Aurora Education Foundation, an Indigenous education non-profit, is making strides towards First Nations self-determination in education, career aspirations and life-long learning.

Nyikina Leader Charles Prouse recently became the first Indigenous chair of the Foundation's board.

"Last year, Aurora moved to being an Indigenous organisation, and a big part of this was making sure that the organisation was Indigenous-led by a diverse collective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait perspectives. My appointment reflects this shift, and Aurora's solid focus on building Indigenous leadership," he said.

While this appointment coincides with Aurora's five year strategic plan Mr Prouse has been strongly involved with Aurora Education Foundation for 13 years, seven of which saw him acting as a board member.

Mr Prouse was involved in "every single" working group, development workshops, and committees as the Foundation evolved.

"Being appointed as Chair was a great opportunity to extend this work and take more of a leadership role in supporting and enhancing Aurora's vision - a society in which Indigenous peoples determine their own education and career aspirations through education and lifelong learning," he said.

With aspirations to make systemic change the broader question looms - how will Mr Prouse as First Indigenous Chair contend with broader issues of racism within education and the workplace? Developing evidence-based programs and interrogating and penetrating the education system are just a few of the answers Mr Prouse shares in response to this.

"We know that these issues are systemic. We know that it is not enough to focus on student motivation or school attendance –we need to interrogate and penetrate the education system so that it can identify and nurture Indigenous academic talent on our own terms with and our own definitions of success," he said.

Similar to definitions of cultural safety, Mr Prouse explains that Indigenous definitions of success will define the roll-out of Aurora's Indigenous-led Measurement and Evaluation team in what they've coined Aurora's Redefining Indigenous Success in Education (RISE).

This launch comes with an academic partnership with ANU that will identify the "what works" within Indigenous education. This will see three Indigenous high school programs reach approximately 800 Indigenous students.

"It is intended to establish an evidence base that can support the, "integration of Indigenous values, aspirations, and perspectives in Australia's education system," said Mr Prouse.

However, the buck doesn't stop there as Aurora Education Foundation intends to shift the levels of representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the workplace.

"Aurora plans to grow the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander managers and executives who have the networks, expertise and knowledge to inform and shape systemic change," the Foundation said in a statement.

Mr Prouse explains that Aurora's requirement for cultural safety is a cornerstone to any organisational programs they engage with.

"At Aurora, we know that we, as Indigenous peoples, are not the ones who need to change – it's the system that needs to change. This applies to every situation, including the workplace. Part of the solution is increasing the representation and voices of Indigenous people in the workplace, at all levels – and particularly in senior leadership," he said.

Aurora's CEO, Wiradjuri woman Leila Smith, explained the the appointment of Mr Prouse as chair was a pivotal moment in the Foundation's journey.

"This past year has been transformational for Aurora, as we moved to being an Indigenous organisation and continued to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence, leadership, priorities and narratives. The appointment of Charles as Aurora's first Indigenous Board Chair, alongside the release of our five-year strategic plan, are critical moves to achieving our vision of a society in which Indigenous peoples determine their own education and career aspirations through education and life-long learning. I am excited to see the impact of these efforts over the coming years."