03/09/2026
The UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health is incredibly proud to announce that we have been awarded the 2026 Australian Council of Graduate Research Award for Excellence in Graduate Research: Indigenous Excellence and Empowerment. 🎉🎉🎉
This award acknowledges the significant holistic approach the UQ Poche Centre takes to supporting the next generation of Indigenous researchers, knowledge holders and leaders and the Centre’s commitment to addressing the longstanding underrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in higher degree research.
At the heart of this work are three components; the Pathways to a PhD: Doing Research for Mob program; our mentoring and peer connection program, Yarning for Success; and the ongoing commitment of supervisors and students to achieving their degrees.
Designed by Mob, for Mob, Pathways creates a culturally safe space where participants can explore research and academic pathways while remaining connected to culture, community priorities, and Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.
Since UQ Poche’s inaugural program in 2022, the program has supported 78 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants from across Australia, including 33 interstate participants, and contributed to 12 confirmed PhD and MPhils. 🎓🎓🎓At the same time The UQ Poche Centre has supported 16 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to graduate with their PhDs, and currently supports eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD and MPhil students.
This achievement reflects the dedication and generosity of many people. We would like to acknowledge our sister Poche Centre for Indigenous Health at the The University of Melbourne and staff of the centre to tailor the program, alongside the contributions of our Elders, presenters, mentors, staff and students who have helped shape the program.
We also extend our sincere thanks to the HDR supervisors whose tireless support is critical to student success. Through regular student catch-ups, thoughtful review of milestone papers, mentorship and constructive feedback, they play an invaluable role in nurturing and supporting emerging Indigenous researchers.
Congratulations to Professor James Ward, Associate Professor Judith Dean, Dr Stephen Harfield and Rebekah Hauiti on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you to everyone who has contributed to this success
We are honoured to receive this award and proud of the collective effort that it represents. Most importantly, we acknowledge the participants whose aspirations, achievements and leadership continue to guide and inspire this work.
The University of Queensland
