Professor Peter Buckskin was a visionary educator, respected leader and tireless advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education whose influence shaped education systems nationally over more than four decades.
A proud Narungga man from the Yorke Peninsula, Professor Buckskin dedicated his life to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had a sovereign voice in education. He believed deeply that education should be shaped by community, grounded in culture and accountable to the people it serves.
Throughout his life, Professor Buckskin challenged systems that excluded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from decision-making. He spoke openly about the role education had played in assimilation and dispossession, and worked relentlessly to create systems where First Nations learners, educators and communities could not only participate, but lead.
For Professor Buckskin, education reform was always about more than policy. It was about people, relationships and community. Early in his teaching career at Nulungu College in Broome, he travelled extensively across the Kimberley to learn directly from students, families and communities, believing that educators needed to understand where young people came from in order to truly support them.
He spoke proudly of the Aboriginal education workers and community educators he worked alongside, recognising them as “the real work horses of the classroom” whose cultural knowledge, strength and care sustained generations of learners despite being overlooked and undervalued by systems.
Across his career, Professor Buckskin held numerous leadership roles including teacher, senior executive across state and Commonwealth education systems, Ministerial Adviser, Dean at the University of South Australia, Chair of the South Australian Aboriginal Education and Training Consultative Council (SAATECC), and inaugural Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC).
His leadership extended internationally through contributions to UNESCO, the Working Group of Experts to the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples.
Professor Buckskin was also part of a generation of Aboriginal education leaders who transformed education advocacy in Australia. He worked alongside and drew inspiration from leaders including Eddie Mabo, Pat Dodson, May O’Brien, Linda Burney and Neville Bonner.
Throughout his advocacy, he consistently reinforced the importance of consultation, accountability and community control:
“Within community-controlled organisations, we work for and are accountable to our communities, not governments.”
This belief became foundational to the establishment of NATSIEC, which he saw as critical to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities had a meaningful and enduring voice in shaping national education policy.
Professor Buckskin received many honours in recognition of his extraordinary contributions, including the Public Service Medal (PSM), the Frank G Klassen Award for leadership in teacher education, the National Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education, Fellowship of the Australian College of Educators (FACE), a Doctor of the Institute Honoris Causa from Batchelor Institute, a Doctor of Arts Honoris Causa from RMIT University, an Honorary Doctorate from the World Indigenous Nations University, and Fellowship of the University of South Australia. He also served as Chair of Tauondi Aboriginal College for more than 20 years, continuing his lifelong commitment to Aboriginal community-controlled education.
NATSIEC CEO Shas Jurud said Professor Buckskin’s contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education was immeasurable.
“Professor Buckskin helped shape the landscape of First Nations education in this country over more than four decades. He challenged systems that excluded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from decision-making, and worked tirelessly to ensure our learners, educators and communities could not only participate in education, but lead it.
One of Prof’s lines that will continue to stay with us was that “Aboriginal funding needs to glow in the dark.” He understood that governments must be accountable not only for what they promise, but for where funding goes, who controls it, and whether it reaches Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners and communities.
His commitment to centring Aboriginal voice, accountability and self-determination was foundational to NATSIEC and remains central to the work we carry forward today.
Prof’s legacy lives on through the generations of educators, leaders and young people he guided, challenged and inspired. He will be deeply missed.”
Above all, Professor Buckskin will be remembered for his integrity, generosity and unwavering commitment to future generations. His work transformed the landscape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and inspired countless educators, leaders and young people across the country.
His legacy lives on through the continued fight for community-controlled education, cultural safety and self-determination in education systems.
NATSIEC extends its deepest condolences to Professor Buckskin’s family, loved ones, colleagues and communities. His contribution to First Nations education will never be forgotten.
Vale Professor.
