Indigenous Research

At Monash, we recognise that Australian Indigenous research is vitally important as a way of advancing knowledge that benefits communities in Australia and around the world.

Monash is committed to supporting Indigenous Researchers and Indigenous-led research to positively impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities while respecting Indigenous knowledge and ownership.

Indigenous PhD opportunities

Be part of discoveries that transform people and the planet

Monash University seeks Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants for PhDs, with opportunities available across all research areas.

Indigenous Excellence and Development Initiative

Expression of Interest (EOI)

Monash University invites its Indigenous academic and professional staff to submit an Expression of Interest to access support through the Indigenous Excellence and Development Initiative.

Indigenous Ethics and Integrity

Ethics & Integrity in Indigenous Research

Guidance on ethical practice, approval pathways, and cultural protocols for Indigenous research at Monash.

Indigenous Research Resources

Indigenous Institutes and Centres:

Monash Indigenous Studies Centre

This Centre is a flagship centre in the Faculty of Arts, celebrating 60 years of practice. It encourages students to understand the past and contemporary experiences of Indigenous Australians.

William Cooper Institute

This Institute is Monash University's Indigenous Engagement Unit, connecting research, learning and engagement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities through the establishment of a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model of Indigenous leadership and participation across the University.

Gukwonderuk Indigenous Health Unit

The Gukwonderuk Indigenous Health Unit team advocates for a human rights approach to health equity, ensuring Indigenous communities receive the care and support they deserve.

Wominjeka Djeembana

This research lab within the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture is dedicated to advancing Indigenous-led research and creative practice, with a focus on fostering cultural knowledge exchange and community engagement.

Murrup Bung-allambee Indigenous Psych Group

Murrup Bung-allambee (meaning ‘Balanced Spirit) offers peer support and mentorship for Indigenous psychology students, future Indigenous healthcare providers, educators, researchers, and leaders - advocating for a self-determined approach to Indigenous wellbeing.

Indigenous Researcher Articles

Shannon Killmatrin-Lynch

Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering

Dr Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch is a proud Yowong-Illam-Balluk and Natturak Balluk man, belonging to the Taungurung people in Victoria’s North-East Kulin Nations. He is an Associate Professor in Civil Engineering which is a research and community facing role where he will be engaging with people from Indigenous communities and building courses in regards to using or Indigenising coursework within the STEM faculty or the engineering faculty as a whole. Dr Kilmartin-Lynch’s work reflects a commitment to environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and scientific advancement.

Aaron Wyatt

Assistant Lecturer, Classical Music (Viola)

Aaron Wyatt is a proud Noongar man from Perth, is a violinist, composer, conductor, and researcher. He lectures in Classical Music (Viola) at Monash University's Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and is pursuing a PhD on Animated Graphic Notation on the iPad. Wyatt has performed with notable orchestras like the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and in acclaimed productions such as City of Shadows and Duck Death and the Tulip. He has directed the South Side Symphony Orchestra and conducted the Allegri Chamber Orchestra. Wyatt also works with the Decibel New Music Ensemble, programming their animated graphic notation software.

Cammi Murrup-Stewart

Senior Lecturer, Gukwonderuk Indigenous Health Workforce

Dr. Cammi Murrup-Stewart is an Aboriginal woman with strong Wurundjeri ties and a family history impacted by the Stolen Generation. As a Senior Lecturer and researcher at Monash University's Gukwonderuk Indigenous Health Workforces Centre, she leads the Murrup Bung-allambee Indigenous Psychology Group, focusing on Aboriginal youth's mental health. Her research, grounded in Indigenous methodologies, amplifies Indigenous voices and supports marginalised communities. With over eight years in community development and health, Cammi holds degrees in International Development and won the 2020 Premier’s Award for Indigenous Health Research. She advocates for accessibility, living with multiple disabilities and chronic illnesses.

Katrina Johnson

Senior Lecturer and Co-Director, Master of Indigenous Business Leadership Program

Katrina Johnson is a proud Gooreng Gooreng woman with Pakistani and Sri Lankan heritage. Mentored by Yorta Yorta leader Dr. Paul Briggs OAM, she pursued an Executive MBA to strengthen Indigenous leadership. Starting as a journalist and business consultant, she later co-designed the Master of Indigenous Business Leadership at Monash University, where she is now a senior lecturer. Katrina works globally with Indigenous communities on leadership, economic empowerment, and decolonising business education. Passionate about Indigenous self-determination, she advocates for greater representation in business, government, and education, ensuring Indigenous leaders take their rightful place in decision-making spaces.

Jahkarli Romanis

Research Assistant, Wominjeka Djeembana Lab

Jahkarli Romanis, a proud Pitta Pitta woman, artist, and emerging researcher, is reshaping narratives around Indigenous representation. Based on Wurundjeri Country, she is undertaking a practice-led PhD critiquing colonial photography archives, including the Tindale Genealogical Collection and Google Earth. Her research challenges myths like ‘terra nullius’ and highlights Indigenous connections to Country. As a Research Assistant at Monash University, she contributes to Indigenous-led creative practice protocols. Jahkarli's work emphasizes storytelling, community, and decolonial methodologies, advocating for more inclusive archival and mapping practices that center Indigenous voices, histories, and sovereignty.

Jacinta Walsh

Lecturer, Monash Indigenous Studies Centre

Dr. Jacinta Walsh, a proud Yawuru, Jaru, and Kitja woman with Irish and English ancestry, is a Lecturer and Indigenous Research Fellow at the Monash Indigenous Studies Centre. A mother of three and an adoptee, her work focuses on Indigenous family histories, truth-telling, reconciliation, and First Nations youth in juvenile justice and out-of-home care. Her PhD chronicles seven generations of her family's experiences of colonisation, highlighting ancestral love. Passionate about preserving generational memory, she advocates for First Nations access to historical archives.

Meet the team:

Jessica Walters

Indigenous Research Project Manager

Contact us:

Have any questions or need assistance? Feel free to contact us, and our team will get back to you.

Email: Indigenous@monash.edu