An Indigenous-led team from The University of Queensland, Professor James Ward, Associate Professor Judith Dean, Dr Stephen Harfield and Rebekah Hauiti, has received the ACGR Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Indigenous Excellence and Empowerment for their outstanding leadership in establishing culturally safe, community-accountable pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HDR candidates.

Established in 2022 by the UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, the pioneering “Pathways to a PhD: Doing Research for Mob” program has demystified the doctoral journey for 78 participants nationwide. This intensive three-day program integrates Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, combining yarning sessions, workshops, and ongoing relational mentoring. Their approach has successfully driven 12 confirmed enrolments across PhD and Master of Philosophy programs.

Complementing this pathway, their “Yarning for Success” initiative provides crucial peer networking and cultural safety to reduce isolation, celebrating six PhD graduations in 2025 and three in 2026. By challenging conventional research frameworks and positioning First Nations voices at the centre of graduate education, the team has created an empowering ecosystem where candidates can thrive and lead on their own terms.