Advancing Indigenous participation in higher education has long been a priority for Professor Michelle Trudgett. The internationally respected academic and University of New England alumna was named the 2018 National NAIDOC Scholar of the Year last week.
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The award recognises her research, which provides considerable insight into the area of Indigenous participation in higher education, with a specific focus on the postgraduate sector.
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Professor Trudgett is the Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Indigenous Knowledges at the University of Technology Sydney. She was previously employed as the Head of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University.
A proud Wiradjuri woman, Professor Trudgett has three degrees from UNE, but admits her journey’s starting point was determined by coin toss.
“Choosing UNE originally was not an overly thought out process, to be honest,” she said.
“I was 20 years old, and had a copy of the Koori Mail newspaper. There were advertisements for UNE and another university. I was with a friend and flipped a coin, saying I’d apply for UNE if it came down heads, or the other university if it came down tails.
“Heads won, and some months later I found myself starting a Bachelor of Arts degree (Indigenous Studies) at UNE on my 21st birthday.
“It didn’t take long before I fell in love with the university, and subsequently went on to enrol in my Master of Professional Studies (Aboriginal Studies) and Doctor of Education at UNE. Those decisions were made in a much more structured and informed manner than the original!”
Since graduating with her doctorate in 2009, Professor Trudgett has been a Chief Investigator on three Australian Research Council grants (two as the lead CI). The most recently awarded grant, with colleague Professor Susan Page, will reshape the way universities currently 'do business' with Indigenous Australians through focusing on Indigenous leadership in higher education.
In line with the 2018 NAIDOC theme “Because of her, we can” Professor Trudgett says her mum is an absolute inspiration.
“With three degrees herself, she has demonstrated in very real terms the importance of education.
“Another strong female role model is former UNE academic, Prof. Anne Eckermann. Anne taught me in my Master’s degree, and was one of my doctorate supervisors. She has been an absolute inspiration, and one of the main reasons I chose to undertake my postgraduate studies at UNE.”
Nominated for the award by Professor Page, Professor Trudgett said winning it is an absolute career highlight.
“It’s a wonderful symbol of recognition for the work I’ve done in the Indigenous Education space. I’m extremely humbled to receive this award.”
