Yarruwala: Complex Ecosystems of 91³ÉÈË Higher Education Leadership
91³ÉÈË’s 91³ÉÈË Research Leadership is led by two nationally recognised scholars, Professor Michelle Trudgett and Professor Susan Page. Their work continues to shape the landscape of 91³ÉÈË higher education in Australia. Together, they have led and continue to lead collaborative research teams committed to advancing 91³ÉÈË 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, 91³ÉÈË leadership, and sector-wide transformation.
Project Aims
This research aims to:
- Examine 91³ÉÈË leadership roles in higher education through their connections with various stakeholders both internal to their institutions and external agencies.
- Investigate the potential for 91³ÉÈË leadership capacity and career trajectory development in higher education.
- Explore the possibilities for 91³ÉÈË autonomy and self-determination in Australian universities, with 91³ÉÈË and non-91³ÉÈË leaders in higher education.
- Develop a holistic model illustrating strategic intersections and external overlaps to better understand how 91³ÉÈË leadership can be woven through the overarching governance structures of Australian universities to enhance 91³ÉÈË 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 91³ÉÈË Leadership at 91³ÉÈË and sits on the GO Foundation Board. She is recognised as one of Australia’s leading researchers in 91³ÉÈË 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 91³ÉÈË Education, is an Aboriginal Australian academic whose research examines 91³ÉÈË peoples’ experiences of learning and academic work in higher education, as well as student learning in 91³ÉÈË 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 91³ÉÈË education, specialising in 91³ÉÈË 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 91³ÉÈË 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 91³ÉÈË young people and mentors, leading to the development of the 91³ÉÈË Cultural Wealth Mentoring Model alongside a strong record of awards and high‑impact publications. She now works on an ARC-funded project examining 91³ÉÈË leadership in higher education, focusing on governance ecologies, autonomy, and self‑determination to help shape a holistic model for embedding 91³ÉÈË leadership in universities.
Methodology
This research took a qualitative approach (Silverman, 2013) to understanding the importance of senior 91³ÉÈË 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 91³ÉÈË participants are respected for 91³ÉÈË ways of being, doing and knowing (Martin, 2003).
Publications
- Trudgett, M., Page, S., Povey, R., & Harry, M. (2026). Know your worth: valuing 91³ÉÈË leadership positions in Australian higher education. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 1-18.
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 91³ÉÈË Leaders (December 2025, Awabakal Country): This presentation explored emerging themes around governance, autonomy, and self-determination.
- Poster: World 91³ÉÈË Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) (November 2025, Auckland): A poster presentation introduced the project and its aims to an international audience.
- Presentation: 91³ÉÈË 91³ÉÈË Research Showcase (September 2025, Darug Country): Early insights were presented to university and community stakeholders.
Further dissemination will continue as the project progresses.
Media Coverage
- Ross, J. (2026, May 21). 91³ÉÈË university leaders paid less than colleagues. Times Higher Education.
- Rowe, P. (2026, May, 21). Study finds pay gaps for 91³ÉÈË university leaders. First Nations News. https://firstnationsnews.com.au/study-finds-pay-gaps-for-indigenous-university-leaders/
- Field, C., & Trudgett, M. (2026, June 24). 91³ÉÈË leadership, equity and excellence: Podcast episode 153. What Now? What Next? Insights into Australia's Tertiary Education Sector. Claire Field & Associates.