University of Wollongong VC Research Fellow Recognized as 2024 NAIDOC Awards Finalist

University of Wollongong (UOW) Vice-Chancellor Research Fellow Dr Stacey Kim Coates has been named as a finalist in the 2024 National NAIDOC Education Award Category.

The 2024 National NAIDOC Week Awards are one of the biggest events on the calendar for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with the awards paying tribute to Indigenous trailblazers making life-changing contributions to their community.

The 2024 National NAIDOC Week Awards ceremony took place in Adelaide on Saturday 6 July 2024. Dr Coates was selected as one of three finalists in the National NAIDOC Education Award Category, with Warlpiri Education and Training Trust announced as the winner.

Dr Coates, a proud Wiradjuri woman and recognised Aunty in her community, is an accomplished Indigenous academic, executive leader and education sector specialist passionate about driving improved educational and employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In June, Dr Coates was awarded a research fellowship with UOW, the VC’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellowship. She will be joining the School of Education, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (ASSH) under the mentorship of Senior Professor Sue Bennett, Professor Grace McCarthy and Ms Jaymee Beveridge.

Dr Coates is recognised for her achievements in education and her determined efforts to improve the educational outcomes of First Nations Australians.

“It is my life’s mission to contribute to meaningful change and help ensure that all facets of Indigenous education receive the recognition and support it deserves,” Dr Coates said.

“It is about changing the lives of Indigenous peoples for the better. My fire is burning, and through advocacy driving Indigenous education sovereignty, it will turn a spark into blazing flames that no one will be able to extinguish.

“In my opinion, education is the single most important key to prosperity and a better future. However, education gets life only when it inspires people to take action, initiate a change, or transform something with what they have learned.”

Dr Coates attended the NAIDOC Week Awards ceremony in Adelaide and said she was honoured to be recognised on the national stage.

“It tells me I am making a positive difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which is ultimately my purpose in life. The work I do is for my peoples, and I will continue to advocate for Mob in the education realm until I take my last breath, whether I am recognised for the work I do or not.”

Dr Coates has previously worked across several fields including child welfare, health and employment, before moving into the education sector.

Dr Coates’ personal education journey has fuelled her determination for change. She did not learn to read until the age of 10 and looking back on her schooling experience felt she was “simply pushed through the education system”.

“At the conclusion of my final year of high school, at the age of 17, my self-esteem and confidence levels were at an all-time low, along with my ability to read and write,” Dr Coates said.

Dr Coates made the decision to apply for entry into university, as a mature age student, enrolling at Western Sydney University.

“Reflecting on my journey, I went from not being able to read and write throughout my early years at school, to learning to read and comprehend journal articles and writing essays, to publishing my own pieces of work, including a PhD thesis.

“As a result, I saw the many great values and benefits of education and therefore I was able to use my educational journey as a platform to take action, initiate a change and transform something with what I have learned. It has now become my life mission to ensure all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the same opportunity.”

Dr Coates completed her PhD, researching senior Indigenous leadership in higher education. She has published extensively, building a strong catalogue of research that promote the importance of senior Indigenous leadership within the education system.

Her research resulted in a newly developed Indigenous methodological framework entitled Indigenous Institutional Theory. Dr Coates’ framework presents a global vision for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to work together to decolonise academia, improving the freedom and cultural safety of staff, students and their community in the field of Indigenous research.

Dr Coates has also worked closely with numerous Indigenous students, assisting them in their studies through high school and into university. She is currently mentoring a UOW social work student in the final year of her degree and takes pride in celebrating Indigenous student success.

Dr Coates is a committed advocate for the recognition of First Nations peoples and cultures. Dr Coates personally campaigned for the NSW Department of Education to introduce mandatory ‘Indigenous cultures and histories’ training for all public school teachers.

She joins UOW to undertake research in response to the Australian Universities Accord. The research project aims to contribute to the delivery of lasting reform in Australia’s higher education system in order to meet the current and future needs of the nation.

“I believe the rigorous and detailed Indigenous-led investigation of current practices surrounding Indigenous knowledges and research across the Australian higher education sector will provide a model of best practice for Australian universities, in terms of how to build a sustainable pipeline of Indigenous early career researchers, elevate Indigenous research outputs and implement Indigenous graduate attributes in a meaningful manner.”