Preserving Indigenous audio-visual cultural material, learning about the needs of caregivers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer survivors, and finding ways to help Indigenous small businesses prosper are amongst the important new research projects to be undertaken by Australia’s Indigenous researchers with new Australian Government funding announced today.
Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Research Council (ARC), Professor Sue Thomas, has welcomed the announcement today by Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham, of $7.2 million for 13 new research projects through the ARC Discovery Indigenous scheme.
Professor Thomas said the Discovery Indigenous scheme is vital research support for developing and extending the research expertise of Indigenous Australian researchers.
“The researchers involved in the 13 projects announced today will support excellent basic and applied research, as well as research training, by Indigenous Australian researchers,” said Professor Thomas.
Some of the research projects to be undertaken by the Discovery Indigenous researchers, to commence in 2018, include:
- Dr Lyndon Ormond-Parker from The University of Melbourne will use $573,032 to investigate world’s best practice for long-term storage of digital and analogue audio-visual cultural materials to assist in the preservation of Indigenous languages and culture.
- Professor Gail Garvey from Charles Darwin University will lead a $689,924 project to gain knowledge about the needs of partners and caregivers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer survivors, to improve supportive care, more timely interventions and better quality of life for patients and caregivers.
- Dr Kerry Bodle from Griffith University will receive $320,249 to compare the level of financial and commercial literacy, support and resources for Indigenous and non-Indigenous small business owners in Australia to promote financial health and sustainability of Indigenous businesses.
This Discovery Indigenous scheme announcement is part of today’s ARC schemes grant announcements totalling $333.5 million for 859 research projects.