Professor Peter Buckskin 

Welcome to my homepage. I am pleased to be the Dean: Indigenous Scholarship, Engagement and Research (ISER), University of South Australia.

In 2012 I was appointed Convenor of the State's Advisory Committee on the recognition of Aboriginal people in the South Australian Constitution Act 1934.

For over thirty years I have had the privilege of working in the rewarding area of Aboriginal Education in a number of exciting roles. Prior to taking up the position of Dean ISER, I was Dean and Head of School of the David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research.

I have worked as a classroom teacher in Western Australia and South Australia, and advocated by occupying the Chair of the South Australian Aboriginal Education Consultative Committee, and being a member of the National Aboriginal Education Committee.

I have held high public office as a Ministerial Adviser, Superintendent of Schools, and a Senior Executive at both State and Commonwealth level in the portfolios of Aboriginal Affairs, Employment, Education and Training.

I was a member of the Australian National Commission to UNESCO from 1984 until 1986.

I am Patron of the Principals Australia’s Dare to Lead Program, which encourages and supports Australian school Principals in improving Indigenous education outcomes and working for Reconciliation in their schools.

I was an invited contributor to the Australian 2020 Summit of leaders and thinkers contributing to a vision for Australia’s future.

My international work includes participating in the 2009 Working Group of Experts to the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that reported to the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.

In 2010 I was pleased to accept four important appointments namely; Board Member of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, inaugural (NCAFP) Board for one term, Council Member of the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Advisory Council, Board member of The Lowitja Institute, and Executive Member of World Indigenous Network of Higher Education Consortium, (WINHEC).

In 2011, I agreed to accept a 3 year term as a member of the Australian Government's National First Peoples Education Advisory Group.

I continue as the Chairperson of both the South Australian Aboriginal Education and Training Consultative Body, (SAAETCB) and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium.

In recognition of my contribution I have received the Commonwealth Public Service Medal in the 2001 Australia Day Honours, Frank G Klassen Award for Leadership and Contribution to Teacher Education from the International Council on Education for Teaching (ICET), 2003 and in 2005 the National Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education.

I was elected a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators (FACE) in 2007.

I am also proud to be a White Ribbon Ambassador to promote an organisation that is working to prevent the most common and pervasive form of male violence - that towards women.

• Aboriginal Education
• Indigenous Knowledge and Research

Member of the Australian Research Council's Advisory Council 2011 - present.

Member of the Australian Government’s National First Peoples Education Advisory Group 2011 - present.

Chair, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium, 2008 – present.

Co-Chair, South Australian Aboriginal Education and Training Consultative Body, 2008 – present.

Fellow, Australian College of Educators (FACE), 2007 – present.

Member, Patron, Australian Principals Association Professional Development Council - "Dare To Lead" program, 2002 – present.

AWARDS

DEST Award for Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education, National Deadly Awards, Sydney, September 2005

Frank G Klassen Award for Leadership and Contribution to Teacher Education, International Council on Education for Teaching (ICET), 2003

Aboriginal Person of the Year, South Australian NAIDOC Awards, July 2003

Commonwealth Public Service Medal (PSM), January 2001

• Aboriginal Knowledges
• Race and Racism
• International Perspectives and Perceptions
• Reconciliation
• Aboriginal Education
• Public Policy

Buckskin, Peter (Research Leader) Connecting Cultures, Review of Victoria's Indigenous Education Strategies: Supporting Indigenous Students through School, January 2008

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Buckskin, Peter; Robertson, Boni; Thomas, Gary; and Thomas, Roger, The Future for Indigenous Australian Higher Education, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, New York, April 2008

Buckskin, P, Keynote Address, 16th International Congress of School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI), Sydney, 5-9 January 2003

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

Buckskin, P, "Rights, Responsibility and Reciprocity ... Who does the heavy lifting?" Frank Archibald Memorial Lecture, University of New England, Armidale NSW, October 2012

Buckskin, P, "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Learners Count", Numeracy, Mathematisc and Indigenous Learners National Conference, University of South Australia, October 2012

Buckskin, P, "...Being a Teacher comes with significant responsibilities ... as the child has Rights", More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers National Conference - Yamaiyamarna Paitya - Teachers are Deadly!, Adelaide, July 2012

Buckskin, P, From little things big things grow, Keynote Address, National Christian Schools Association, Canberra, 27 May 2008

Buckskin, P, What is going to be different post apology? A new dialogue!, Keynote Address, Australian Education Union SA, 23 May 2008

Buckskin, P, Options for the future of Indigenous Australia, Australia 2020 Summit, Parliament House, Canberra, 19-20 April 2008

Buckskin, P, 2020 Summit in the Northern Suburbs, Northern 2020 Summit, Mawson Centre, Mawson Lakes, 5 April 2008

Buckskin, P, Sunkiss/Landlove, Opening Address, Troy-Anthony Baylis - "Sunkiss/Landlove", National Aboriginal Cultural Institute - Tandanya, Adelaide, 8 November 2007

Buckskin, P, And the Clock..., Book Launch, Lewis O'Brien - "And the Clock Struck Thirteen: The life and thoughts of Kaurna Elder Uncle Lewis Yerloburka O'Brien", National Aboriginal Cultural Institute - Tandanya, Adelaide, May 2007

Buckskin, P, Focussing on Outcomes, Opening Address, South Australian Department of Education and Children Services, 2006

Buckskin, P, Whose Values? - An Indigenous perspective, APAPDC's Values Education Seminar, 2006

Buckskin, P, The Way Forward, South Australian Government Aboriginal Economic Development Seminar, 2005

Buckskin, P, Understanding the issues: Getting an Indigenous perspective, Rotary Club SA - Adelaide Chapter, 2005

Buckskin, P, You have a choice, Office of Public Employment - South Australian Government Workshop, 2005

Buckskin, P, Indigenous Affairs and the issues effecting Aboriginal students in SA, Association of Independent Schools of SA (AISSA), 2004

Buckskin, P, Getting it right: Aboriginal Reconciliation in SA, Institute of Public Administration SA Division (IPPA), 2004

Buckskin, P, Making it work: There is no silver bullet, Social Inclusion Unit Forum, 2004

Buckskin, P, Celebrating Success: When the rubber hits the road, International Congress on School Effectiveness and Improvement, 2004

Buckskin, P, Achieving educational equality for Indigenous Students: A Pathway of Hope, Garth Boomer address, Australian Curriculum Studies Association National Conference, 2003

Buckskin, P, Indigenous Rights: Should Indigenous Rights be spelt out in the Australian Constitution, 7th National Schools Constitutional Convention, 2002

Buckskin, P, Reconciliation - The role of School Leaders, Australian Secondary Principals Association (ASPA) National Conference, 2001

Buckskin, P, Strategic Results Projects - Indigenous Outcomes, Australian Curriculum Studies Association, 2000

Buckskin, P, Dare To Lead , Opening Address, Australian Principals Association Professional Development Council National Forum, 2000

Buckskin, P, Education: A Salutary Lesson - Indigenous Education, Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation - National Workshop on Benchmarking Aboriginal Affairs, 1998