Lynette Riley facts for kids

Lynette Riley AO (born 1956) is a respected professor of Aboriginal Education and Indigenous Studies. She works at the University of Sydney in the School of Education and Social Work. Lynette is a proud Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi woman from Dubbo and Moree. She is well-known for sharing and promoting Aboriginal culture, especially through her presentations about Aboriginal kinship and an online learning tool.

About Lynette Riley

Early Life and Education

Lynette Riley was born in 1956 in Dubbo, New South Wales. She went to Dubbo High School. After finishing high school, she trained to be a teacher. She completed her teacher training in 1977 at Armidale College of Advanced Education. Her very first job as a teacher was in Moree, New South Wales.

Family and Connections

In 1983, Lynette shared a house with two other important people. One was the politician Linda Burney. The other was the Indigenous artist Michael Riley.

In 1984, Lynette married Warren Mundine, who is an Aboriginal leader and politician. They were married in Balmain, Sydney. Together, they raised seven children.

Her Amazing Career in Education

Lynette Riley has a lot of experience in education. She has taught in many different places. These include primary schools, high schools, TAFE colleges, and universities. Besides teaching and doing research, Lynette has also helped shape government policies. For example, she was the Acting Director of Aboriginal Education and Training for NSW DET from 2002 to 2005.

University Leadership

Starting in 1986, Lynette became a Research Fellow at the University of New England. She created the Aboriginal Student Support Centre there, which is called the "Oorala Centre." She also started the Frank Archibald Memorial Lecture series. This series focuses on important Aboriginal issues.

By 2013, she was a Senior Lecturer in Indigenous Studies at the University of Sydney.

Important Research and Awards

In 2015, Lynette finished her PhD. Her research looked at what helps Aboriginal students succeed in school. She found that Aboriginal students who do very well in NSW schools have a strong and positive sense of their cultural identity.

In 2021, she was a finalist for the New South Wales Aboriginal Woman of the Year award.

In 2023, Lynette Riley received a special honour. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia. This award recognized her "distinguished service to education." It also highlighted her work in developing Indigenous curriculum and supporting students. The award also acknowledged her efforts towards reconciliation and her contributions to the community.

In September 2024, Lynette Riley was promoted to a full professor at the University of Sydney. She is the first Indigenous person to achieve this rank in her school's history. Many believe she might also be the first Indigenous person from western New South Wales to become a full professor.

Understanding Kinship

The Kinship Module

In July 2014, the University of Sydney launched an online learning tool. It is called the 'Kinship Module.' This tool helps people learn more about Indigenous culture. The information in this online module came mostly from research done by Lynette Riley and her colleagues. Lynette has given presentations about Kinship for many years. These presentations have been very successful in helping people understand Indigenous culture better.