Postgraduate Research Guide

NULUNGU RESEARCH INSTITUTE IS A KIMBERLEY-BASED ORGANISATION COMPRISING ABORIGINAL AND NON- ABORIGINAL RESEARCHERS, EACH WITH EXTENSIVE PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE. Located in Broome, Nulungu provides an Indigenous research and academic focus for the entire University – including the Notre Dame Fremantle and Sydney Campuses – and operates at local, regional, national and international levels. Nulungu encourages the pursuit of excellence in research through valuing community-based Indigenous knowledge. Nulungu’s research expertise covers a wide range of disciplines but has particular focus on three core research themes: Country (land, saltwater, freshwater, and desert); Health and Wellbeing; and Education. A key feature of Nulungu’s research profile is its collaboration with national and international academic institutions, teaching and research communities, government and industry, all within an Indigenous context. Nulungu has demonstrated the capacity to establish and maintain successful engagement across disciplines and professional fields, secure funding from a range of sources, and complete projects of relevance and priority to the Indigenous community. For more information, including current research projects visit: nd.edu.au/nulungu. WHY STUDY WITH NULUNGU? › Kimberley-based research is greatly needed to address critical social problems and social inequities. You can really make a difference in the world. › Our Broome Campus has a focus on Aboriginal wellbeing. Research in Broome can be culturally diverse, dynamic, exciting and world-leading in outcome and impact. › Fully supported on-Campus PhD facilities - supervision can be provided locally for most topics. ABOUT US The underlying approach of Nulungu’s research program is ‘Right People, Right Country, Right Way’, which positions Indigenous people and communities at the centre of our research endeavours and ensures that community-based Indigenous knowledge is recognised and valued. Members of the Nulungu team offer expertise and skills in the following fields: › Indigenous engagement and consultation through the valuing of community-based Indigenous knowledge; › social and cultural research and planning, particularly in Indigenous governance, capacity building and community infrastructure needs; › Aboriginal cultural heritage, archaeology and community histories; › Caring for Country (cultural and natural resource management) with an emphasis on Indigenous sustainable development, cultural security and enterprise innovation; › urban development with an emphasis on local and state government service delivery models and land tenure, land access, and land use arrangements; › education and training including primary, secondary, and tertiary sector provision including vocational education and training (VET) and higher education; and › health and wellbeing, particularly in community health, social and emotional wellbeing, and health service delivery models, and policy. THE NULUNGU WAY – ‘RIGHT PEOPLE, RIGHT COUNTRY, RIGHT WAY’ The Nulungu Way guides how we work. It is founded in Kimberley Aboriginal traditions of respect and recognition of ownership of Country, Indigenous knowledge, continuing cultural practice and well defined cultural governance. The Nulungu Way respects traditions of the past that underpin contemporary community actions to create a better future for the people of the Kimberley and beyond. OUR PROJECTS Examples of Nulungu-led research in the Kimberley region include to following: › Reciprocal Accountability and Public Value in Aboriginal Organisations (Australian Research Council (ARC) funded project); › Ranger training evaluation; › Healthy skins in Kimberley communities; › Juvenile justice initiatives; › Aboriginal communities histories; › Cultural maintenance and transmission; › Identifying benefits of Aboriginal ranger activities; and › Managing Aboriginal rock art sites. Nationally, Nulungu’s research endeavours include completion of collaborative projects with Flinders University and four other universities on an ARC-funded research project titled, ‘The archaeology of the Queensland Native Mounted Police’. Nulungu also completed a project with Southern Cross University and Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education that examined the Transition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students into Higher Education. 52 Notre Dame Research Guide