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Western Sydney University’s Indigenous Research Leadership is led by two nationally recognised scholars, Professor Michelle Trudgett and Professor Susan Page. Their work continues to shape the landscape of Indigenous higher education in Australia. Together, they have led and continue to lead collaborative research teams committed to advancing Indigenous excellence, sovereignty in research, and transformative sector-wide impact.
Two major Australian Research Council-funded projects sit at the centre of this work: Walan Mayiny and Yarruwala, each contributing new knowledge that supports institutional change, Indigenous leadership, and sector-wide transformation.
Project Aims
This research aims to:
- Examine Indigenous leadership roles in higher education through their connections with various stakeholders both internal to their institutions and external agencies.
- Investigate the potential for Indigenous leadership capacity and career trajectory development in higher education.
- Explore the possibilities for Indigenous autonomy and self-determination in Australian universities, with Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders in higher education.
- Develop a holistic model illustrating strategic intersections and external overlaps to better understand how Indigenous leadership can be woven through the overarching governance structures of Australian universities to enhance Indigenous educational outcomes.
Research Team
Professor Michelle Trudgett – Chief Investigator
Professor Michelle Trudgett (she/her), a Wiradjuri scholar and senior executive, serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership at Western Sydney University and sits on the GO Foundation Board. She is recognised as one of Australia’s leading researchers in Indigenous education and leadership, with numerous honours including the National NAIDOC Scholar of the Year, the Neville Bonner Award for Teaching Excellence, and the UNE Distinguished Alumni Award.
Professor Susan Page – Chief Investigator
Professor Susan Page (she/her), Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Education, is an Aboriginal Australian academic whose research examines Indigenous peoples’ experiences of learning and academic work in higher education, as well as student learning in Indigenous Studies. She is internationally recognised as a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has received the national Neville Bonner Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Dr Rhonda Povey – Senior Research Officer
Dr Rhonda Povey (she/her) is a researcher based on Dharug land with extensive experience in Indigenous education, specialising in Indigenous oral histories and the history of Western education in remote Western Australian communities. She has worked on multiple ARC-funded projects with Professors Trudgett and Page and currently contributes to the Yarruwala project on Indigenous higher education leadership.
Dr Matilda Harry – Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr Matilda Harry (she/her) is a Wiradjuri postdoctoral research fellow whose PhD amplified the voices of Indigenous young people and mentors, leading to the development of the Indigenous Cultural Wealth Mentoring Model alongside a strong record of awards and high‑impact publications. She now works on an ARC-funded project examining Indigenous leadership in higher education, focusing on governance ecologies, autonomy, and self‑determination to help shape a holistic model for embedding Indigenous leadership in universities.
Methodology
This research took a qualitative approach (Silverman, 2013) to understanding the importance of senior Indigenous leadership in universities. Qualitative methods are particularly useful to explore, and analyse complex real-world issues (Bazeley, 2013).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were respected at all times, with a key focus on making their voices and experiences centre in this project. The AIATSIS and NHRMC Guidelines were followed to ensure that the Indigenous participants are respected for Indigenous ways of being, doing and knowing (Martin, 2003).
Publications
Publications from the Yarruwala Research Project are currently in development. This webpage will be updated with links to published outputs as they become available.
Conference Engagement
Preliminary findings from the Yarruwala Research Project have been shared at several key events:
- Presentation: Putting First Nations at the Heart of Higher Education (February 2026, Ngunnawal Country): Professor Trudgett provided the Universities Australia Keynote Address at the annual conference.
- Presentation: Illuminating Self-Determination in Australian Higher Education through the Voices of Senior Indigenous Leaders (December 2025, Awabakal Country): This presentation explored emerging themes around governance, autonomy, and self-determination.
- Poster: World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) (November 2025, Auckland): A poster presentation introduced the project and its aims to an international audience.
- Presentation: Western Sydney University Indigenous Research Showcase (September 2025, Darug Country): Early insights were presented to university and community stakeholders.
Further dissemination will continue as the project progresses.
