Australia’s largest university has introduced a new leave provision for so-called “colonial load” for its indigenous staff, which it says will help them deal with their “often invisible workload”.
Monash University in Melbourne confirmed the introduction of its Colonial Load Leave entitlement last month, which followed the commencement of its Colonial Load and Cultural Conflict project in April.
According to the university’s Indigenous Employment Procedure, all fixed-term and ongoing indigenous staff are now entitled to three days of paid Colonial Load Leave per year, with no supporting documentation required on application.
“Colonial Load refers to the burden placed on first nations (sic) staff and volunteers by their organisation and non-indigenous colleagues to provide education, knowledge and support around first nations (sic) history, culture and inclusion,” a research project by Associate Professor Dr Bhiamie Williamson states.
Monash describes Colonial Load Leave as a “significant new provision that acknowledges the additional responsibilities and pressures often carried by indigenous staff in the workplace” and is aimed to be used as “time set aside specifically for cultural or community obligations”.
The offering is part of a broader commitment by the university to aboriginal issues, and was introduced to ensure that that the institute takes “meaningful action to ensure indigenous perspectives shape the University’s future”.
The university added that the initiative was a “necessary step toward justice and systemic truth-telling” and a recognition of “the unique pressures and responsibilities carried by aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff – an often invisible workload that is deeply impactful”.
Monash Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) and Senior Vice-President, Professor Tristan Kennedy, said the recognition was “a powerful reflection of who we are as a University and the direction we are committed to taking” and that the program affirmed the school’s “dedication to meaningful engagement with first peoples (sic) and to creating institutional structures that are informed by truth, equity, and respect”.
The change is a response to recommendations of Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission and Universities Australia’s Indigenous Strategy, both of which encourage institutes to “formally acknowledge the colonial load experienced by indigenous staff and students, and to respond with tangible, structural adjustments”.
The action is also part of a broader effort by the university to contribute to “informed dialogue that ensures institutional readiness for the nation’s first ever treaty” – which was passed by the Victorian government earlier this year.
Indigenous staff at Monash already get up to five days of paid and 10 days of unpaid Ceremonial Leave per year, which they can use for preparing for or attending “community organisation business, National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee week functions or other relevant cultural duties and events and/or fulfilling ceremonial obligations”.
The location and nature of those duties can be either urban or rural and may include “initiation, birthing and naming, funeral, smoking or cleansing and sacred site or land ceremonies”.
Monash’s announcement comes after the introduction by other Australian universities of similar leave provisions for “cultural or colonial load”.
Murdoch University in Western Australia introduced the country’s first provision for “cultural load” last year, with indigenous staff eligible for up to $8,994 annually for “contributing cultural knowledge beyond their job scope, plus provisions for cultural leave and language allowance”.
The University of Wollongong in New South Wales has also introduced a specific Indigenous Cultural and Colonial Load Allowance Guideline for its aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
Examples of “colonial load” given by UOW include educating non-indigenous staff on indigenous culture, being asked to help organise special days for indigenous people, giving advice on engagement with indigenous communities, giving advice on “welcome to country” ceremonies, and mentoring other indigenous staff about their “colonial load obligations”.
Header image: The Monash Business School conducts a smoking ceremony to welcome Masters of Indigenous Business Leadership students (Monash).
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