SLLL Success at 2020 VC Awards

SLLL Success at 2020 VC Awards
Thursday 3 December 2020

The 2020 ANU Vice-Chancellor’s Awards celebrated members of the University community who have continued to achieve outstanding results in the face of this year’s challenges, and those who have worked tirelessly to respond to the challenges. Amoungst those recognised for their efforts were SLLL's Dr Caremel O'Shannessy for her outstanding research work and Denise Angelo for her contributions to the "The Two-Way Project".

Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research

Dr Carmel O'Shannessy, Senior Lecturer in the ANU School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics (SLLL). Dr O’Shannessy has worked in Indigenous languages and education for over two decades.

Dr O’Shannessy said she felt humbled and privileged to receive this award. 

“I want to thank the Warlpiri people who have so generously shared aspects of their languages over many years, helping us to better understand languages across the world,” she said. “And to acknowledge the supportive research environment in SLLL and CASS at ANU.”

Professor Michael Martin announced the award, telling the audience that Dr O’Shannessy has gone well beyond her required activities as a linguist to respond to Warlpiri community aspirations. She has also made her research accessible to the community; especially to Warlpiri educators. 

“Carmel’s research on a new Australian mixed language, light Warlpiri, has been reported in many national and international media outlets, which helps people to understand how languages emerge,” Professor Martin said.

He acknowledged Dr O’Shannessy’s contribution to policymaking through the National Indigenous Languages Report, and that she continuously strives to reconciliation through her research, applied research activities, teaching, and service.

Professor Martin added a personal note based on his role as Chair of the ANU Human Research Ethics Committee: “It’s been an absolute delight to work with a researcher like Carmel who places the ethical responsibilities of her research at the absolute highest level and has worked so cooperatively with us.” 

Clare Burton Award for Excellence in Equity and Diversity

The Two-Way Project team, led by Dr Kirrily Jordan, Research Fellow at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR). The joint awardee was Professor Lyndall Strazdins from the ANU College of Health & Medicine.

Dr Kirrily Jordan (CAEPR, project lead)
Associate Professor Alison Alder (School of Art & Design (SoAD))
Dr Annick Thomassin (CAEPR)
Adele Cameron (SoAD)
Denise Angelo (SLLL)
Sanne Carroll (SoAD)
Lucy Irvine (SoAD)
Associate Professor Deirdre Howard-Wagner (CAEPR)
Dr Sean Perera (Graduate Studies Select)

Dr Jordan said that receiving the award acknowledges some of the amazing work happening at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, the ANU School of Art & Design and ANU School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, where many people are working hard to create positive change. 

“Just as importantly, it recognises the First Nations women and children we’ve been working with, and the value they bring to the ANU through their participation in our programs,” she said. 

“We hope the award brings more people to the exhibition of their artworks on campus – scheduled to be shown in the perfect location at the School of Art & Design’s Project Space gallery in 2021.”

Associate Professor Alison Alder, Head of Printmedia & Drawing at SoAD, said it was a great honour for the Two-Way team to receive the Clare Burton award. 

“Clare’s commitment to justice for women is such an inspiration,” Associate Professor Alder said. 

“Like Clare we’ve sought to use our positions to improve opportunities for women, bridging our skills across disciplines to build a quiet, woman-centred, art focused project which listens and responds to the community it serves.”

Dr Jordan acknowledged her team’s exceptional community partners who made the Two Way Project possible.

“Ronnie Jordan (Culture on the Move), Amanda Jane Reynolds (Stella Stories), Larry Brandy, and staff at the Alexander Maconochie Centre and Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service, including invaluable support from Samantha Keaton and David Witham, she said. “The team also thank the Indigenous Languages and Arts Program and CASS Small Grants scheme for their support.”

Announcing their award was Ms Jane O'Dwyer, Vice-President (Engagement and Global Relations), who described the Two-Way project as a groundbreaking initiative designed to build bridges between ANU and Indigenous women in the ACT and surrounds. 

“It reduces barriers to inclusion, and promotes equal opportunity for Indigenous women by transforming the way the University operates; reaching out to otherwise hard-to-reach disadvantaged women through arts and cultural programs on and off campus,” Ms O’Dwyer said

Words taken from full article on CASS web page

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Updated:  3 December 2020/Responsible Officer:  Head of School/Page Contact:  CASS Marketing & Communications