Decolonising PhD Scholarship

Federation University is pleased to invite applications for a PhD scholarship from prospective Indigenous candidates.

Scholarship details

Stipend: $35,000 per annum
Top-Up: $10,000 per annum
Project support: $2,000 per annum
RTP Fee-offset Scholarship: $24,780 per annum
Funding length: 3 years, with the possibility of a 6-month extension
Location: Can be negotiated

Applications are invited for an Indigenous PhD candidate

Project title: Decolonising a draft manuscript of Aboriginal Peoples: An investigation into historic health profiles from archival material and before book publication

Research project outline:

An exciting opportunity is offered here for an Indigenous PhD candidate in the fields of history, archives, decolonising studies, Indigenous methodologies and/or Indigenous health or epidemiology. This is a ground-breaking PhD topic to decolonise historical research on Tasmanian Aboriginal populations and health profiles at the time of colonial invasion. A draft book has been written; however, it is missing an Indigenous voice, perspective, methodology and theory that pays tribute to Tasmanian Aboriginal peoples.

The PhD calls for re-contexualising the draft book within the historiography of Tasmania Aboriginal experience during the colonial period and reinterpreting the source material through a decolonising lens. In drawing together insights from the practice of archival research from non-Indigenous Peoples and the translation into historical texts about Indigenous Peoples, this PhD is expected to fill a gap in providing an Indigenous standpoint and add richness to the potential of joint truth-telling from Indigenous research leadership.

This PhD calls for a candidate who is willing to work with Dr Peter Dowling’s draft book to decolonise history writing and investigate how Indigenous methodologies can illuminate colonial health records. In working with the source material to reinterpret historical thought, this PhD is expected to revolutionise decolonising practice by including Indigenous scholarship in mainstream Australian histories before publication. The supervision team will ensure the PhD work is of the candidate’s own, however there is an opportunity for the successful candidate to lead a co-authored book publication, aimed at general and academic audiences, that prominently places the Indigenous findings and voice.

Applications are called for to yarn about the topic and research environment. The application requirements can be stepped through and any additional supports that the candidate may prefer or require can be offered. Federation University guidelines note that "Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants who do not meet entry requirements may be considered for entry by the Dean, Graduate Research, in consultation with relevant staff from the proposed affiliated Research Centre”. Federation University champions engaging with Indigenous research excellence and practice skills in a cultural context.

Supervisors:

Professor Emma Lee is a trawlwulwuy woman from tebrakunna country, a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman with experience in decolonising frameworks and Indigenous methodologies.

Dr Peter Dowling, OAM, is an eminent historian whose rich body of work on Indigenous health profiles and the devastating effects of the introduction of new diseases has won high peer acclaim.

The candidature sits with the Graduate School of Federation University and will be placed with the National Centre to Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice with Federation University Australia. The candidate will be supported by a Research Training Program Scholarship (a total of $45,000 per annum for 3.5 years).

Eligibility

Scholarship applicants must be eligible to undertake a PhD. Verify you can meet eligibility requirements outlined on the Graduate Research School website. If you are applying for ‘Honours equivalence,’ please ensure that you provide detailed information to support your case.

We are seeking applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who come with skills to read archival material and have experience in managing stressful situations with potentially unsettling colonial records or equivalent literature. We seek candidates who want to explore accountability in production of Australian histories and grow the theoretical tools to talk back to research. We highly encourage people who have workforce experience in caring for healthy people and healthy country as much as a capacity in writing reports. We are flexible in the learning journey to match the candidate’s field of research or practice with the book draft at hand and the PhD topic interests.

How to apply: Applicants must submit their application with all necessary documents by completing the HDR Candidature application form.

Application closing dates: Open until position filled

Commencement dates: Mid 2025

For more information, please contact Professor Emma Lee or the Graduate Research School.