The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) supports the delivery of Murmuk Djerring with a particular focus on students. The role champions cultural safety, reducing historical fear and improving engagement and dissemination of Indigenous knowledges among students, both First Nations and non-indigenous, within the university community and beyond.
Tiriki was appointed to the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) on 1 March 2024, reporting to the DVC Indigenous, Barry Judd. Tiriki’s expertise in student support will contribute greatly to the University’s Indigenous Student Plan, as well as the Advancing Students and Education strategy.
In addition, Tiriki continues his work as the Head of the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development on a part-time basis and is co-director of the university’s Research Unit in Indigenous Arts and Culture. He has previously held the roles of Deputy Dean (Place) and Associate Dean (Indigenous Development) in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music at the University.
A Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung academic, Tiriki is also an artist, performer, opera singer, public speaker and cultural practitioner with more than 25 years of professional experience in visual and performing arts and arts education.
He co-directed the award-winning feature documentary Ablaze which premiered at the 2021 Melbourne International Film Festival. The documentary uncovers a film made 70 years ago by Tiriki’s grandfather, Bill Onus, and his contribution to the Aboriginal rights movement of the 20th century.
In 2021, Tiriki won the Victorian Premiers’s History award for this film along with a series of other awards including the 2021 Awgie Award Documentary (Public Broadcast) and 2022 ADG Award Best Direction in a Documentary Feature.
While engaging in teaching, research and leadership roles within the University, Tiriki continues his practice as an artist, performer and film maker in addition to maintaining leadership roles within several community arts organisations and local government agencies.
Tiriki feels fortunate to be able to weave together his personal passions and his roles at the University. Whether sewing possum skins or making sculptures from fibreglass and steel, Tiriki feels grateful to be doing so on Country that has known thousands of generations of artists before him.