Western Sydney University announces inaugural Chancellor’s Indigenous Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Western Sydney University is proud to announce Bradley Burns as the inaugural recipient of the Chancellor’s Indigenous Postdoctoral Research Fellowship.

Bradley is a Kamilaroi man driven by a passion for supporting Indigenous children and young people. His research explores how the voices of Aboriginal young people can be supported in the systems that affect their lives, including out-of-home care, child protection, youth justice, health, disability and education.

The Fellowship supports early-career Indigenous academics to undertake a three-year research project, providing dedicated time and support to develop high‑quality research with meaningful social impact.

Through the Fellowship, Bradley will build on this important research by working alongside Aboriginal young people with lived experience. Using co-design and participatory approaches, the project will identify opportunities for system reform and develop child-led solutions that support meaningful change across the systems that affect their lives.

Bradley said being named the inaugural recipient of the Fellowship was an honour, and reflects the growing recognition of Indigenous scholarship and the important role Indigenous researchers play in shaping Australia's future.

“Receiving the Chancellor's Indigenous Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is a tremendous honour and an opportunity to advance research that is grounded in the voices, experiences and aspirations of Aboriginal children and young people. I am deeply grateful for Western Sydney University and the Chancellor’s commitment to supporting Indigenous research,” said Bradley.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership, Professor Michelle Trudgett, congratulated Bradley on receiving the Fellowship.

“Bradley is an exemplary early career researcher whose work is making an important contribution to improving outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people. We are proud to support him through this Fellowship and look forward to seeing the impact of his research,” said Professor Trudgett.

Chancellor of Western Sydney University, Professor Jennifer Westacott AC, also offered her warm congratulations.

“Bradley’s appointment as the Chancellor’s Indigenous Postdoctoral Research Fellow is a significant milestone for the University and a testament to his outstanding scholarship, leadership and commitment to social impact,” said Professor Westacott.

With a decade of experience across practice, policy and research in the out-of-home care and child protection sector, Bradley began his professional career on the frontline of out-of-home care services.

He will be submitting his PhD at Western Sydney University in July, where his research focused on empowering the voices of Aboriginal young people in out-of-home care to create system change.

Bradley will join the Transforming early Education And Child Health Research Centre (TeEACH) within the Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), where he will continue to build a program of research focused on Indigenous-led solutions and systemic reform.

The Chancellor’s Indigenous Postdoctoral Research Fellowship forms part of the University’s broader commitment to advancing Indigenous leadership, research and education, strengthening Indigenous research leadership and capability across the University.

The University gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Medich Foundation, whose landmark $5 million donation in 2023 established the Dr Roy Medich OAM Endowment for Indigenous Arts, Culture, and Education as the founding philanthropic gift to the Indigenous Centre of Excellence, advancing Indigenous leadership, research and education at Western Sydney University, including through the Chancellor’s Indigenous Postdoctoral Research Fellowship.

ENDS.

2 July 2026
Media Unit