monash is “falling behind” as compared to other universities.
“Even when we try and engage with the university on like a higher level to get more of our voice out there on like Indigenous issues that are going around, we don’t get that level of support,” she said.
“They’ve given us these opportunities but then at the same time, it’s like what’s really the point if you don’t really have the access to do amazing things?”
Monash Indigenous student Kyla Maye said there were not enough services and learning about the "systematic and institutionalised racism" her people went through takes a "toll on one's mental health."
Photo: Wominjeka Monash, an event held during Orientation at the Clayton and Caulfield campuses to welcome new students. Source: Yulendj Indigenous Engagement Unit at Monash University Facebook page
"I feel as though if I were to go there and explain it to a non-Indigenous person, they could not possibly understand the emotional toll that trying to survive in a society that is not built for, but rather against Indigenous people," Ms Maye said.
Ms Maye said Monash could do more to represent the Indigenous community on campus.
"I feel as though there could be more representation that more of the university as a whole could get involved in, rather than it being mostly just the Indigenous community at Monash."
Monash University was approached for comment.