麻豆社madou

Associate Professor Kevin Lowe

Associate Professor Kevin Lowe

Scientia Fellow (Level D)

Ph.D:

Newcastle University

2016

M.Ed.

Australian Catholic University

2008

M Litt. (Preliminary) Politics:

University of New England

1995

Graduate Certificate Public Service Management: 2003

University of Western Sydney

2003

Associate Diploma Horticulture:

University of New England - Orange

1992

Graduate Dip. Teacher Librarianship

Kur-ring-gai CAE

1988

BA Dip. Education:

Macquarie University

1975

Arts, Design & Architecture
School of Education

Kevin Lowe (kevin.lowe@unsw.edu.au)is a Gubbi Gubbi man from southeast Queensland. He is a Scientia Indigenous Fellow at 麻豆社madou, working on a community and school focused research project on developing a model of sustainable improvement in Aboriginal education. Kevin has had experience in education as a teacher, administrator and lecturer. He has expertise in working with Aboriginal community organisations on establishing Aboriginal language policy and school curriculum implementation. Recently Kevin has worked with colleagues to review research across key areas of schooling and established the Aboriginal Voices a broad-base, holistic project which is developing a new pedagogic framework for teachers.

Location
Room G35 Morven Brown Bld High St Kensington NSW
  • Books | 2010
    Hobson J; Lowe K; Poetsch S; Walsh M, 2010, Re-awakening languages: theory and practice in the revitalisation of Australia鈥檚 Indigenous languages, Sydney University Press, Sydney
    Books | 2007
    Lowe K, 2007, Facilitating strong school and community partnerships in Aboriginal education, NSW Board of Studies
    Books | 2006
    Lowe K; Ash A, 2006, Talking each other鈥檚 lingo: The Aboriginal Languages K - 10 Syllabus and its role in language revival in NSW, NSW Board of Studies
    Books | 2002
    Lowe K, 2002, The need for community consultation to assist in the development of Aboriginal languages in schools
    Books | 1999
    Lowe K, 1999, Issues impacting on the improvement of educational opportunities for Aboriginal boys in school, University of Sydney
  • Book Chapters | 2024
    Lowe K; Coombs D; Goodwin S, 2024, 'Indigenist policy analysis: The Uluru Statement from the Heart as a road map towards recognising Indigenous sovereignty in Indigenous education', in Analysing Education Policy: Theory and Method, Routledge, London, pp. 59 - 75,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Burgess C; Lowe K; Goodwin S, 2023, 'What鈥檚 the Problem Represented to Be? Analysing Indigenous Education Policy as Discourse', in Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research, Springer International Publishing, pp. 245 - 263,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Burgess C; Tennent C; Vass G; Guenther J; Lowe K; Harrison N; Moodie N, 2023, 'What Does Quality Teaching Look Like for Indigenous Australian Students and How Do We Know?', in Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research, Springer International Publishing, pp. 161 - 179,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Guenther J; Lowe K; Burgess C; Vass G; Moodie N, 2023, 'Making a Difference in Educational Outcomes for Remote First Nations Students', in Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research, Springer International Publishing, pp. 229 - 244,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Guenther J; Rigney L-I; Osborne S; Lowe K; Moodie N, 2023, 'The Foundations Required for First Nations Education in Australia', in Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research, Springer International Publishing, pp. 265 - 284,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Gutierrez A; Lowe K; Guenther J, 2023, 'Interrogating Indigenous Student Literacy Programs', in Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research, Springer International Publishing, pp. 181 - 199,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Harrison N; Tennent C; Burgess C; Vass G; Guenther J; Lowe K; Moodie N, 2023, 'Knowing in Being: An Understanding of Indigenous Knowledge in Its Relationship to Reality Through Enacted Curriculum', in Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research, Springer International Publishing, pp. 125 - 139,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Lowe K; Burgess C; Moodie N; Tennent C; Guenther J, 2023, 'The Benefit of Indigenous Cultural Programs in Schools', in Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research, Springer International Publishing, pp. 41 - 59,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Lowe K; Harrison N; Tennent C; Guenther J; Vass G; Moodie N, 2023, 'Improving School Engagement with Indigenous Communities', in Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research, Springer International Publishing, pp. 83 - 102,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Lowe K; Tennent C; Burgess C; Moodie N; Vass G; Guenther J, 2023, 'Developing a Systematic Methodology to Explore Research in Indigenous Education', in Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research, Springer International Publishing, pp. 19 - 39,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Moodie N; Burgess C; Lowe K; Vass G, 2023, 'The Aboriginal Voices Project: What Matters, and Who Counts, in Indigenous Education', in Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research, Springer International Publishing, pp. 1 - 18,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Vass G; Lowe K; Burgess C; Harrison N; Moodie N, 2023, 'Professional Learning and Teacher Identity in Indigenous Education', in Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research, Springer International Publishing, pp. 103 - 123,
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Martin AJ; Tynan L; Collie RJ; Bishop M; Lowe K, 2022, 'Indigenous (Aboriginal, First Nations) students overcoming academic adversity', in Overcoming Adversity in Education, Routledge, pp. 211 - 222,
    Book Chapters | 2021
    Lowe K; Moodie N; Weuffen S, 2021, 'Refusing Reconciliation in Indigenous Curriculum', in Green B; Roberts P; Brennan M (ed.), Curriculum Challenges and Opportunities in a Changing World: Transnational Perspectives in Curriculum Inquiry, Palgrave, Chem, Switzland, pp. 71 - 86,
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Burgess C; Lowe K, 2019, 'Aboriginal voices: Social justice and transforming aboriginal education', in Higher Education, Pedagogy and Social Justice: Politics and Practice, pp. 97 - 117,
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Lowe K; Burgess C, 2019, 'Aboriginal Voices: Social Justice and Transforming Aboriginal Education', in Freebody K; Goodwin S; Proctor H (ed.), Higher Education, Pedagogy and Social Justice, Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, pp. 97 - 117,
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Lowe K; Cairncross J, 2019, 'Authentic engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content in the P-6 Australian Curriculum', in Green D; Price D (ed.), Making humanities and social sciences come alive, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 307 - 326,
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Lowe K, 2019, 'Leaning with connection: shifting teachers鈥 practice through authentic engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities', in Netolicky D; Andrews J; Paterson C (ed.), Flip the system Australia : what matters in education, Routledge, pp. 124 - 132
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Lowe K, 2018, 'Learning with connection: Shifting teachers' practice through authentic engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities', in Flip the System Australia: What Matters in Education, pp. 124 - 132
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Giacon J; Lowe K, 2016, 'Key factors in the renewal of Aboriginal languages in NSW', in Austin PK; Koch H; Simpson J (ed.), Language, land and song, EL Publishing, London, pp. 523 - 538
    Book Chapters | 2014
    Lowe K, 2014, 'Interview: Kevin Lowe', in Couzens V; Eira C; Stebbins T (ed.), Tyama-teeyt yookapa, Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages, Fitzroy, VIC, pp. 135 - 150
    Book Chapters | 2011
    Howard P; Cooke S; Lowe K; Perry B, 2011, 'Enhancing quality and equity in mathematics education for Australian Indigenous students', in Atweh B; Graven M; Secada W; Valero P (ed.), Mapping Equity and Quality in Mathematics Education, Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 365 - 378,
    Book Chapters | 2011
    Lowe K, 2011, 'A Critique of school and Aboriginal community partnerships', in Purdie N; Milgate G; Bell HR (ed.), Two way teaching and learning, ACER Press, Camberwell, VIC, pp. 13 - 32
    Book Chapters | 2010
    Hill C, 2010, 'Emergency language documentation teams: the Cape York Peninsula experience', in Hobson J; Lowe K; Poetsch S; Walsh M (ed.), Re-Awakening Languages: theory and practice in the revitalisation of Australia鈥檚 Indigenous languages, Sydney University Press, Sydney, pp. 418 - 432
    Book Chapters | 2010
    Hobson J; Lowe K; Poetsch S; Walsh M, 2010, 'Introduction: re-awakening Australian languages', in Hobson J; Lowe K; Poetsch S; Walsh M (ed.), Re-awakening languages, Sydney University Press, Sydney, pp. xxv - xxx
    Book Chapters | 2010
    Hobson J; Lowe K; Poetsch S; Walsh M, 2010, 'Re-awakening Australian languages Introduction', in Hobson J; Lowe K; Poetsch S; Walsh M (ed.), RE-AWAKENING LANGUAGES: THEORY AND PRACTICE IN THE REVITALISATION OF AUSTRALIA'S INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES, SYDNEY UNIV PRESS, pp. XXV - XXX,
    Book Chapters | 2010
    Jones C; Chandler P; Lowe K, 2010, 'Sounds, spelling and learning to read an Aboriginal language', in Hobson J; Lowe K; Poetsch S; Walsh M (ed.), Re-awakening languages, Sydney University Press, Sydney, pp. 281 - 292
    Book Chapters | 2010
    Lowe K; Howard P, 2010, 'So you want to work with community? Principles and strategies for school leaders affecting the establishment of Aboriginal language programs', in Hobson J; Lowe K; Poetsch S; Walsh M (ed.), Re-awakening languages, Sydney University Press, Sydney, pp. 194 - 209
    Book Chapters | 2008
    Lowe K, 2008, 'Walking the talk', in Leading from the edge, South Australian Centre for Leaders in Education, pp. 35 - 46
  • Edited Books | 2023
    Lowe K, (ed.), 2023, Assessing the Evidence in Indigenous Education Research: Implications for Policy and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, Switzland,
  • Journal articles | 2025
    Golledge C; Amazan R; Durksen TL; Lowe K; Vass G, 2025, 'Transforming practices in aboriginal education through teachers鈥 professional learning conversations', Teaching and Teacher Education, 155, pp. 104900 - 104900,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Amazan R; Wood J; Lowe K; Vass G, 2024, 'Pathways to progress?鈥揷ollective conscientisation and progressive school reform in Aboriginal education', Critical Studies in Education, 65, pp. 312 - 328,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Lowe K; Thompson K; Vass G; Grice C, 2024, 'Transforming schooling practices for First Nations learners: culturally nourishing schooling in conversation with the theory of practice architectures', International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 37, pp. 2236 - 2250,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Lowe K; Weuffen S; Woods A; Burgess C; Vass G, 2024, 'Conceptualising culturally nourishing pedagogies for professional learning in Australian schooling', Australian Educational Researcher,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Martin AJ; Bostwick KCP; Durksen TL; Amazan R; Lowe K; Weuffen S, 2024, 'Teachers鈥 motivation to teach Aboriginal perspectives in the curriculum: links with their Aboriginal students鈥 academic motivation', Australian Educational Researcher,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Vass G; Coombs D; Woods A; Lowe K, 2024, 'Educators engaged in curriculum work: Encounters with relationally responsive curriculum practices', Curriculum Journal, 35, pp. 91 - 107,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Weuffen S; Lowe K; Amazan R; Thompson K, 2024, 'The need for First Nations pedagogical narratives: epistemic inertia and complicity in (re)creating settler-colonial education', Journal of Curriculum Studies, 56, pp. 58 - 72,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Burns EC; Lowe K; Leonard A; Tsiamis J, 2023, 'Australian aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students鈥 motivation to continue in senior science: An expectancy value theory and intersectional identity approach', Contemporary Educational Psychology, 72, pp. 102125 - 102125,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Lowe K; Weuffen S, 2023, '鈥淵ou get to 鈥榝eel鈥 your culture鈥: Aboriginal students speaking back to deficit discourses in Australian schooling', Australian Educational Researcher, 50, pp. 33 - 53,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Strnadov谩 I; Dowse L; Lowe K; Danker J; Angelina Willow S; Tso M; Xavier A, 2023, 'Primary to high school transition planning for students with disability: A systematic review', International Journal of Educational Research, 120,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Weuffen S; Lowe K; Burgess C; Thompson K, 2023, 'Sovereign and pseudo-hosts: The politics of hospitality for negotiating culturally nourishing schools', Australian Educational Researcher, 50, pp. 131 - 146,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Weuffen S; Lowe K; Burgess C, 2023, 'Identity matters: Aboriginal educational sovereignty and futurity pushing back on the logic of elimination', Australian Educational Researcher, 50, pp. 1 - 10,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Weuffen S; Lowe K; Moodie N; Fricker A, 2023, 'Doing decolonisation: cultural reconnection as political resistance in schooling', Australian Educational Researcher, 50, pp. 147 - 165,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Weuffen S; Maxwell J; Lowe K, 2023, 'Inclusive, colour-blind, and deficit: Understanding teachers' contradictory views of Aboriginal students鈥 participation in education', Australian Educational Researcher, 50, pp. 89 - 110,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Burgess C; Bishop M; Lowe K, 2022, 'Decolonising Indigenous education: the case for cultural mentoring in supporting Indigenous knowledge reproduction', Discourse, 43, pp. 1 - 14,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Burgess C; Lowe K, 2022, 'Rhetoric vs Reality: The Disconnect between Policy and Practice for Teachers Implementing Aboriginal Education in their Schools', Education Policy Analysis Archives, 30,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Guenther J; Osborne S; Corrie S; Rigney LI; Lowe K, 2022, 'The Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS): Why invest in a strategy that reduces attendance?', Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 51,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Gutierrez A; Lowe K; Guenther J, 2021, 'Indigenous student literacy outcomes in Australia: a systematic review of literacy programmes', Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 49, pp. 37 - 60,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Lowe K; Skrebneva I; Burgess C; Harrison N; Vass G, 2021, 'Towards an Australian model of culturally nourishing schooling', Journal of Curriculum Studies, 53, pp. 467 - 481,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Lowe K; Tennent C; Moodie N; Guenther J; Burgess C, 2021, 'School-based Indigenous cultural programs and their impact on Australian Indigenous students: a systematic review.', Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 49, pp. 78 - 98,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Moodie N; Vass G; Lowe K, 2021, 'Special issue editorial: systematic reviews in Indigenous education', Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 49, pp. 1 - 4,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Moodie N; Vass G; Lowe K, 2021, 'The Aboriginal voices project: findings and reflections', Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 49, pp. 5 - 19,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Lowe K; Galstaun V, 2020, 'Ethical challenges: the possibility of authentic teaching encounters with indigenous cross-curriculum content?', Curriculum Perspectives, 40, pp. 93 - 98,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Burgess C; Tennent C; Vass G; Guenther J; Lowe K; Moodie N, 2019, 'A systematic review of pedagogies that support, engage and improve the educational outcomes of Aboriginal students', Australian Educational Researcher, 46, pp. 297 - 318,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Guenther J; Lowe K; Burgess C; Vass G; Moodie N, 2019, 'Factors contributing to educational outcomes for First Nations students from remote communities: A systematic review', Australian Educational Researcher, 46, pp. 319 - 340,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Harrison N; Tennent C; Vass G; Guenther J; Lowe K; Moodie N, 2019, 'Curriculum and learning in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education: a systematic review', The Australian Educational Researcher, 46, pp. 233 - 251,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Lowe K; Bub-Connor H; Ball R, 2019, 'Teacher professional change at the cultural interface: a critical dialogic narrative inquiry into a remote school teacher鈥檚 journey to establish a relational pedagogy', Australian and international journal of rural education, 29, pp. 17 - 29,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Lowe K; Harrison N; Tennent C; Guenther J; Vass G; Moodie N, 2019, 'Factors affecting the development of school and Indigenous community engagement: A systematic review', Australian Educational Researcher, 46, pp. 253 - 271,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Lowe K; Tennent C; Guenther J; Harrison N; Burgess C; Moodie N; Vass G, 2019, 'Correction to: 鈥楢boriginal Voices鈥: An overview of the methodology applied in the systematic review of recent research across ten key areas of Australian Indigenous education (The Australian Educational Researcher, (2019), 46, 2, (213-229), 10.1007/s13384-019-00307-5)', Australian Educational Researcher, 46, pp. 231 - 232,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Lowe K; Tennent C; Guenther J; Harrison N; Moddie N; Vass G, 2019, '鈥楢boriginal Voices鈥: an overview of the methodology applied in the systematic review of recent research across ten key areas of Australian Indigenous education', The Australian Educational Researcher, 46, pp. 213 - 229,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Vass G; Lowe K; Burgess C; Harrison N; Moodie N, 2019, 'Correction to: The possibilities and practicalities of professional learning in support of Indigenous student experiences in schooling: A systematic review (The Australian Educational Researcher, (2019), 46, 2, (341-361), 10.1007/s13384-019-00313-7)', Australian Educational Researcher, 46, pp. 363 - 364,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Vass G; Lowe K; Burgess C; Harrison N; Moodie N, 2019, 'The possibilities and practicalities of professional learning in support of Indigenous student experiences in schooling: A systematic review', Australian Educational Researcher, 46, pp. 341 - 361,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Maxwell J; Lowe K; Salter P, 2018, 'The re-creation and resolution of the 鈥榩roblem鈥 of Indigenous education in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cross-curriculum priority', The Australian Educational Researcher, 45, pp. 161鈥177 - 161鈥177,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Lowe K, 2017, 'Walanbaa warramildanha: The impact of authentic Aboriginal community and school engagement on teachers鈥 professional knowledge', The Australian Educational Researcher, 44, pp. 35 - 54,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Mudge A; Harvey LA; Lancaster A; Lowe K, 2015, 'Electrical Stimulation Following Botulinum Toxin A in Children With Spastic Diplegia: A Within-Participant Randomized Pilot Study', PHYSICAL & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN PEDIATRICS, 35, pp. 342 - 353,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Lowe K; Backhaus V; Yunkaporta T; Brown L; Loynes S, 2014, 'Winanga-y Bagay Gaay: know the river鈥檚 story', Curriculum Perspectives, 34, pp. 59 - 91
    Journal articles | 2014
    Lowe K; Bub-Connor H, 2014, 'Teaching at the cultural interface: establishing a responsive classroom through the authentic engagement of a teacher, Aboriginal students and parents', Joint AARE-NZARE 2014 Conference, pp. 1 - 13
    Journal articles | 2013
    Lowe K; Yunkaporta T, 2013, 'The inclusion of aboriginal and Torres strait islander content in the Australian national curriculum: A cultural, cognitive and socio-political evaluation', Curriculum Perspectives, 33, pp. 1 - 14
    Journal articles | 2009
    Lowe K, 2009, 'Opening the doors - collaborative community and school engagement to establish a sustainable Aboriginal language programs', Journal of Australian indigenous issues, 12, pp. 333 - 349
  • Reports | 2020
    Lowe K; Burgess C, 2020, Position Paper Draft Culturally Responsive Practices and Culturally Nourishing Education,
    Reports | 2019
    Lowe K; Harrison N; Burgess C; Vass G, 2019, A systematic review of recent research on the importance of cultural programs in schools, school and community engagement and school leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, Social Ventures Australia
    Other | 2019
    Lowe K, 2019, A systematic review of recent research on the importance of cultural programs in schools, school and community engagement and school leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education,
    Other | 2019
    Lowe K, 2019, A systematic review of recent research on the importance of cultural programs in schools, school and community engagement and school leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education,
    Other | 2017
    Lowe K, 2017, More than meets the eye for Indigenous NAPLAN results, The Wire,
    Conference Papers | 2011
    Lowe K, 2011, 'Aboriginal languages reclamation: countering the neo-colonial onslaught', in Indigenous education, Australian Council for Educational Research, Darwin, pp. 21 - 28, presented at The ACER Research Conference, Darwin
    Conference Papers | 2009
    Lowe K; Howard P, 2009, 'The impact of educational leadership in the implementation of a community-school Aboriginal language program in Western NSW', in Australian Association for Research in Education 2009 Conference Proceedings, Australian Association for Research in Education, pp. 1 - 18
    Conference Papers | 2009
    Lowe K; Walsh M, 2009, 'California down under: Indigenous language revitalization in New South Wales, Australia', in Leonard W; Gardner E (ed.), Language is life, University of California, Berkeley, pp. 100 - 115
    Reports | 2008
    Chandler P; Haid C; Jones C; Lowe K; Munro J, 2008, Aboriginal languages research: impact of learning an Aboriginal language on primary school students鈥 literacy in English, NSW Board of Studies,
    Conference Papers | 2003
    Howard P; Perry B; Lowe K; Ziems S; McKnight A, 2003, 'Mathematics in Indigenous contexts: A case study', in Mousley J (ed.), Proceedings of the 26th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, MERGA
    Conference Papers | 2001
    Lowe K, 2001, 'Aboriginal career aspirations program: school and community career education. A report and discussion on a NSW Board of Studies project', Fremantle, presented at AARE Annual Conference, Fremantle, 2001, Fremantle, 02 December 2001 - 06 December 2001,
    Conference Papers | 2001
    Lowe K, 2001, 'Owning language: Copyright, ethics and the development of aboriginal language programs', in Annual Conference of the Australian Association for Research in Education, Australian Association for Research in Education
    Conference Papers | 1995
    Jennings L; Lowe K; Shirm J, 1995, 'From Nimbin to Fredo and beyond:: action research initiatives on the North Coast', in Annual Conference of the Australian Association for Research in Education, Australian Association for Research in Education

ARC Discovery Indigenous 2020听(IN210100038)

Title: A qualitative and quantitative study of the issues affecting the teaching of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content in the Australian Curriculum: Problems and Solutions.

The Indigenous curriculum content in the Australian Curriculum is tasked as the latest attempt to improve outcomes for Indigenous students. This project aims to investigate how teachers approach this cross-curriculum mandate, consider teachers鈥 attitudes regarding the teaching of Indigenous content, and identify the complex factors that act as barriers to the success of teaching this content. Employing an innovative design that combines policy analysis, survey research and qualitative research to consider the structural, epistemic and curriculum factors impacting on the success of this policy mandate. This will illuminate the affordances and constraints of new ways of understanding the inclusion of Indigenous content into the curriculum.

Award: $330,000

NSW Department of Education: Strategic Funding Grant 2020 (RG203639)

Title: Aboriginal-led teacher professional learning to improve teaching and learning

The primary aim of the Culturally Nourishing Schooling (CNS) project is to affect structural, sustainable change in Aboriginal education through local Aboriginal community-led teacher professional learning programs. Such an undertaking is urgently required, as was reiterated earlier this year with the launch of the revised 鈥榗losing the gap鈥 policy as many Aboriginal students are not well served by Australian schooling. The proposed project is a collaborative undertaking between local Aboriginal communities, educators, and University researchers in 5 city/regional/rural NSW secondary schools. It forms part of an initiative known as the Aboriginal Voices: Transforming Indigenous Education (AV) program based on the researchers鈥 rigorous systematic analysis and synthesis of a decade of research in Indigenous education.

Award: $583,000


  • Equity Award 鈥 Public Service听Medal - 2003
  • Silver Award 鈥 NSW Premier鈥檚 Public Sector Award 2008
  • Colin Marsh Award Australian Curriculum Studies Association 2013
  • AARE 鈥 Best Paper 2018

The failure of the Close the Gap strategy and the systemic nature of Aboriginal student听underachievement indicates the critical need for a new educational paradigm.The Aboriginal Voices project听aims to transform the schooling experiences of Aboriginal students by developing and听trialling a model that promotes high quality education outcomes with the active听acknowledgement of Aboriginal cultures. The significance of this research is that it moves听beyond policy current rhetoric to analyse the educational experiences of Aboriginal听communities, its impact on engagement, and build a whole-of-school model of sustainable听success. The key outcome is an evaluated model of education for NSW schools.The research to date has completed a series of systematic reviews of recent educational research in Australia across 11 areas of education endeavour where Aboriginal students and their schooling have been researched.听A second phase of the project has seen 5 papers written an aspects of Culturally Nourishing Schooling for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.The current phase of the project will see the development of an overarching framework for an Australian model of Culturally Nourishing Schooling, with concurrent work being undertaken in school leadership, pedagogic practice, community engagement and student aspirations.