While Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity is unique and sacred to every person all applicants and students who participate or are involved in certain Indigenous programs and/or activities are required to provide evidence of their Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander status and heritage. At UNSW due to the historical nature of our people’s history, we understand that sometimes obtaining an official Confirmation of Aboriginality can be challenging.
The following forms are accepted as evidence of Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander status:
1. Evidence of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status for programs or services
1.1. While Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity is unique and sacred to every person, all applicants, students and staff who access specific Indigenous Programs and/or activities are required to provide evidence of their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status. Due to the disrupted nature of Indigenous Australian histories UNSW understands that sometimes obtaining an official Confirmation of Aboriginality can be challenging.
1.2. Therefore, UNSW accepts either of the following forms of documentation as evidence of Aboriginality:
1.1.1. A letter of “Confirmation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Descent” provided by an Indigenous Community organisation, signed by a delegate if it is an Aboriginal Medical Service or an Aboriginal Legal Service, or a letter of ‘Confirmation of Membership’ signed by the chairperson if the organisation is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Land Council;
or
1.1.2. A Statutory Declaration. This is a legal binding document demonstrating your self-identification as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and signed by an approved witness.
2. Confirmation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Descent documentation
2.1. The applicant’s status may also be proven by the provision of support documents including original or certified copies of:
2.1.1. The applicant’s confirmation of Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander Status or the applicant’s birth records and/or evidence of an immediate family member’s confirmation of Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander Status. Immediate family members for this purpose include parents, siblings or grandparents,
and
2.1.2. That they identify as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. The applicant must identify themselves as such on relevant documentation such as application and enrolment forms as applicable.
2.2. The executive leader of an incorporated Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation that a letter of confirmation of descent or membership must not be an immediate family member of the applicant, or a current staff member of UNSW.
2.3. Australian Government Human Services documentation or a supporting letter from organisations without the authority to provide confirmation of Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander Status will not be accepted as confirmation.
3. Statutory Declaration documentation
3.1. Section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (Cth) provides that ‘a person must not intentionally make a false statement in a Statutory Declaration’. The penalty for intentionally making a false statement in a Statutory Declaration is 4 years imprisonment.
3.2. You must complete the approved Commonwealth of Australia Statutory Declaration Form and it must be signed by an approved witness.
3.3. The Statutory Declaration must declare the following:
- ‘I Identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person;
- I am a descendant of ____________________ [Aboriginal Nation/Community – if known]; and
- I am accepted as such in ____________________ [Aboriginal Nation/Community].
3.4. The Statutory Declaration must be accompanied by a letter from an Indigenous organisation or Aboriginal Liaison Officer who recognises you as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. This letter must:
3.4.1. have the organisation’s letterhead
3.4.2. be from an Indigenous person employed in an Indigenous identified position (for instance, an Aboriginal School Liaison Officer or Aboriginal Community Worker) but not currently employed at UNSW or be an immediate family member and
3.4.3. confirm that you are recognised as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander member of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community you live in or that you come from.
If you have any questions please contact the team.