With a background in community development, proud Wardandi and Noongar woman and champion of Indigenous culture Jenna Woods has been appointed Dean of the School of Indigenous Knowledges at Murdoch University.
Ms Woods commenced her journey at Murdoch University by enrolling in a bridging course at the Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre at 18 before going on to study Community Development and Politics.
She told National Indigenous Times the appointment "gives me external validation of my experiences".
"I had my son very young, I didn't finish school ... I was then a carer for mum who had cancer. I experienced really severe family violence, we were living in poverty," she said.
"I always kind of felt like I wasn't good enough and then coming here I really found myself through the bridging course and my studies.
"So to me, this appointment really is that external validation of how far I have come but also that it's possible."
Ms Woods noted that if a person experiences hardship or disadvantage, those things do not reflect on their character or capacity.
"Just because you're in a violent relationship doesn't mean you're a victim or weak, just because you're in poverty or having those struggles does not mean you're incompetent or any less valuable," she said.
"Failing school doesn't mean you're unintelligent, it doesn't mean you're good enough. It just meant that the circumstances weren't right for me, so for me, it's more of a statement that we are not the circumstances that we exist in but that we have control of our futures."
She told National Indigenous Times she hopes her appointment can inspire others.
"I hope for my family and my community that is the message that is shared through my appointment, because growing up I wasn't anyone special ...and now I'm here at Murdoch as a Dean," she said.
"If I can be here, I hope that everyone sees from that, that anyone can do it."
Acknowledging the lack of education surrounding Indigenous interests, values and ways of working in Australia, Ms Woods expressed her concern about the ignorance evident during the Voice to Parliament campaign.
While referencing the "if you don't know, vote no" slogan widely used by the 'no' side, Ms Woods admitted that the lack of education surrounding Indigenous affairs throughout Australia is "confronting".
"I don't think that level of ignorance to be proud of is the way forward," she said.
"I would hope that universities now really step up in these spaces, to share that awareness and work on educating for a better tomorrow for everyone.
"It is really important to our Mob, as we are only three per cent of the population, without non-Aboriginal people beside us things are an uphill battle."
As a lecturer in the Community Development program, Ms Woods primarily teaches non-Indigenous students and has seen first-hand how instrumental Indigenous learning is in higher education.
"I see how the sharing of those experiences and the sharing of our knowledges really stay with our students beyond the classroom," she said.
"Working with our students before they go into their professional role plays a really significant part in how we move forward as a society.
"These are the people that are working with our families and children, having that education is central to how they engage with our Mob."
Inspired by the resilience and strength of the women around her, the mother of four holds her family dear as they help her see and navigate the world, influencing how she teaches.
Her advice for those thinking of pursuing higher education was a reminder: "Your circumstances don't define you. I think very often it's easy to internalise the messages that were given throughout our lifetime."
Ms Woods said she hopes to see more Indigenous students pursuing higher education, noting that University is for everyone, not just a particular type of person.
"I encourage anyone who might be interested or wants a change in their lives to come down, all universities have Aboriginal centres, come down and have a yarn and see if it's something that might work for you."
