VIRTUAL LABORATORY ON AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL CUSTOMARY MEDICINES

Authors

  • Joanne Jamie Macquarie University
  • Jack Micklewright Macquarie University
  • Kristina Rhee Macquarie University
  • Kaisarun Akter Macquarie University
  • Ian Jamie Macquarie University
  • Phil Duncan Macquarie University
  • Joe Perry Macquarie University

Keywords:

Bush medicine, Indigenous Connected Curriculum, Mudang-Dali

Abstract

Universities Australia Indigenous Strategy 2017–2020 aims to “ensure all students will encounter and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural content as integral parts of their course of study”. Universities across Australia are endeavouring to incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge into their curricula in a respectful, meaningful and sustainable manner. At Macquarie University, situated on Dharug land, the Mudang-Dali (‘to live’ in the Dharug language) Indigenous Connected Curriculum Framework is providing academics with the confidence and support to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, values and philosophies into curriculum. With this support, in Session 1 2020, we developed a laboratory on customary medicines that incorporates a yarning circle, bush food and medicines garden tour, water extraction and chromatographic fractionation of an Australian medicinal plant, and analysis of antioxidant activity (aligned with customary use) of the extract and fractions therein. Designed to be interactive, hands-on and communal, with the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions this laboratory was quickly pivoted into a successful virtual laboratory. This presentation will describe the core components of the laboratory, which interweave Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, and the adaptability of this laboratory for online and face-to-face teaching in the tertiary (and secondary) sectors.

Author Biographies

Joanne Jamie, Macquarie University

Associate Professor in Bioorganic, Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry in the Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University

Jack Micklewright, Macquarie University

Department of Molecular Sciences, Masters of Research in Medicinal Plants

Kristina Rhee, Macquarie University

Department of Molecular Sciences, Bachelor of Medical Sciences student and Engaging the Community in Science Demonstrator

Kaisarun Akter, Macquarie University

Dr, Department of Molecular Sciences, PhD in Medicinal Plant Research, Senior Researher

Ian Jamie, Macquarie University

Dr, Department of Molecular Sciences, physical chemistry academic and chemical education researcher

Phil Duncan, Macquarie University

Aboriginal Cultural Training Coordinator, Walanga Muru, Macquarie University, Aboriginal Elder (Uncle)

Joe Perry, Macquarie University

Dr, Academic Director of Indigenous Learning and Teaching, Walanga Muru, Aboriginal Elder (Uncle)

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Published

2020-09-26