This is the third and final article in the series. In the first article, I discussed tips for students who are considering undertaking a PhD in Education. Following this, I outlined some potentially useful tips for students who are currently navigating the program. This final article offers some advice for students who have just finished a PhD. 

First, I offer my congratulations to you on submitting your thesis, completing your oral component (if required) and receiving conferral of the degree. You have achieved a significant milestone and you should be proud of this achievement. As an Indigenous PhD graduate, you are not only shifting historical, racialised discourse, but also challenging coloniality in education. While you are among a growing number of Indigenous PhD graduates in Australia, there is still more progress to be made given there were only 52 Indigenous PhD graduates in 2021 (Universities Australia, 2023). This equates to there being fewer than two Indigenous PhD graduates per university within Australia (Universities Australia, 2023).

This number has been fairly consistent since 2016. Prior to this, there were only 25 Indigenous PhD graduates in Australia in 2015 – or less than one graduate per university (Universities Australia, 2023). Within a postgraduate research context, to reach population parity of 3.2 per cent, the university sector would have needed to graduate an additional 115 Indigenous postgraduate research students in 2021 (Universities Australia, 2023).

Academia in Australia is a Westernised space where Indigenous knowledges, theories, methodologies and methods sit on the margins of the university. If you have contributed to either the Indigenous education or studies space, thank you for your contribution. You may now be wondering “what do I do with a PhD?” Below are some potentially useful tips that may help with your transition into the next phase of your career.

Celebrate this milestone with those who celebrate you

Before we explore potential employment opportunities, I encourage you to attend your graduation ceremonies. More specifically, I encourage you to attend your Indigenous graduation ceremony, your School’s event, as well as your broader university graduation ceremony. These graduation events not only provide you the opportunity to recognise and celebrate your achievement, but they also provide those who have supported you with the opportunity to celebrate this milestone with you. One of the highlights of my PhD program was attending the UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sashing Ceremony and being invited to deliver the graduation address. This was a special event as it was attended by my mum and aunty (two proud Quandamooka women), together with my then-fiancé and one of my supervisors. The message here is simple – capture and celebrate these special moments with your loved ones and your advisory team. You deserve this moment!

Publish your research findings (if you haven’t already done so)  

It is a good idea to think about publishing your main research findings or various chapters of your thesis if you have not already commenced this writing and publishing process. Although you may be fed up with writing at this point, publishing your work in peer-reviewed journals will strengthen your employment opportunities. I recommended that you discuss the journal selection process with your supervisors, ideally before you graduate. Your work in education deserves to be read and engaged with in quality journals (Q1/Q2). I also recommended using the useful online tool, ScImago Journal & Country Rank, to search for potential journals in Education and to view their details and ranking.

Explore your work opportunities: You have more agency than you may think

Your expertise has value across society and many fields so I encourage you to broaden your horizon and search for potential work in various areas of employment. You have more agency and choice than you may think and you can make a positive contribution to your space outside of academia. With a PhD in Education, you have the privilege and opportunity to consider employment in schools, academia, industry/organisations or government. Consultancy work might also be a viable option. There are many organisations outside of academia who value Indigenous education such as the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership or the Stronger Smarter Institute. You could search for potential employment opportunities with The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. You may also want to become involved with a national charity, such as the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation, if you are interested or trained in these areas.

If you are interested in transitioning into academia and research (for example a Postdoctoral Research Fellow), I recommended you discuss potential opportunities with your advisory team and School. Furthermore, reconnect with those academics who have supported you during your candidature to discuss potential employment opportunities. I encourage you to search for work opportunities and workplaces that suit you and align with your career interests. Applications, especially in an academic context, are also usually lengthy so remember to prioritise your wellbeing throughout the employment process.

Extra tip for Schools and Universities:

Consider offering PhD graduates the opportunity to provide feedback (preferably formal) on the program

I find it interesting that there is not an option for recent PhD graduates to provide feedback on the program – despite all other university students being asked to provide course feedback upon course completion. In my view, allowing recent graduates with an opportunity to provide formal feedback with regards to different aspects of the PhD program (for example in relation to candidature, milestones, postgraduate conferences, events, supervision, submission, the Graduate School, examination, graduation), may be beneficial to Schools. It could seek to further strengthen the existing PhD program by embedding evidence-based changes that aim to support future, as well as current, Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, thereby working to improve overall completion numbers.

This is the second article in the series.  In the first article, I discussed tips for students who are considering undertaking a PhD in Education. This second article discusses some useful tips for Indigenous students who are currently navigating the program. The issue of Indigenous student retention in PhD programs is important because while Universities Australia (2023) report a steady growth in Indigenous postgraduate research enrolments from 2005 to 2021, Indigenous student award completions still remain relatively low (Universities Australia, 2023).

This article unpacks a number of tips for those students who are currently navigating the PhD program and working towards confirmation of candidature, mid-candidature review or final thesis review. Some of these tips may also be beneficial to supervisors and may seek to support student retention.

Be open to shifts in your initial research topic or research questions

As you continue to engage with contemporary literature and yarn with your supervisors and experts in your field, you may notice that your initial research topic, scope of your study or research questions begin to shift. From my experience, this is a fairly natural progression of research. These sorts of research developments are sometimes necessary and can ultimately improve your thesis. Try not to be discouraged if this is the case for you in the early stages of your candidature. Embrace these research shifts as these developments may actually strengthen your research study.

Participate in campus events/activities and engage with groups

Feeling both academically and culturally supported is key with regards to candidature, particularly during the early stages. To feel a sense of support, I recommend participating in various campus events and activities. Within the early stages of my research, I was invited by my supervisor to share my PhD idea to fellow Indigenous academics and PhD students during a 3-minute thesis competition that was based on campus. These events are a great opportunity to gain experience with regards to public speaking, which will also assist you in your preparation for confirmation of candidature. They are also an opportunity to network with fellow students and researchers. Reach out to your advisory team to find out if there are any upcoming campus events or activities that may be of interest to you.

Additionally, I encourage you to consider potentially joining a reading group at university. This group might be based either within or outside of your School. Joining a reading group is a deadly way to familiarise yourself with current literature in Education/Indigenous education or within Indigenous studies. During my candidature, I was involved in two reading and yarning groups with fellow Indigenous students and academics and I felt supported and valued in both of these groups. There may also be opportunities to collaborate and publish within these groups which will also benefit your future employment opportunities.

Navigate problematic research data with support from trusted people

If you are undertaking research in the political space of Indigenous education, there is a possibility that you may need to engage with problematic research data. Essentially, I am referring to racist or resistant educational data that you may have gathered during data collection. This type of data has the potential to be triggering. If this is the case, then you may want to consider having a yarn in relation to this matter with trusted people including your family members, trusted colleagues/critical friends or your advisory team. An additional option may be to explore counselling services at university (or outside of university) for your wellbeing.  

With my research, I had to engage with colonising data and racist language on a regular basis for a lengthy period of time. I had to navigate explicitly and implicitly resistant research data by a number of non-Indigenous students in relation to studying compulsory Indigenous education at university. While I acknowledge and understand that this data was mostly by non-Indigenous pre-service teachers who were inexperienced, as an Indigenous researcher, I was still subjected to this data. I attempted to balance out this experience with reading positive student data and remembering that one of the goals of my research was to disrupt coloniality. Upon reflection, this issue was perhaps one of my most difficult challenges in the program. I note that my wife was my main support during data collection and analysis and it is important for you to have similar support to navigate these types of challenges.

Be open to feedback on your research (but perhaps not too open)

I encourage you to enjoy this learning journey and to listen to those scholars who are experts in your field. In my experience,  academia is grounded in informal and formal feedback. Try to be open to feedback on your research from your advisory team and from trusted colleagues/critical friends and students. While this tip may sound simple, it is often more challenging in practice. However, I do believe that receiving rational and appropriate feedback and recommendations regarding your research will only further strengthen your work. 

For those students who are embedding Indigenised or decolonial theoretical frameworks, methodologies or methods in your research study, this issue is more nuanced. University is a particular type of interface where Indigenous knowledges can struggle to obtain legitimacy. Or as my former supervisor states, “the Australian university is grounded in imperial-capitalist-neo-liberal-colonial-patriarchy”. The implications of these structures have impacted the ways in which research has historically been and continues to be undertaken. Sharing particular aspects of your research to those who may not be as familiar with Indigenous research, may result in some awkward conversations (or potential tension) and may invite unhelpful feedback. However, it could also result in new learning experiences. Remember to trust your instinct!

See yourself as gradually becoming the expert

Towards the latter stages of the program, try to see yourself as becoming the expert in your chosen field. As your PhD research is specific and designed to contribute to new knowledge, there is probably no-one who knows more about your precise research topic than you. I have struggled with this piece of advice (mainly due to outdated Westernised discourse such as deficit discourse) but it is important to be confident in your growing skills as a researcher. The reality is that you are developing expertise and skills and are actually becoming an expert in your field. A deadly advisory team will help foster your development and growth as a researcher.

Take regular breaks and take leave if necessary

Our society values “doing more is better” and this can have implications. Your value or worth is not determined by how many hours you spend at your desk or words you write in a single day while on your third caffeinated beverage. So, remember to take breaks.

The PhD program can be a demanding program full of commitments, milestones and chapter deadlines. The workload can be intense at times, especially if you have family commitments and responsibilities. Sometimes, you need to take leave from the program. At the end of the day, the PhD program does not define you and your mental and emotional health is more important than a chapter deadline. If this is the case, I recommend that you discuss leave options with your advisory team. Your supervisors are there to support you. Deadly supervision includes supervisors realising the importance of these matters, checking in with you and supporting your wellbeing.

Extra tips:

Schedule regular meetings with your supervisors and eventually discuss potential thesis examiners with your advisory team

It is important to schedule regular meetings with your supervisors to discuss your research (fortnightly etc.). It is a deadly idea to discuss possible international and national examiners who work in your field of study with your advisory team before you reach your final thesis milestone. This process takes time. It is better to get a head start so your thesis can be marked as soon as possible after it is submitted.

Consider allocated research funds from your School

You may have some allocated research funds to assist with your candidature. I recommend using these research funds on particular experiences such as education conferences (Australian Association for Research in Education etc.) so that you can explore new educational research as well as network. Alternatively, you could use these research funds for professional editing services.

Be friendly to the Graduate School

If you have submitted your final thesis and have been waiting for updates, you may have considered contacting the Graduate School. Personally speaking, it took approximately six months for my thesis examination (during Covid) and I was not the only candidate in the School who experienced these lengthy delays. Waiting for your examination outcome can be quite a frustrating experience, especially if you have employment commitments, but remember to be kind to those in the Graduate School. You will eventually receive the outcome of your thesis. Remember that it is common for candidates to pass the final examination with amendments. A deadly advisory team will guide and support you during this time so that you can effectively make the revisions required by the examiners. 

There are many opportunities and challenges associated with doing a PhD. It is a rewarding program that allows you to deeply explore a research area of interest. However, it is also recognised as a difficult academic pursuit and students may encounter various challenges in completing the program.

My own PhD, undertaken at The University of Queensland (UQ), explored the key learning, teaching and national education policy challenges in relation to Indigenous education at university. Since my conferral in 2022, I have been asked to share my professional advice for Indigenous students who are wanting to enrol in a PhD program and conduct research.

So, I decided to write this series of articles, over three separate posts, related to undertaking a PhD in Education, based off my lived experience as a Nunukul/Ngugi researcher. My aim in sharing these articles is to particularly assist Indigenous students who are doing a PhD in the field of education.

My lived experience

According to Universities Australia (2023), the number of Indigenous student enrolments in PhD programs has increased significantly over the past 13 or so years. For example, in 2011, there were 291 student enrolments compared to 594 enrolments in 2021. While these increasing numbers are positive, there is still further work required; there would need to be an additional 555 Indigenous postgraduate research enrolments to reach population parity of 3.2 per cent for 2021 (Universities Australia, 2023).

While I am writing from my own experience, the tips offered in this series may be relevant for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students who are doing a PhD in Education. This series includes general advice as well as much more nuanced tips which may only relate to Indigenous students who are conducting research in the Indigenous space. Experiencing any program at university is subjective, and these tips are intended to serve as a guide only. Remember that the PhD journey is your own journey and you should navigate it in the way that works best for you. This article, which is the first in the series, shares five tips that may assist students who are transitioning into the program.

Select a topic of interest

The decision to undertake a PhD is an exciting time but can also be overwhelming given the diverse range of topics that you can choose to research. Selecting a research topic can sometimes be a complex process as it can be difficult to decide on the one topic you want to research for the next four (or more) years. Here are a few ideas that may spark your thinking. Consider areas of education that may be improved or where you see room for further development. What contribution would you like to make in education? Perhaps it could be related to curriculum, pedagogy or assessment. What areas of education were you drawn to as part of your previous studies? What level of education are you interested in researching?

If you are transitioning from completing your Masters, consider whether your research topic could be an extension of your existing work. If you are a classroom teacher or work in initial teacher education, perhaps you could connect your teaching experiences with your study.

Drawn to my topic

In my experience, it is common for Indigenous PhD students to choose an Indigenous-related research topic. I also did my research in Indigenous education because of my ontological connection to the space. I was also drawn to my topic because I wanted to contribute to education policy, which was informed by my experiences as a teacher and student. Although this may seem obvious, my advice is to choose a topic that interests you – whether that be in the field of literary criticism, educational leadership or Indigenous education policy. There is also no need to rush this process – you will be spending a significant amount of time with your topic so it is important to choose wisely. Given the length of the program, to maintain a level of motivation, you will need to select a research topic that interests you.

Choose a deadly advisory team

The PhD program is a long and at times emotional journey and it helps if you have supportive and culturally competent supervisors. The reality is that there is not a great number of Indigenous academics in the Education space. If you are seeking to involve a number of Indigenous scholars on your advisory team, you may have to shift these expectations. When I enrolled in the PhD program, there were no other Indigenous academics or PhD students based in the UQ School of Education. Until other Indigenous PhD students and academics arrived in the School, this was a fairly isolating experience.

Ultimately, my advisory team consisted of experienced non-Indigenous and Indigenous academics (teachers and non-teachers) who were based within and outside of the Education School. This advisory team brought different strengths to supervision. I recommend that you undertake some initial research based on those academics who are experienced in your research area and then contact and schedule to have a yarn with several academics to see if they may be a good fit for your research. Remember, you can always change supervisors if your situation changes.

Apply for scholarship support

Generally speaking, receiving a PhD scholarship will place you in a better financial position with your candidature. This may mean that you may not need to work or teach each semester and instead are able to focus on effectively developing your research. I encourage you to discuss potential university scholarships with your potential supervisors prior to commencing the program in order to place you in the best position to achieve your research goals. 

Find quality support

Finding quality support from people and groups was key for my successful navigation of the PhD program. I come from a predominately trade-based family of seven people, including six men and am the first in my family to graduate from university. While my family were supportive of my studies, this presented multifaceted challenges and so I understand the importance of finding like-minded people and quality support groups. Connect with people who have a shared experience of Higher Degree by Research (HDR) studies and who can offer support to you throughout the program.  

Within the early stages of your candidature, I encourage you to consider applying for the Professional Certificate in Indigenous Research at the University of Melbourne. This course, developed by Professor Marcia Langton, is designed specifically for Indigenous HDR students across Australia. The course provides an opportunity to discuss your research with like-minded Indigenous students and supportive academic staff. If you are potentially interested in applying for this course, I suggest that you have a conversation with your supervisors to see if this program aligns with your busy schedule. I have completed this course and recommend it to HDR students.

Furthermore, I also found support in various reading groups at university. This is discussed more in the second article.

Prioritise your wellbeing

The process of enrolling in a new program at university, navigating administrative issues, regularly meeting with potential supervisors and thinking about multiple aspects of your research study can be overwhelming. Remember to take care of your health and wellbeing during this potentially lengthy and complex process. Develop positive habits early to prioritise your wellbeing so that the program is sustainable and enjoyable.