Dr Jessa Rogers

First Nations Senior Research Fellow

Doctor of Philosophy (Australian National University), Master of Education (Guidance & Counselling) (University of Southern Qld), BCI (Drama) (With Distinction) (Queensland University of Technology), BEd (Secondary) (First Class Honours) (Queensland University of Technology)

Dr Jessa Rogers CF GAICD MAIATSIS is a Wiradjuri researcher, educator and board director with over fifteen years of teaching experience in schools and tertiary education. Jessa’s research focuses on Indigenous research methods and methodologies, and Indigenous peoples’ experiences of education.

Jessa is a First Nations Senior Research Fellow in the Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC), and an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Research (DECRA) Fellow (DE230100140). She was the founding principal of Australia’s first boarding school for Indigenous young mothers and babies in Far North Queensland. She has been a Fulbright Scholar (Harvard University), a Churchill Fellow, and was awarded a National NAIDOC Award for her contributions to Indigenous girls’ education. Jessa’s research draws attention to the voices of Indigenous students, with a specific focus on Indigenous boarding school experiences in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and mainland USA.

Jessa is the Managing Director of Baayi Consulting. She serves on the board of Wesley Mission Queensland, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and St Philip's College (Alice Springs) Board. Jessa is a member of the ACCAN Indigenous Advisory Group, and serves on the Aboriginal Australian Studies Journal Editorial Board among several other committees.

Jessa has extensive experience in pre-service teacher education. She has contributed nationally to Indigenous education programs including the 3Rs Framework, MATSITI and Narragunnawali (Reconciliation Australia). She is the co-author and co-editor of best-selling education texts including “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education: An Introduction to the Teaching Profession” (3rd Ed) (Cambridge University Press), and “Teaching: Making a Difference” (4th Ed) (Wiley). Jessa’s work in schools as a teacher spans primary through high school, and her many years of community engagement in Indigenous communities across Australia has led to her voice being nationally respected in Indigenous education. Jessa writes for IndigenousX, NITV, SBS, The Guardian, and The Conversation, and frequently contributes to media stories on Indigenous education.

Jessa is the proud mother of three sons. Her whanau (family) connections through marriage are to Ngati Kauwhata, and Ngati Raukawa in Aotearoa. Jessa speaks te reo Maori, and is passionate about supporting Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Maori (Maori education), and Kaupapa Maori research methodologies and approaches. Jessa previously served on the board of Hato Paora College, a Maori boarding school in New Zealand.

Jessa's publications can be found here.

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