Introduction: retrofitting the academy for Indigenous excellence

The Introduction, authored by the editorial team, outlines Indigenous participation in Australian higher education, giving a brief overview of some key touchpoints since the colonial era. This historical synopsis provides a context for the Indigenous ECR narratives that follow and acts as a call to action and a marshalling of institutional intent to capitalise on the hard-won successes borne of growing Indigenous doctoral success. To squander the opportunity to greater and more meaningful contributions by Indigenous peoples to higher education, would be to diminish the prospects of enhanced Indigenous research, quality of teaching and modelling for Indigenous students that flow from highly qualified and skilled Indigenous scholars. The benefits to Indigenous communities and the nation are considerable.