Educational inequality is a significant issue worldwide, and Australia is no exception. In their article, "The 'Problem' of Australian First Nations Doctoral Education: A Policy Analysis," Maria Raciti, Catherine Manathunga, and Jing Qi explore the challenges faced by First Nations people in doctoral programs. Published in the Journal of Social Marketing, the paper emphasises the need for policy analysis that includes Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. The authors focus on the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) Report, which offers recommendations to help Indigenous doctoral candidates, based on successful examples from other countries. Using Indigenous standpoint theory and Foucauldian discourse analysis, they critically examine the ACOLA Report, its implementation plans, and evaluations.

The analysis provides important insights into how the issue of First Nations doctoral education is represented in Australian policy documents. The authors argue that these policies often fail to address the deeper systemic issues that prevent Indigenous doctoral success. They suggest that policy changes should go beyond surface-level recommendations and instead create a supportive environment that truly helps First Nations students succeed. This includes addressing the political, social, and cultural barriers that Indigenous students face in higher education.

This paper highlights the importance of thorough policy analysis in social marketing, which can help understand policy complexities and advocate for meaningful changes. By introducing a new methodology, the authors offer a valuable framework for future research and policy evaluation. Their work shows the need to include Indigenous perspectives in policy-making to ensure reforms are effective and culturally relevant. This paper is a crucial step towards addressing educational inequality among Australian First Nations people. It provides a clearer understanding of the challenges faced by Indigenous doctoral candidates and offers a roadmap for creating more inclusive and supportive policies. This work contributes to social marketing while also calling on policymakers to engage with Indigenous knowledge to promote social justice and educational equity.