Proud Wiradjuri woman and UQ PhD candidate Keely Perry has always been driven by a deep connection to Country and a passion for sustainable agricultural futures. What began in the labs and community gardens of The University of Queensland has since grown into a thriving career pathway grounded in science, cultural knowledge, and a commitment to strengthening First Nations resource management.
Keely completed the UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Graduate Program after finishing her Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours), majoring in Plant Biotechnology, in 2023. She credits the graduate program with giving her the time, structure and support to make a confident and informed transition into the next stage of her career.
“When I graduated from my Bachelor’s, I was pretty sure I wanted to do a PhD, but I wanted to take the time and try my hardest to make sure it was a PhD I wanted to do,” Keely says.
“So I knew I needed something that would support me in upskilling during that period where I was really focusing on my PhD application, and the [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander] Grad Program really suited that.”
Keely Perry and Professor Bronwyn Fredericks at the 2023 UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sashing Ceremony, and Keely at the lab in her role as UQ Research Assistant.
A graduate role designed to grow her skills
Throughout her graduate placement, Keely worked as a liaison between UQ and an Indigenous community, operating across two major teams. While her academic background was in plant biotechnology and laboratory-based science, her graduate role expanded her skillset in unexpected ways.
“[My role] was actually designed for me,” she explains. “They chose it based on my specific skillset, and I had even met the people I was going to be working with before I started.”
Rather than focusing solely on scientific research, Keely’s work centred on business planning and discovery processes, helping shape strategic thinking and community-informed approaches.
“The job I was doing wasn't exactly science research like I had been trained for. It was actually more business planning and discovery work,” she says.
“It really upskilled me in something completely separate to what I was thinking [at the time]. And I didn't realise how important that would be, and I'm very glad that I had [that experience] as I am now starting my PhD.”
A program designed to build strong, long-term careers
The newly expanded UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Graduate Program now offers successful candidates a minimum of two years of employment, making it one of the University’s most significant commitments to supporting early‑career First Nations professionals.
This extended timeframe gives graduates the opportunity to:
- Gain hands‑on experience across multiple areas
- Build long‑term professional relationships
- Access tailored career development and mentoring
- Contribute to projects that align with their passions
- Develop a strong sense of belonging at UQ
For Keely, one of the most defining features of the program was the culturally safe and supportive environment it fostered.
“The thing that stood out the most to me was the flexibility and the fact that I knew the people who were running the program,” she says.
“I knew that they would listen to [me] more than going into a grad program for a company that I have never worked in before. So I was very respected of what I wanted and they really listened to any advice I had and what I wanted to get out of the program."
The program aims to create not only employment opportunities but meaningful career pathways that open doors to leadership, postgraduate study and sustained impact within the University and beyond.
A future grounded in knowledge and culture
Keely’s journey demonstrates the powerful outcomes that are possible when First Nations students and graduates are supported by culturally informed, structured workplace programs that honour both academic excellence and lived experience.
Now pursuing her PhD, Keely continues to explore how plant science, biotechnology and traditional knowledge can work together to create sustainable agricultural solutions for communities. Her story is already inspiring future cohorts of First Nations students who are considering what comes next after graduation.
The UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Graduate Program remains a key pathway for those wanting to build a career that is supported, impactful, and grounded in identity—and Keely’s achievements highlight just how transformative that journey can be.
