Gnibi College alumna transforms Indigenous engagement

A Southern Cross University Gnibi College graduate has been recognised for her research on what Indigenous peoples consider important in evaluations that affect them.

Nicole Tujague, a Gubbi Gubbi and South Sea Islander woman, has been awarded the Southern Cross University Chancellor’s Medal for her outstanding PhD thesis.

Dr Tujague left a successful corporate career to work with Indigenous communities, starting with an entry-level job and enrolling in a Bachelor of Indigenous Studies.

“I always wanted to go back to working with Indigenous communities, because that’s my family,” she said.

“So, I took an entry level job working with First Nations families, and enrolled to do my Bachelor of Indigenous Studies, with a focus on healing and trauma, and managing organisations.

Dr Tujague went on to earn First Class Honours while establishing her consultancy, The Seedling Group.

Her PhD focused on Indigenous-led evaluation, addressing gaps in culturally safe practices.

“When you find a key piece missing, your PhD is this perfect opportunity to try to add some knowledge into that space,” Dr Tujague said.

Dr Tujague said there was a need for evaluations that measure relevant Indigenous values, often overlooked in funding decisions.

“To fly in, talk to a few people, then fly out to write up your data is not considered safe practice relationships need to be forged,” she said, “but that might be all the time your evaluation budget has allowed for, so you spend a lot of time trying to renegotiate the parameters of the work.”

This research was carried out while Dr Tujague and the Co-founder of The Seedling Group, Kelleigh Ryan, were publishing their book, Cultural Safety in Trauma-informed Practice: Billabongs of Knowledge.

The two pieces of work complement each other.

“The real test is when you go into an Indigenous community and community members say, that feels really right,” she said.

Cultural Safety in Trauma-Informed Practice from a First Nations Perspective is available from compassaustralia.com.au