National Reconciliation Week’s theme for 2024, ‘Now More Than Ever’, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will — and must— continue.

We would like to draw your attention to the Flinders University Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2023-2025 and to learn more about Flinders’ commitment to reconciliation. In 2024, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) released the Indigenous Research Strategy 2024-2026. This initiative represents the first of its kind at the University and serves as a unique commitment to redressing social transformation and reconciliation through a robust, ethical, and sustainable Indigenous research agenda. The strategy is built on four key priorities including:

• Priority 1: Research Excellence;
• Priority 2: Research Reciprocity and Impact;
• Priority 3: Indigenous Research Capacity and Leadership; and
• Priority 4: Research Responsibility

The Office of Graduate Research works closely with the Office of Indigenous Strategy and Engagement to ensure there are strategies in place to respond to both the RAP and the Indigenous Research Strategy. These include:

• Quarterly reporting to the University HDR Committee about Indigenous Engagement.
• Increasing accessibility for Indigenous students
• Increased the stipend rate for the Professor Lowitja O’Donoghue Indigenous Student Postgraduate Research Scholarship for current and new recipients.
• Engaging in the development of Indigenous Research Methodologies module for REST (forthcoming).

 Engagement of Indigenous HDR students

Across 5 of the 6 Colleges there are currently 14 Indigenous HDR students.

INDG9000 Indigenous Research Methodologies

The Indigenous Studies team in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences annually offers INDG9000 Indigenous Research Methodologies and this topic will be commencing again mid-year in 2025 (one-week intensive, 9-5 at Flinders City Campus). This topic is aimed at Indigenous identifying Post-Graduate Coursework and HDR students (supervisors also can attend if they would like) and non-Indigenous HDR students who are engaged in Indigenous research. Expressions of interest to do this week-long intensive in mid-year 2025 can be directed to Ali.Baker@flinders.edu.au.

First Nations Researchers Collective Program

Are you an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander who is engaged in research? If so, you might want to connect with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers (from Honours to PhD and beyond) through the First Nations Researchers Collective. Find out more here or contact researchers.collective@flinders.edu.au.