National Indigenous Innovation Challenge

Big ideas. Deadly innovations.

The National Indigenous Innovation Challenge connects First Nations communities with world-leading, innovative researchers from diverse disciplines to co-design game-changing solutions and long-term outcomes.

Facts and figures

The pitch

Put forward a challenge via our online form.

^# 1
Challenge launch

Attend a full-day workshop at Monash Clayton to explore your pitch further, team up with leading researchers and plan your innovative solution together.

^# 2
Project proposal

Building on the launch, develop a draft end-to-end proposal presenting your solution and strategies to reach it, sustaining a long-term collaboration.

^# 3
Seed funding awarded

Our Indigenous researchers and theme experts select successful teams and allocate two years of seed funding to each. Twice a year recipients will provide expenses for the past six months and plans for the upcoming six months.

^# 4
Outcome presentations

Your team submits an end of project report and presents your outcomes at an event in late-2027.

^# 5

Tap into a wealth of leading expertise

Indigenous groups will contribute their vital knowledge to co-design a sustainable, pioneering solution with Monash's world-class researchers across all disciplines.

Information Technology View

Protecting Indigenous Knowledge Systems through Cybersecurity

This theme focuses on safeguarding traditional knowledge, cultural heritage, and community data from misuse, exploitation, or cyber threats. It emphasises the development of secure digital infrastructures and protocols that respect Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, and data governance.

How can cybersecurity protect Indigenous languages, stories, and art from unauthorised use?
What frameworks ensure Indigenous communities maintain control over their digital assets?
How can we develop culturally appropriate cybersecurity solutions for rural and remote Indigenous communities?
How can cybersecurity safeguard Indigenous peoples’ sensitive health data and wellbeing information, while also protecting Indigenous business interests against fraud and exploitation?

Ethical AI for Indigenous Futures

This theme explores how Artificial Intelligence can be designed and applied in ways that amplify Indigenous voices, address social inequities, and support cultural sustainability. It highlights the importance of embedding Indigenous values and ethics into AI systems to prevent bias and enable equitable innovation.

How can AI support revitalisation of Indigenous languages and cultural practices?
What does an Indigenous-led approach to AI ethics look like?
How can AI help close digital divides while empowering community-driven solutions?
How can AI be used to detect early signs of diseases affecting Indigenous peoples, and in what ways might it contribute to Closing the Gap in health outcomes?

First Nations Sovereignty: Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Living Archives of People and Place

This theme centres First Nations sovereignty through Indigenous Data Sovereignty and community-owned, place-based Living Archives. It addresses the historical dispossession of Indigenous peoples from control over records, data and knowledge about their lives, lands and cultures. The theme emphasises Indigenous-led governance, co-designed information systems and ethical recordkeeping practices that support self-determination, truth-telling and cultural continuity, reimagining archives as dynamic knowledge ecosystems connected to people, Country and community authority.

How can Indigenous Data Sovereignty frameworks ensure First Nations communities retain ownership, control, access and stewardship over data about their peoples, cultures and lands?
What does a Living Archive of people and place look like, and how can digital and physical archives be designed to reflect Indigenous worldviews, storytelling traditions and relationships to Country?
How can records, cultural materials and data held by governments, universities and institutions be ethically repatriated and governed under Indigenous-defined protocols?

Business View

Fair and just energy markets for Indigenous communities

This theme focuses on identifying opportunities and pathways for improving markets, billing options, energy systems and community outcomes for Indigenous communities. It emphasises the need for fair and just energy markets tailored towards the specific needs and circumstances of Indigenous people and communities.

How can prepayment meters in remote communities support more just and equitable outcomes?
What are the alternative billing and market options to prepayment meters in remote communities?
How can energy markets ensure that Indigenous people and communities realise the benefits of the energy transition?
What does an Indigenous-led energy market look like?

Tools for Indigenous Community Strength and Program Success

This theme investigates how technology can support collaboration on projects, policies and processes, and facilitate their evaluation, to ensure culturally relevant, evidence-based benefits for Indigenous communities.

How can digital governance and decision-support tools that embed Indigenous knowledge systems, empower community-led economic development, and foster equity in employment and wellbeing be best co-designed?
What types of digital platforms or systems best facilitate culturally appropriate community-management and collective action in remote Indigenous settings, so that economic independence, social capital, and community wellbeing improve?
To what extent do evaluation frameworks capture the unique impacts of policies and programs on Indigenous self-determination and economic participation, and how can they be improved to inform more equitable policy and program design?
How can supportive technologies be sustainably implemented and optimised over time with and for Indigenous communities to ensure long-term economic growth and inclusive employment outcomes?

Advancing Indigenous Employment and Career Progression in the Health and Education Sectors

This theme seeks to explore the employment of Indigenous Australians in the education and health sectors. will seek to do the following:

What are the current barriers to and facilitators of employment and career progression for Indigenous Australians within the two sectors?
What are current national-level and local programmes initiated to improve employment and career progression?
What is the impact of these programmes and can they be scaled up using specific case studies?
Can an adaptable evidenced-based and culturally relevant career development programme/platform be designed that would advance labour market entry and career progression for Indigenous Australians in these sectors?

Science View

Indigenous land histories, environmental change, and Indigenous land management

This theme explores the environmental histories of Indigenous lands and the impacts of both natural processes and human activity, including colonisation, on Country. Bringing together environmental science, land management, and Indigenous knowledge to better understand how landscapes have evolved and how they can be cared for into the future.

How can long-term environmental histories - spanning 65,000 years ago through to the present - inform present-day land management and cultural connection to country?
In what ways have invasion, development, and climate change transformed Indigenous landscapes, and how can this knowledge guide restoration?
How can soil science and environmental chemistry support Indigenous-led efforts to monitor, protect, and restore degraded or contaminated lands?
What culturally grounded frameworks can guide the co-development of land care, remediation, and water quality strategies on Country?

Strengthening food security, sovereignty, and potential in Indigenous food networks

This theme empowers Indigenous communities through the revitalisation, protection and innovation of traditional and contemporary food systems. It focuses on enhancing food security, preserving native food species, and co-creating science-backed pathways for innovation and self-determined growth in Indigenous food networks.

How can Indigenous knowledge and scientific research work together to strengthen local food systems and promote food sovereignty?
What opportunities exist for the food potential in bush tucker, such as antidiabetic, antioxidant or other related properties?
How can cross-sector partnerships support Indigenous enterprises in navigating supply chains, food preservation, and sustainable production?
What models of research, training, and enterprise development ensure Indigenous control over food knowledge, intellectual property, and market engagement?

Supporting Indigenous climate resilience and biodiversity through science

This theme focuses on collaborative, science-based approaches to addressing climate challenges faced by Indigenous communities. By centering Indigenous knowledge systems and priorities and working in partnership, we aim to develop locally relevant, sustainable, and culturally appropriate solutions.

How can Indigenous-led climate adaptation strategies be strengthened through scientific modelling and environmental modelling?
In what ways can collaborative research support Indigenous stewardship of Country under changing climate conditions?
How can innovative approaches to land, water, coastal regions and biodiversity management reflect both Indigenous knowledge systems and scientific evidence?
What financial mechanisms and policy tools can empower Indigenous communities to lead sustainable transitions and build resilience to climate change?

Indigenous Engagement

Indigenous Engagement

National Indigenous Innovation Challenge

Be the change for your community

Big ideas. Deadly innovations.

Facts and figures

The pitch

Challenge launch

Project proposal

Seed funding awarded

Outcome presentations

Tap into a wealth of leading expertise

Information Technology View

Protecting Indigenous Knowledge Systems through Cybersecurity

Ethical AI for Indigenous Futures

First Nations Sovereignty: Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Living Archives of People and Place

Business View

Fair and just energy markets for Indigenous communities

Tools for Indigenous Community Strength and Program Success

Advancing Indigenous Employment and Career Progression in the Health and Education Sectors

Science View

Indigenous land histories, environmental change, and Indigenous land management

Strengthening food security, sovereignty, and potential in Indigenous food networks

Supporting Indigenous climate resilience and biodiversity through science

Past project

National Indigenous Innovation Challenge

Be the change for your community

Big ideas. Deadly innovations.

Facts and figures

The pitch

Challenge launch

Project proposal

Seed funding awarded

Outcome presentations

Tap into a wealth of leading expertise

Information Technology View

Protecting Indigenous Knowledge Systems through Cybersecurity

Ethical AI for Indigenous Futures

First Nations Sovereignty: Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Living Archives of People and Place

Business View

Fair and just energy markets for Indigenous communities

Tools for Indigenous Community Strength and Program Success

Advancing Indigenous Employment and Career Progression in the Health and Education Sectors

Science View

Indigenous land histories, environmental change, and Indigenous land management

Strengthening food security, sovereignty, and potential in Indigenous food networks

Supporting Indigenous climate resilience and biodiversity through science

Past project

Bundjalung Native Fruit De-Seeding Project