Rate My Professor Nathan Towney

Nathan Towney, a proud Wiradjuri man from Wellington in New South Wales, serves as Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Engagement and Equity at the University of Newcastle. He holds a Bachelor of Teaching and a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education from the University of Newcastle. With a twenty-year career in public education, including four years as Principal of Newcastle High School, Towney advanced to university administration as Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor for the College of Human and Social Futures and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Indigenous Strategy and Leadership. In these capacities, he led the development of the University’s Indigenous Education Framework as part of the Looking Ahead Strategic Plan and launched the ‘Stretch’ Reconciliation Action Plan. His efforts have positioned the University to graduate the highest number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers and doctors nationally while achieving record Indigenous student enrolments. Towney also welcomes students and staff to cultural experiences at his family home in Wellington and serves on the City of Newcastle’s Gurakai Aboriginal Advisory Committee.

Towney’s research specializations include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education not elsewhere classified, with keywords encompassing Aboriginal education, educational leadership, engagement, equity, and staff professional development. He has co-authored four journal articles, including ‘What does it mean to be an Aboriginal father living on Darkinjung Country? yarning with Aboriginal fathers and father figures on the Central Coast of New South Wales Australia’ (Alternative, 2025), ‘Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of the Biya Yadha Gudjagang Yadha: Healthy Dads Healthy Mob Program’ (Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2025), ‘Biya yadha gudjagang yadha: the cultural adaptation of the healthy dads healthy kids programme for Aboriginal fathers and their children living on Darkinjung country’ (Alternative, 2025), and ‘Keeping Safe on Australian Roads: Overview of Key Determinants of Risky Driving, Passenger Injury, and Fatalities for Indigenous Populations’ (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021). He further contributed to the report ‘Philanthropy, Our Way: Growing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led philanthropy in higher education that is culturally responsive and impactful for communities’ (2026). Towney has been involved in five grants totaling $2,593,256, such as Transforming Education for Indigenous Students Through Culturally Responsive Quality Teaching (2025) and Leadership Development for Middle School Leaders (2020). For his advocacy in education and Indigenous rights, he received the 2023 Newcastle Citizen of the Year award.