Summer and Winter Research Projects
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit's Summer and Winter Research Programs provide Indigenous students with the opportunity to gain practical research experience, while working alongside some of UQ's leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics and researchers.
By participating in a research program, students will gain valuable academic and professional experience, develop analytical & critical thinking, and gain the chance to create networks with industry and academic contacts.
Research Scholars will receive a scholarship equivalent to $360 per week for the duration of the Summer or Winter Research project.
Participation is open to undergraduate, honours, or masters by coursework students, who have completed at least two years of study and are currently enrolled at the time of application.
APPLICATIONS FOR CURRENT PROJECTS HAVE NOW CLOSED.
Key moments in Brisbane’s Indigenous history, 1986-1989
Project overview: The scholar will develop a literature review of Brisbane during the Fitzgerald Inquiry for the period 1986 to 1989. This was a time of great significance for Brisbane’s Indigenous history in the context of the Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody (1987), the Barunga Statement (1988), the release of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy and the handing down of the report of the Fitzgerald Inquiry (1989). This period was also a time of great civil unrest in Brisbane, with a number of historic marches and protests led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Expected outcomes and deliverables: A summary of literature will be prepared, including source materials and weblinks. Work will be compiled alphabetically in electronic file and ring binders. Students will undertake a library search for materials guided by keywords, and terms. The scholar will be guided by Professor Bronwyn Fredericks and Dr Abraham (Abe) Bradfield. If interested, and available, the student will also undertake field trips to explore sites of political and activist historical significance at UQ and in Brisbane. Participants will gain an in depth understanding of a key time in Brisbane’s history in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Project duration and delivery: 4 weeks during the Winter research period, with hours of engagement to be negotiated with the supervisor (between 20-36 hours per week). Flexible working arrangements may also be negotiated i.e. remote working arrangements, zoom meetings etc.
Suitability: Suitable for any eligible UQ student; research and analytical skills and the ability to work autonomously will be highly valued. Preference will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.
Primary Supervisor: Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement)
Relaxation Block Mural
Project overview: The scholar will research and document the history of the Aboriginal mural on the wall of Relaxation Block located near the Main Refectory at St Lucia campus. The mural and the circumstances leading up to its creation and subsequent vandalism, represent an important moment in UQ’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history.
Expected outcomes and deliverables: The scholar will develop a folder of resources, including literature that relates to the development and history of the Mural on the Student Refectory Wall, UQ St Lucia. The scholar will be guided by Professor Bronwyn Fredericks and Dr Abraham (Abe) Bradfield. This project may include field trips to sites of political and activist historical significance in Brisbane and at St Lucia campus. Participants will gain an in depth understanding of a key time in Brisbane and UQ’s history in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Project duration and delivery: 4 weeks during the Winter research period, with hours of engagement to be negotiated with the supervisor (between 20-36 hours per week). Flexible working arrangements may also be negotiated i.e. remote working arrangements, zoom meetings etc.
Suitability: Suitable for any eligible UQ student; research and analytical skills and the ability to work autonomously will be highly valued. Preference will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.
Primary Supervisor: Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement)
ORCID research update for the ATSIS Unit (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit)
Project overview: The scholars (up to 3) will review the ORCID research entries in the ORCID system for academic staff in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit (ATSIS Unit) and cross match for accuracy. Scholars will check for accuracy and ensure all works are represented and record the electronic records or links for all entries to both the ORCID file and in a corresponding word document. The word document will then be shared with ATSIS Unit communications staff so that the ATSIS Unit research webpages can be updated.
Expected outcomes and deliverables: Work will include learning about and reviewing UQ’s research management systems and preparing documents for broader publication. Students will also be shown how to navigate the UQ staff e-research files. The scholars will be guided by Professor Bronwyn Fredericks and Dr Abraham (Abe) Bradfield. Participants will gain an understanding of how important it is for all researchers (regardless of institution) to have such a record and the need for it to be up to date for grant applications, and for research citation, and referral.
Project duration and delivery: 4 weeks during the Winter research period, with hours of engagement to be negotiated with the supervisor (between 20-36 hours per week). Flexible working arrangements may also be negotiated i.e. remote working arrangements, zoom meetings etc.
Suitability: Suitable for any eligible UQ student; research and analytical skills and the ability to work autonomously will be highly valued. Preference will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.
Primary Supervisor: Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement)
Joh Bjelke-Peterson – UQ Honorary Doctorate
Project overview: The scholar will undertake a literature review of the circumstances that led up to the award of a UQ Honorary Doctorate to Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Peterson, and of the protest in response (1985). Bjelke-Peterson was a figure of some notoriety in Qld and Australian politics whose government was implicated in the subsequent Fitzgerald Inquiry into Illegal Activities and Police Corruption. This period also featured a number of significant protests led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in response to major historical moments.
Expected outcomes and deliverables: A summary of literature will be prepared, including source materials and weblinks. Work will be compiled alphabetically in electronic file and ring binders. Students will undertake a library search for materials guided by keywords, and terms. The scholar will be guided by Professor Bronwyn Fredericks and Dr Abraham (Abe) Bradfield. This project may include field trips to sites of political and activist historical significance in Brisbane and at St Lucia campus. Participants will gain an in depth understanding of a key time in Brisbane and UQ’s history in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Project duration and delivery: 4 weeks during the Winter research period, with hours of engagement to be negotiated with the supervisor (between 20-36 hours per week). Flexible working arrangements may also be negotiated i.e. remote working arrangements, zoom meetings etc.
Suitability: Suitable for any eligible UQ student; research and analytical skills and the ability to work autonomously will be highly valued. Preference will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.
Primary Supervisor: Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement)
Critical Indigenous Studies Text
Project overview: The Indigenous academic staff members of the University of Queensland are respectively discipline leaders as well as leaders in the emergent field of Critical Indigenous Studies. In this project the applicant will compile a book proposal to showcase their work and development a new theoretically-based highlighting the independent and individual standpoints of each academic. The applicant will also source a publisher and compile all necessary documentation from the contributors to complete a full book proposal.
Expected outcomes and deliverables: The scholar will gain/learn networking with Indigenous academics across the disciplines in UQ; document sourcing for provision to the book proposal requirements; and further development of literature review skills. The scholar will complete a book proposal and compilation of surrounding documents; a background literature review; and a theoretical position paper to accompany the book proposal.
Student will be asked to present a report on their project and a public oral presentation on the status of the book proposal document at the end of their project.
Project duration and delivery: 5 weeks during the Winter research period, with hours of engagement to be negotiated with the supervisor (approx 20 hours per week). Flexible working arrangements may also be negotiated i.e. remote working arrangements, zoom meetings etc.
Suitability: Suitable for any eligible UQ student in their 3rd year of study or higher. Student with good communication skills both written and verbal; also a background in sociological or educational concepts and critical Indigenous knowledges is highly desirable. Preference will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.
Primary Supervisor: Professor Tracey Bunda / Dr Stephanie Gilbert
Indigo, Black Shoals and coloured refractions
Project overview: This project will assist in the development of material required for an ARC project 2022 application looking at colours and racial infrastructure across the world. The applicant will assist to compile all necessary documentation including a compilation of literature in this area and work to assist the creation of ideological or theoretical formwork for the project to move forward.
Expected outcomes and deliverables: The scholar will gain/learn networking with Indigenous academics across the disciplines in UQ; document sourcing for the ARC proposal requirements; further development of literature review skills; and archival work in imagery, colour and ocean/land forms. The scholar will complete the beginning of documents required; a background literature review; and a theoretical position paper to accompany the proposal.
The student will be asked to present a report on their project and an oral presentation on the status of the ARC proposal document for the researchers involved at the end of their project.
Project duration and delivery: 5 weeks during the Winter research period, with hours of engagement to be negotiated with the supervisor (approx 20 hours per week). Flexible working arrangements may also be negotiated i.e. remote working arrangements, zoom meetings etc.
Suitability: Suitable for any eligible UQ student in their 3rd year of study or higher. Students with good communication skills both written and verbal; also a background in sociological, critical Indigenous knowledges and/or whiteness is highly desirable. Preference will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.
Primary Supervisor: Dr Stephanie Gilbert
Annotated Bibliography: Indigenous Women
Project overview: The aim of the project is to develop an annotated bibliography on the topic of Indigenous women. This project seeks to investigate the scholarly works written by Indigenous women and non-Indigenous authors on the topic of Indigenous women to inform the development of an ethics application to interview Indigenous women. Interview data will be used for the production of a book that critically positions the wisdoms of Indigenous women.
Expected outcomes and deliverables: The scholar will gain skills in library searches and the writing of an annotated bibliography, as well as strengthening the scholar's knowledge in the topic of Indigenous women. An expectation of the project is a completed annotated bibliography and presentation of the bibliography in person or digital form to the project supervisor.
Project duration and delivery: 4 weeks during the Winter research period, with hours of engagement (approx 20 hours per week). Remote working arrangements are appropriate for this project.
Suitability: Suitable for any eligible UQ student with a background in Humanities and Social Sciences. Preference will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.
Primary Supervisor: Professor Tracey Bunda
Key Dates
| Date | Action Item |
|---|---|
| 22 March, 2021 | Applications open |
| 18 April, 2021 | Closing date for applications |
| 21 May, 2021 | Notification of outcomes |
| 21 June, 2021 |
Program officially commences |
| 23 July, 2021 | Program officially concludes |