Australian Awards for University Teaching — 2008

Awards for Teaching Excellence — Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education — Recipient

Violet Bacon
The University of Western Australia, Western Australia

Synopsis

When Violet Bacon was appointed a lecturer in 1997, she became the first Indigenous (Yamatji) social worker, within any university in Australia. Over the last 10 years she has brought to her teaching a 'vision' of ensuring Indigenous and non-Indigenous social work students become culturally appropriate and effective practitioners in the welfare field, especially for their future work with Indigenous Australians. Violet’s teaching is informed by her community involvement, expertise and experience in working in the alcohol and drug area. Her continuing roles on the Western Australian Drug and Alcohol Office Board, and strong links to the State Aboriginal and Alcohol Drug Services, and the National Drug Research Institution demonstrate her command of the knowledge required in this field. Violet's teaching focuses on social justice, humanity and reconciliation. Her dedication to Indigenous and non-Indigenous students working together to pursue social justice for Indigenous Australians is well recognised by her university with several nominations for teaching excellence. Violet was one of the first four Aboriginal social workers to graduate and has played a significant part in the history of Aboriginal social workers in Western Australia.