Indigenous Game Changers

Enabling Indigenous Australians to flourish and thrive

- Professor Rhonda Craven, Director IPPE, 2025.

Led in partnership by the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation (WNAC) and the Australian Catholic University, the Indigenous Game Changers (ICG) program brings together a powerful alliance of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers, community leaders, next-generation scholars, government, and industry partners. We are united by a shared commitment to closing the educational gap on Wonnarua Country and beyond, through innovative, strengths-based solutions grounded in culture, research excellence, and community.

Our Mission

The mission of the Indigenous Game Changers program is to transform and enrich Indigenous lives and futures, from pre-school to university, building the foundation for securing employment and leading productive and fulfilling lives. Through culturally grounded research and collaborative action, we aim to ensure that Indigenous Australians are equipped to not just succeed, but to flourish and thrive in their homes, schools and communities.

Indigenous Game Changers

- Productivity Commission Review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, 2023

There are plenty of examples of Indigenous success, yet there remains a limited understanding of:

• The key drivers of that success;
• How it can be replicated; and
• How it can be scaled more broadly.

The Indigenous Game Changers program identifies, replicates and upscales evidence-based drivers of success, to enable Indigenous children, youth and communities to flourish and thrive.

What We Will Deliver

The Indigenous Game Changers program drives transformative change, improving the lives and wellbeing of Indigenous children, youth and communities by:

• Boosting literacy and numeracy for deadly futures;
• Lifting school attendance, engagement, and achievement for a deadly start;
• Supporting seamless transitions to jobs and higher education for deadly careers;
• Empowering positive strengths-based deadly parenting to foster safe and responsible home environments where children can thrive;
• Strengthening deadly cultures by fostering cultural pride and affirming Indigenous identity and belonging;
• Enhancing physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits through deadly play, enabling children to get the most of life.

Our projects

We invite schools, organisations, families, and communities to partner with us on current and upcoming projects.

Discover our research projects and register your interest

Our Team

Meet our team of leading Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars and dedicated professional staff - working together to drive impactful, community-led research and innovation.

Meet our team

Collaborative partnerships

Our program collaborates closely with government, industry and community organisations.

Find out about opportunities to collaborate with us

Educational resources

Access our collection of culturally rich learning materials, developed by Indigenous authors and artists. These free resources - including cultural books and numeracy tools - can be used in preschools, schools, and by teachers and families alike.

Access our learning resources

Featured research publications

Explore our peer-reviewed articles featuring cutting-edge research driving real-world impact and shaping a thriving future for Indigenous communities.

Browse our research publications

Internships and PhD opportunities

We offer Indigenous internships for undergraduate ACU students and exciting PhD projects guided by experienced and dedicated supervisors. Join our supportive and dynamic research community.

Find out about our study and internship opportunities