Errol joined the team in People and Culture approximately three months ago. The move up from Adelaide was prompted by his desire to move closer to his home town, Taree. In this Q&A he shares some personal information and his plans for the role.
Are you a local or new to Armidale?
I am new to Armidale. I have been living here since 29th of January 2021 and am finding Armidale very similar to Adelaide in climate. I also like that there are only two sets of traffic lights here.
If new, where have you moved from?
I moved to Armidale from Adelaide, after living there for 36 years. It was time to move closer to home, Taree
How did you learn about UNE and what attracted you to the job?
I was looking for employment closer to where I was born, Taree. I then investigated universities in NSW to see which were closest to Taree. UNE was the one closest to Taree out of all of them. I then started to look more closely at UNE and what they offered as a higher education institution.
I am passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and education, and also want to help to close the gap on social and economic issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I want to ensure those same opportunities of employment and higher education are available to all Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people.
What is your professional area of expertise?
My previous profession was in landscaping and revegetation, which I did for 20 years. I am passionate about the environment, in particular ecology and biodiversity. Over a number of years, I have been a supervisor, project manager and environmental engineer which directly involved, plants, animals, water ways and soils. I am also passionate about bush tucker and bush medicine. I have also been shown and taught Traditional Ecological Knowledge which has been passed down from Elders in the communities where I have had personal and professional engagement in South Australia
What are your priorities for the job?
My role is quite diverse, though my main focus will be boosting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment at UNE. These priorities which aligns with UNE’s commitment to have three percent of the workforce at UNE to be either Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, will also position UNE as the employer of choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I am also looking to boost our community engagement to ensure we have a connected community and that we engage with local Aboriginal communities where we have a campus or study centre. Lastly, I would want to ensure all employees at UNE are culturally aware so when we engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, they feel culturally safe. I will be facilitating a Cultural Connections workshop to boost an employee’s cultural awareness.
What are your interests/hobbies away from work?
I love to travel, in Australia and internationally, though I have not been unable to fly internationally in the last 18 months. I am also interested in fishing, hiking and camping and I like to fix things. I am known as the fixer in my family due to my abilities to fix almost anything.
Today marks the beginning of Reconciliation Week, and soon NAIDOC Week. Do you have some thoughts on these events you want to share with us?
For me, National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC week aims to unify people from both cultures, to build personal and professional relationships and breakdown the walls of perception. All to often there are assumptions made about Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people, coming from non-Aboriginal people who have never engaged with an Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander person, yet seem to know a lot about the way we live, and our culture. It is a collaborative effort between both cultures and it is up to the non-Aboriginal people to ensure we have engagement, and are correctly informed about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, both past and present, and that the truth is told.