Australian Awards for University Teaching — 2008

Awards for Teaching Excellence — Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education — Recipient

Rick Brayford
Edith Cowan University, Western Australia

Synopsis

Rick Brayford is the course coordinator, lecturer, and inspiration for the Aboriginal theatre course at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Although Rick is modest about his work, colleagues, performance professionals, students and their communities see his achievements as nothing short of phenomenal. Rick is utterly dedicated to his students succeeding in finding the delicate balance between challenge and support that gives the confidence and sense of self-worth necessary to become fully integrated into the WAAPA community and to succeed in the elitist profession of the performing arts. Rick has graduated more than 40 Indigenous students since 2001. At least 10 have ongoing employment, another six from remote regions have intermittent professional work when cultural commitments allow. A significant number are now leading their own companies and enjoying a national/international performance profile. Many graduates have also gone on to further study. These are outstanding outcomes in a highly competitive field, and Rick derives a tremendous sense of pride from his students’ achievements. Perhaps the most significant outcome however, is the impact that students say the course has had on their belief in themselves and their capacity to persist and succeed.