The inaugural NAIDOC Indigenous Research Showcase was undertaken as part of this strategy to celebrate the research excellence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students, from HDR students through to senior researchers. Since 2025, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers have attracted more than $45 million.

Indigenous student participation has grown significantly, demonstrating best practice initiatives to support Indigenous student success grounded in relationality. Through our reconciliation journey a purpose-built cultural space - Yungkurrinthi Inparrila - has become a heartbeat for the institution. Kaurna Welcome to Country ceremonies have been generously gifted at Inparrila ensuring the university communities safe passage on Kaurna Yarta. A place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students' cultural belonging and wellbeing, Inparrila centres connection to Country, philosophies shared by Kaurna Elders and senior knowledge holders, and connection with nature.

An innovative community pathway initiative has been the development of an Indigenous Knowledges-centred Indigenous Foundation Studies Program and university preparation course, delivered in the Western suburbs of South Australia to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the newly built Yitpi Yartapuultiku on Kaurna Country, a community place for immersive local culture and education.

For 2026, the University will increase dedicated scholarship for undergraduate and postgraduate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students as part of the South Australian Government’s $40m Flinders Student Support Fund to advance students from disadvantaged groups.

Since 2023, the university has held a university-wide RAP Conference. Led by the Office of Indigenous Strategy and Engagement, this has been a dynamic conference that celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, fosters understanding, anti-racism praxis and race relations, cultural immersion, and promotes reconciliation. Over 600 staff and students participated in the 2025 conference across the university footprint. Advancing our reconciliation vision, keynote addresses were delivered by Kirstie Parker, Co-Chair, Board of Directors Reconciliation Australia and Jason Downs, Chief Executive Officer, Reconciliation South Australia.

Following the Voice to Parliament national referendum, the University brought staff and students through the Come Together gathering across its campuses and locations, as an opportunity to reflect, promote wellness and well-being, continue conversations about recognition and underscore unwavering commitment to reconciliation following the federal outcome.

The University commits to the development of an Indigenous Education Strategic document guiding the university’s advancement across its core business.

At The Come Together gathering, Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling shared: 

“I send a very clear message to all our staff, students, alumni and community members, and especially to those with First Nations heritage. You are welcome here. We recognise and cherish your identity, your history, your story. We recognise and cherish your knowledge, your ways of knowing, being and doing. We recognise and cherish this land, and the tens of thousands of years of spiritual connection to it.”