I acknowledge the traditional landowners and the country on which I write, work, and study, the Yuggera north of the Brisbane River and the Turrbul south of the Brisbane River which flows through Brisbane city in southeast Queensland. I pay my respects to Elders past, present, and emerging, and show respect for their continued cultural and spiritual connection to the lands and waters. I hope that the knowledge gained from sharing our stories adds to our shared knowledges for the benefit of all who follow in our footsteps.
Editing another volume of The Doctoral Journey in Education series has introduced me to new colleagues and provided insights and opportunity to learn more about the different people who are part of multi-cultural Australia and their birthplaces. While their homelands are relatively close to Australia, the place of their doctoral studies, our cultures, traditions, social practices, beliefs, expectations, and ways of doing can be quite different.
The authors who have contributed to this volume have openly shared stories of their experiences, perspectives, thoughts, reflections, feelings, and needs as they travelled the doctoral journey from their initial consideration of undertaking doctoral studies to the conclusion of their doctoral journey. In reading their stories, I have been inspired and my beliefs and understandings of the world I live in have been challenged. Reading and editing the stories shared in this volume have been an enriching and rewarding learning experience. I acknowledge their willingness and open honesty in sharing their stories and thank them for graciously accepting my suggestions during the editing process, being patient during the publication process, and, ultimately, for being willing to be part of this book project.
I also acknowledge the ongoing support and trust Brent Bradford has offered me in editing another volume of The Doctoral Journey in Education series that provides another opportunity to share others’ realities and support those who are thinking about or undertaking doctoral studies, one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences one can undertake. Sharing the stories of my colleagues continues to be an exciting and fulfilling journey, and one that has opened my eyes to the realities of others’ lives in unexpected ways.