UTS takes pride in the Indigenous Graduate Attribute (IGA) as one of the cornerstones of our distinctive identity. The IGA embodies UTS’s commitment to advancing Indigenous education and ensuring all graduating students have developed professional capabilities to work effectively for and with Indigenous Australians within their profession. Appropriate communication and use of terminology are essential aspects of this capability.
With this in mind, the UTS Indigenous Teaching and Learning Team (ITLT) is delighted to introduce their newest resource: the UTS IGA Communication Guide. The guide, and accompanying UTS IGA Glossary, join the catalogue of training, support and other resources already provided by ITLT to teaching staff across UTS.
Clear and respectful communication is a powerful tool to ensure Indigenous Australian voices are accurately heard and represented. By prioritising effective communication, staff and students can deepen their knowledge of Indigenous contexts, enhancing their professional capabilities to work effectively for and with Indigenous Australians.
Annette Gainsford, Associate Dean Indigenous Teaching and Learning
The UTS IGA Communication Guide is available for you to use in your teaching for Autumn 2025 and beyond. It is now considered the central, authoritative point of reference for appropriate word usage in oral and written tasks involving Indigenous topics at UTS.
What is the UTS IGA Communication Guide?
Developed by the Indigenous Teaching and Learning Team in consultation with university stakeholders, and approved by the Indigenous Teaching and Learning Committee, the guide was formally launched at the 2024 UTS Teaching and Learning Forum. It provides clear and concise guidance on:
- appropriate Indigenous terminology and grammatical conventions
- the importance of strengths-based communication styles.
You’ll also find links to additional resources within the guide, and the accompanying IGA Glossary explains the meaning of frequently used terms.
How does it support students?
The Guide supports students in developing professional capabilities around appropriate terminology and communication styles when working for and with Indigenous Australians. It also:
- eliminates confusion by replacing varied and sometimes conflicting resources on appropriate Indigenous terminology with a single source of truth that students can rely on
- offers a consistent reference point for assessments at UTS
- builds students’ confidence about the appropriate terminology to use when referring to and engaging with Indigenous Australians in oral and written tasks
- provides a concise explanation of appropriate communication styles, particularly use of strengths-based narratives and identification of deficit discourse
- guides students on selection and evaluation of suitable resources for their learning and assessments
How can it support your teaching?
The UTS IGA Communication Guide offers many benefits to teaching staff, including:
- a consistent reference point for teaching and marking
- support in development of IGA Implementation Plans, creation of teaching materials, assessments and marking rubrics
- confidence about teaching Indigenous content, particularly around appropriate terminology and communication styles in classroom and other teaching settings
Next steps as you prepare for the new session
Here are some steps to show how you can use the UTS IGA Communication Guide to enhance your teaching and your students’ learning:
- Familiarise yourself with the content of the UTS IGA Communication Guide and Glossary
- Update your teaching materials, assessments and rubrics, as necessary, to adopt the terminology set out in the IGA Communication Guide
- Incorporate the IGA Communication Guide and Glossary into your Canvas site
- Replace any references to the Flinders Terminology Guide with the IGA Communication Guide
- Prepare to explain how you expect students to use the IGA Communication Guide in your subject – the section above on how it supports student learning might be a helpful start!
- Attend IGA Implementation Training. If you’d like more support in creating and embedding Indigenous content and applying culturally safe Indigenous teaching and learning practices, visit the IGA Sharepoint site (UTS log-in required) to learn more about our IGA training opportunities.