Overview
Background
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.
Availability
- Honorary Professor Denise Proud is:
- Available for supervision
Works
Search Professor Denise Proud’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
“Strive with pride”: the voices of Indigenous young people on identity, wellbeing, and schooling in Australia
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
2021
Book Chapter
Critical self-reflection: a foundational skill
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.
2017
Book Chapter
Inclusion in the middle years: supporting ethnic and cultural diversity
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
2017
Book Chapter
‘Muck-about’: Aboriginal conceptions of play and early childhood learning
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
2016
Journal Article
Sharing cultures in early childhood settings... Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives
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.
2016
Book Chapter
Places
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.
2016
Book Chapter
Beginnings
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.
2016
Book Chapter
Persistence
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.
2016
Journal Article
Reflecting on reconciliation
Miller, Melinda, Proud, Denise and Evans, Alison (2016). Reflecting on reconciliation. Every Child, 22 (3), 34-35.
2014
Conference Publication
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture and university student work placements: Developing sustainable partnerships
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.
2014
Book Chapter
Our story of early childhood collaboration: imagining love and grace
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
2014
Conference Publication
Alternative notions of schooling in Australia: the story of teachers and principals engaging and reflecting on supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
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.
2012
Book Chapter
Only seeing colour? Identity, pedagogy and ways of knowing
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.
2004
Book Chapter
Fall from grace? Reflecting on early childhood education while decolonizing intercultural friendships from kindergarten to university and prison
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.
2003
Conference Publication
Border crossings: embedding Aboriginal perspectives in curriculum
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.
1981
Journal Article
Pre-school education: an Aboriginal teacher's perspective
Chambers, Denise (1981). Pre-school education: an Aboriginal teacher's perspective. Aboriginal Child at School, 9 (3), 19-21.
Supervision
Availability
- Honorary Professor Denise Proud is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Honorary Professor Denise Proud's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: