The Linking Worlds Research Project: Identifying intercultural educational leadership capabilities

While there is a vast body of knowledge and research on educational leadership per se, there has been limited research into Indigenous educational leadership, particularly in remote Indigenous communities. The Australian Research Council-funded ‘Linking Worlds’ project contributes to expanding knowledge in this important area, and is of significant interest to academics and educators and all those involved with, and who have a stake in Indigenous leadership, and Indigenous education, especially in remote communities. ‘Linking Worlds’ investigated Indigenous educational leadership in remote settings and aimed to frame the unique ‘worlds’ within which Indigenous educational leaders operate, and to determine the skills, knowledges and attributes required to be an effective leader. ‘Linking Worlds’ emphasises the need for non-Indigenous staff to learn to be intercultural teachers and leaders as well as the needs of the system to work interculturally for both Indigenous and Western outcomes. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people must be willing to step into this intercultural world (the intercultural space) where new leadership practices can be learned and are required.