Project Title: Exploring the potential of short-form qualifications: An inquiry into the design and delivery of new ‘dual academy’ qualifications in NT Aboriginal contexts

3 years full-time appointment

$32,192pa + top-up

Casuarina Campus

About the project: Aboriginal elders and other knowledge authorities have always practiced their own forms of training and qualification, raising skilled new generations of young people under appropriate authority.

In recent years, new kinds of short-form qualification, such as micro-credentials and digital badges, have created new opportunities for universities and Aboriginal knowledge authorities to work together in designing forms of teaching, learning and credentialisation which are suitable for Aboriginal learners, which connect with and maintain both Aboriginal and other knowledge traditions, and which activate new opportunities for business and enterprise development.

The purpose of this PhD will be to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders (e.g. Aboriginal knowledge authorities, Aboriginal organisations and government and university staff) to explore the potential of new forms of micro-qualification to recognise place-based teaching and learning under Aboriginal authority. This would include a review of existing offerings, and inquiry into the potential design and delivery of new forms of credentials and qualification processes relevant in NT contexts. This project will include advisory input from NTG Dept of Education and Training, and Aboriginal stakeholder groups already engaged in this area (e.g. ranger organisations and Bush universities).

The candidate will be expected to have a commitment to collaborative community-based research and ideally be able to undertake remote fieldwork. The initial design of the project may include the formalisation of an Indigenous supervisory group and/or stakeholder advisory group, working in collaboration with CDU supervisors.

About you: This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identified position.

To be considered for this opportunity you should have:

• First Class Honors (or equivalent) in a social science or humanities field such as science and technology studies, anthropology, human geography, sociology, public policy, Indigenous studies, or another aligned discipline

• A commitment to collaborative research work under First Nations authority

• Capacity to work in remote Northern Territory locations. Dual-Academy entry: If you are a senior Aboriginal person qualified for this role though your own cultural authority, please contact Michaela Spencer [email protected] to discuss options for a ‘dual academy’ enrolment.

Scholarship Details:

The successful applicant will receive a Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship which will include a $32,192 (tax exempt and indexed annually) and a RTP Fee Offset for the tuition fees. A taxable scholarship top-up valued at $10,000 per annum will also be available. For further information on the RTP Scholarship conditions, please visit Higher Degree by Research Scholarships at CDU.

Eligibility:

The successful applicant must

• be an Australian Citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident; or a New Zealand Citizen

• meet the PhD course entry requirements at CDU outlined here.

How to Apply:

To submit an expression of interest please send the following to Dr Michaela Spencer at [email protected].

• A CV

• one page cover letter outlining your research interests and experience

• relevant statements and academic transcripts

• publications

Note: The supervisor will invite applicants who pass the expression of interest stage to submit scholarship applications before closing date. Please do not submit any applications unless you are invited by the supervisor.

Please do not select the "Apply" button

For further enquiries, please contact Michaela Spencer on 08 8946 7251 or email [email protected].

As there is no closing date on this application process, we encourage early application.

Commencement date: As soon as possible in 2025

Diversity and Inclusion

At CDU we actively celebrate our diversity. We innovate, embrace new ideas, and act with courage and kindness. We’re about what we can give to the world rather than what we take, and we believe in the transformative power of education. We work hard to make sure every member of our university community feels that they truly belong. Understanding that it is through our focus on our people and leveraging our differences that will make CDU the most connected university in Australia, we are striving to ensure that our culture and our community is inclusive of all our staff, students and visitors. We are committed to maintaining a culture where everyone feels respected, safe, encouraged to speak up and supported in achieving their professional goals. Applications from First Nations people, women at all levels, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with disability, neurotypical and neurodiverse people, LGBTIQ+ people, people with family and caring responsibilities and people at all stages of their careers are welcomed. You make CDU. And we want you to be exactly who you are.