Learning & Sharing Aboriginal Heritage and Culture – Coal Loader Field Trip with UTS BUILD

One of my interests when I first came to this country as an exchange student from the United States was learning about the indigenous people. I never learned anything about Australian history in school back home, let alone the history of the aboriginal people. Since I’m not very interested in history or museums, I was excited to have the opportunity to participate in the coal loader adventure because I knew it would fulfill all of my curiosity.

 This was a unique experience that started with a presentation on the history of the Aboriginal people, which made me realize how little is known about them and how Australia would not be the same without them. Sadly, a large portion of their history has been lost, neglected, or simply disappeared, leaving few artifacts for people to remember. It is upsetting to see the struggles they endured and continue to endure. I found the Aboriginal people to have a strong sense of identity, pride, and self-worth admirable. After that, we went on to the coal loader for a tour and brush walk, where we saw some interesting tunnels and rock formations that we had discussed earlier in the presentation. Finding out about how they used the surrounding earth to survive and heal, as well as how much fresh food they consumed when they first arrived, piqued my curiosity. It was fascinating to observe their diet because I study nutritional sciences at my home university. It is devastating to see that after their land was taken, they never again ate the same. I am appreciative that I have discovered this history, and I have gained a great deal of knowledge that will benefit me both now in Australia and in the future. It has made me more aware of the difficulties individuals deal with on a daily basis.

I had the opportunity to interact with other BUILD members during the field trip. Each of these members has a unique background and set of perspectives. I am always learning as an exchange student. The build community is made up of incredibly welcoming and inclusive people. In addition to learning, I share my life experiences to everyone I come into contact with. Since the United States and Australia seem to be very similar, when I first came here, I assumed that all I would be doing was learning about other people. However, I quickly started sharing the knowledge and insights that people are interested in learning about me.

I am now aware of the wider world around me. Thanks to this field trip, my questions have been answered, but I’m eager to learn more. Not only should I study more about the Aboriginal people, but also about the history of everyone I have met. I’ll put the knowledge I acquired from this field trip to use by imparting it to others and using I am now more interculturally competent as a result of this experience. I have a greater awareness of the new culture I’ve entered. As a member of the BUILD community, I am pleased to find that it is powerful and supportive in transforming ideas for change into reality.

Elle Nicholson
Exchange Undergraduate Student from the USA