‘I am not alone’: enabling factors for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD success

Abstract

Through yarning and storying led by Aboriginal researchers, this study explores the success factors for Indigenous PhD Graduates. Participants comprised 21 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who had completed their PhDs within the last 7 years. Our thematic analysis uncovered themes associated with participants’ decision to enrol as a scholar and the factors and experiences that contributed to the successful completion of their PhD. We identified three overlapping yet distinct themes that represent why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people choose to pursue a PhD: Telling our story in our way, My Community needs me to do this, and Practicality rules. A strong sense of Connection and Reciprocity was a crucial factor for participants’ successful completion of the PhD. We present a model of our findings model that translates the three key success factors identified in this study as foundational to success for Indigenous scholars’ success in their PhD journey.