School of Education

Honorary Professor Denise Proud

Honorary Professor
School of Education
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Researcher biography

Dr Aunty Denise Proud is a proud Koa and Kuku-Yalanji woman who was born and raised in Cherbourg, on Wakka Wakka Country. She is a renowned educator, author, and artist who has been championing the importance of early childhood education since the late 1960s. At just 16 years old, she was appointed teacher-in-charge of the first kindergarten in Cherbourg - a role she took on during what is now recognised as the 'Stolen Wages' era.

Aunty Denise has had a long and diverse professional career, including more than 20 years working in prisons and youth detention centres, where she delivered cultural and educational programs that supported young people and adults through culturally responsive approaches.

She currently serves as a Board Member of Reconciliation Queensland. In 2022, she received the Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from the Queensland branch of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders. She also received the prestigious Barbara Creaser Award by Early Childhood Australia for her outstanding contribution to the early childhood sector.

In 2024, Aunty Denise was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Queensland University of Technology in recognition of her lifelong commitment to education, cultural integrity, and community.

Publications

Book Chapters (9)
Journal Articles (4)
Conference Papers (3)
Audio Document (1)
Seminar Paper (1)

Book Chapters

Proud, Aunty Denise and Morgan, Ann (2021). Critical self-reflection: a foundational skill. Indigenous education in Australia: learning and teaching for deadly futures. (pp. 38-50) Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.
Morgan, Ann, Shay, Marnee and Proud, Denise (2017). Inclusion in the middle years: supporting ethnic and cultural diversity. Developing positive classroom environments: strategies for nurturing adolescent learning. (pp. 278-294) edited by Beth Saggers. Crows Nest, NSW, Australia: Allen & Unwin. doi: 10.4324/9781003115335
Proud, Denise, Lynch, Sandra, à Beckett, Cynthia and Pike, Deborah (2017). ‘Muck-about’: Aboriginal conceptions of play and early childhood learning. Multidisciplinary perspectives on play from birth and beyond. (pp. 79-91) edited by Sandra Lynch, Deborah Pike and Cynthia à Beckett. Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-2643-0_5
Grant, Fran, Hamilton, Michelle, Jarro, Ngaire and Proud, Denise (2016). Persistence. Voices and visions: Aboriginal early childhood education in Australia. edited by Karen L. Martin. Mount Victoria, NSW, Australia: Pademelon Press.
Hynam, Vicki, Yaloot, Anne and Proud, Denise (2016). Places. Voices and visions: Aboriginal early childhood education in Australia. edited by Karen L. Martin. Mount Victoria, NSW, Australia: Pademelon Press.
Proud, Denise, Jarro, Ngaire, Pender, Maria and Hamilton, Michelle (2016). Beginnings. Voices and visions: Aboriginal early childhood education in Australia. edited by Karen L. Martin. Mt Victoria, NSW, Australia: Pademelon Press.
Proud, Denise and à Beckett, Cynthia (2014). Our story of early childhood collaboration: imagining love and grace. Reconceptualizing early childhood care and education: critical questions, new imaginaries and social activism: a reader. (pp. 193-200) edited by Marianne Bloch, Beth Blue Swadener and Gaile S. Cannella. New York, NY, United States: Peter Lang. doi: 10.3726/978-1-4539-1237-9
Semann, Anthony, Proud, Denise and Martin, Karen (2012). Only seeing colour? Identity, pedagogy and ways of knowing. Conversations: behind early childhood pedagogical documentation. edited by Alma Fleet, Catherine Patterson and Janet Robertson. Mt Victoria, NSW, Australia: Pademelon.
à Beckett, Cynthia and Proud, Denise (2004). Fall from grace? Reflecting on early childhood education while decolonizing intercultural friendships from kindergarten to university and prison. Decolonizing research in cross-cultural contexts: critical personal narratives. (pp. 147-158) edited by Kagendo Mutua and Beth Blue Swadener. Albany, NY, United States: State University of New York Press.

Journal Articles

Shay, Marnee, Sarra, Grace, Proud, Denise, Blow, Iris-Jean and Cobbo, Fred (2024). “Strive with pride”: the voices of Indigenous young people on identity, wellbeing, and schooling in Australia. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 37 (2), 327-341. doi: 10.1080/09518398.2023.2233939
Proud, Denise and Raciti, Rosalie (2016). Sharing cultures in early childhood settings... Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. Educating Young Children, 22 (2), 30-32.
Miller, Melinda, Proud, Denise and Evans, Alison (2016). Reflecting on reconciliation. Every Child, 22 (3), 34-35.
Chambers, Denise (1981). Pre-school education: an Aboriginal teacher's perspective. Aboriginal Child at School, 9 (3), 19-21.

Conference Papers

Heck, Deborah, Shay, Marnee, Mace, Michael, Proud, Denise and Neill, Daniel (2014). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture and university student work placements: Developing sustainable partnerships. Engagement Australia Annual Conference, Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia, 21-23 July 2014.
Shay, Marnee, Morgan, Ann, Proud, Denise and Heck, Deborah (2014). Alternative notions of schooling in Australia: the story of teachers and principals engaging and reflecting on supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, 19-24 May 2014.
Proud, Denise and Proud, Monique (2003). Border crossings: embedding Aboriginal perspectives in curriculum. Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education Conference, Tempe, AZ, United States, 12-13 January 2003.

Audio Document

Proud, Denise and Shay, Marnee (2021). Episode 3 - Aunty Denise Proud. The University of Queensland. Indigenous education - deadly futures.

Seminar Paper

Shay, Marnee, Proud, Aunty Denise and Morgan, Ann (2014). Alternative notions of schooling in Australia: the story of engaging and reflecting on relational ways of supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. First Nations Longhouse, University of British Columbia.