Southern Cross University indigenous education research transforms policy

A Gold Coast university PhD graduate is shaping the state’s indigenous education policies — and it’s just one day after his graduation ceremony.

An indigenous advocate celebrated a special career milestone on the Gold Coast yesterday — Dr Ian Mackie collected his PhD at Southern Cross University Gold Coast campus.

Dr Mackie has dedicated his life to education, completing his Doctor of Philosophy in just Two-and-a-half years after spending four decades advocating for indigenous education.

“For me, I’ve been working on this PhD for a lifetime,” he said. “It feels good to get this lifetime of work and experiences down on paper.”

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Indigenous education specialist Chris Sarra supports friend and colleague Ian Mackie as he accepts his PhD through Southern Cross University Gold Coast campus. Photo: Southern Cross University

His thesis outlined a basic formula for successful education delivery, after he worked as a school principal of Aurukun State School on Cape York and an education consultant at Doomadgee.

Dr Mackie, now based in Brisbane, was appointed Deputy Director-General at the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DATSIP) last September, reporting to Chris Sarra.

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Professor Sarra, an indigenous education specialist and 2010 Queensland Australian of the Year, was an official guest at the graduation ceremony.

Dr Mackie’s research is already helping to inform policies for the Queensland Government.

“This is about improving attendance, school participation and educational outcomes for Aboriginal children,” he said.

“The Queensland Government is already implementing the research findings particularly

with the jobs guarantee model … so students know they will either have a position in the job market, in university or in TAFE after school, which helps them to understand the reason why they’re in school.”

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Southern Cross University.

Southern Cross University is special to the Mackie family. Dr Mackie completed a Bachelor of Education Honours Year in 2015 and his daughter is undertaking her own PhD on government responses to the fourth industrial revolution.

Dr Mackie said he had received a lot of support from the university over the years.

“I have been privileged to be supervised by Dr Bradley Shipway who is widely recognised as a leading critical realist and researcher — he’s one of many world-class scholars at Southern Cross University.”

Dr Shipway described Mr Mackie as “an exceptional person who is recognised for his high-profile research and thoroughly deserving as recognition for his work”.