Announcing 2022-2023 IKI Research Themes

The Indigenous Knowledge Institute is thrilled to announce the Institute’s 2022-2023 research themes.

Three projects were chosen from a strong field of applications.

Healthy Country

Led by Associate Professor Michael-Shawn Fletcher, this theme will provide a greater understanding of what 'Healthy Country' is.

The theme will develop benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of management approaches. It will enable the development and implementation of cultural mapping and Healthy Country management plans.

The project will include several partner organisations including Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Corporation, Conservation Ecology Centre, Taungurung Land and Waters Council, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation

Culture and Heritage

Led by Professor Barry Judd, this theme will provide tools to support and grow Indigenous knowledge so it can be applied in contemporary Australia and beyond in the critical areas of culture, land, and heritage.

The theme will investigate how this knowledge can be adapted with the guidance of Indigenous knowledge holders to meet social, environmental, and economic challenges of global significance.

Professor Judd and deputy theme lead Associate Professor Lisa Palmer will work with partners from NBN Co, Voyages Indigenous Tourism, Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, Boon Wurrung Foundation, Indigenous Business Australia, and Alola for East Timor.

Health and Justice

Co-led by Eddie Cubillo and Associate Professor Shawana Andrews, this theme will examine the intersection of the health and justice systems.

It will show how Indigenous knowledges inform the development of strengths-based and future-oriented health justice practice models for the benefit of Indigenous peoples and the broader Australian community.

This research will build an evidence-based foundation for the work occurring in and through Indigenous organisations. The project will be undertaken in partnership with Health Justice Australia who is a leader in this area.

The current themes will run until 2023. Applications for new themes for 2024-2025 will open towards the end of 2023.

More information about each of the themes and research teams can be found on the Themes page.