The University of the Sunshine Coast will share in almost $170,000 in Queensland Government Education Horizon Grants to identify and evaluate factors associated with boosting school attendance and achievements for First Nations students.
Led by UniSC Senior Education Lecturer Dr Sharon Louth, the strength-based research will follow a ‘Dadirri’ approach, listening deeply and reflecting on practices to improve outcomes for young Indigenous Australians.
Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson announced the successful project recently.
Dr Louth said the research would involve an initial literature review to synthesise evidence about the factors supporting educational success for Australia’s First Nations peoples.
“We will then interview up to 20 First Nations adults, who have completed Year 12 since 2014, to evaluate and extend these factors,” Dr Louth said.
“Listening deeply to their lived experiences, Dadirri will provide a greater understanding of factors contributing to educational success.
“Our prior research building educational aspirations with First Nations teenagers developed strong partnerships between regional First Nations organisations, including the Butchulla Native Title Corporation, Central Queensland Indigenous Development, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation, UniSC and local state and independent high schools.
“This project builds on these partnerships to provide tangible outcomes for Education Queensland.
“It will produce a framework for schools to translate the findings into strategies to support the educational success of First Nations students.”
The research results are expected in late 2026.
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