Indigenous studies
Indigenous studies will be evaluated as a discipline for the first time in the ARC’s two national research evaluation programs – Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) and the Engagement and Impact (EI) assessment. Assessing Indigenous studies in ERA and EI will raise the profile of Indigenous research by recognising the contribution Indigenous studies makes to the quality, engagement and impact of research in Australia.
Following the outcomes in 2021 of the ERA EI review, the ARC will:
- include Indigenous studies using the same overall methodology as other disciplines, with a review to follow
- work with universities on leadership in implementing the new discipline in the evaluations.
In ERA and EI, research disciplines are defined by the Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) Fields of Research (FoR). The ARC uses the ANZSRC FoR to collect and report information on research in Australia through the ERA and EI programs. Indigenous studies was classified as a new division, with new corresponding groups and FoR in 2020 (ANZSRC 2020) following a two year review. The definitions for Indigenous studies and corresponding groups were co-developed with Indigenous researchers in Australia and New Zealand.
The ARC is working closely with stakeholders to raise awareness of the new discipline and how it will be implemented in ERA and EI.
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Indigenous Studies Excellence and Engagement Group (ISEE)
The Indigenous Studies Excellence and Engagement Group (ISEE) was formed in September 2021 and concluded in June 2022. The role of the group was to
- co-design and promote strategies for sector-wide leadership in applying the Indigenous studies FoR in ERA 2023 and EI 2024, and
- encourage and support Indigenous researchers to participate in submission and assessment processes.
The ISEE developed a range of leadership strategies for universities that are outlined in a roadmap and some supplementary materials which were identified as an action in the roadmap.
Indigenous Studies Roadmap – PDF
The supplementary materials were designed as a communication tool only. The ERA Submission Guidelines and other technical documents remain the authoritative source.
The strategies support universities to take a leadership role, by:
- highlighting and promoting the value of Indigenous/First Nations research and engagement with Indigenous/First Nations perspectives
- ensuring accurate and most effective reporting of Indigenous studies data in ERA and EI submissions
- involving Indigenous researchers in ERA and EI processes
- addressing barriers to and creating pathways for successful implementation of Indigenous studies
- increasing the cohort and capacity of Indigenous research panel members and peer reviewers.
The group’s diverse membership reflected the variety of leadership roles in the sector including Indigenous research leaders, university research leaders, university delegates, university administrators and the ARC. Members were self-nominated or nominated by their university through an expression of interest process.
Members of the group
| Name | Title and Organisation |
|---|---|
| Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver (Co-chair) | Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Strategy and Services, The University of Sydney |
| Professor Bronwyn Harch (Co-chair) | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Vice President (Research and Innovation), The University of Queensland |
| Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt | Director, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology, Sydney |
| Dr Bindi Bennett | Associate Professor, First Nations Health, Bond University |
| Professor Reuben Bolt PhD MBA MMAP BHShons | Deputy Vice-Chancellor, First Nations Leadership, Charles Darwin University |
| Professor Tony Dreise | Pro Vice-Chancellor, First Nations Education and Research, University of Southern Queensland |
| Professor Ralph Horne | Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation, Design and Social Context, RMIT University |
| Ms Sarah Howard | Branch Manager, Research Excellence, Australian Research Council |
| Professor Duncan Ivison | Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, The University of Sydney |
| Mr Nathaniel Lewis | Director of Research Reporting, Analysis, Data and Systems (RRADS), The University of Sydney |
| Associate Professor Dan McAullay | Director, Aboriginal Research and Director of the Centre for Improving Health Services for Aboriginal Children and Families, Edith Cowan University |
| Professor Jennifer Milam | Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic Excellence, The University of Newcastle |
| Professor Chris Moran FTSE | Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Curtin University |
| Ms Helen Morgan | Director, ERA and EI, The University of Queensland |
| Professor Cindy Shannon AM | Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) and Head, Logan Campus, Griffith University |
| Professor Mary Spongberg | Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Southern Cross University |
| Mr Nathan Towney | Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Strategy and Leadership, The University of Newcastle |
| Professor Irene Watson | Pro Vice-Chancellor, Aboriginal Leadership and Strategy, University of South Australia |
| Professor Peter Yu | Vice-President, First Nations, The Australian National University |