About the Forum
The ANU By 2030 Strategy makes clear that ANU has an ongoing responsibility to Indigenous peoples. As the University works to translate that commitment into an implementation plan, the Indigenous Strategy Special Committee (ISSC) has requested a series of forums be held with ANU community members.
As part of this work, you are invited to participate in the Indigenous Research Forum (the Forum), co-led by Associate Professor Azure Hermes and Dr Sarah Bourke.
The purpose of the Forum is to hear directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers about what ANU should do to strengthen Indigenous research and support Indigenous researchers across the University.
We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers have already contributed significant time, expertise, and insight through previous consultations. This Forum is not intended to ask you to repeat what has already been communicated. Instead, the discussion will focus on how change should happen, what support researchers need, and what the University should deliver.
How the workshops will run
The Research Forum will run as a series of facilitated workshops of:
Format: Three workshops of up to eight participants each.
Duration: Half a day per workshop, with morning tea/afternoon tea catered for in-person workshops.
Timing: Late September/Early October 2026.
Venue: Building 45, John Yencken, L3, FNP Conference Room (In-Person) or Online (via Teams).
What we will discuss
The workshops will be framed around the 8 key considerations raised by the 2026 Strategy Consultation, to inform the development of the Indigenous Strategy.
1. Self-Determination and UNDRIP: A recurring theme was the call to embed UNDRIP as a genuine institutional framework. Multiple respondents argued that the commitment to Indigenous self-determination should be strengthened through university-wide adoption of UNDRIP, treated as a core organising principle of ANU strategy that shapes governance and decision-making across the institution.
2. Community engagement and representation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should have a genuine role in University decision-making and accountability, not just be consulted through hand-picked, non-diverse processes.
3. Recognition of existing strengths and excellence: Sustaining and growing existing centres of excellence, including in Indigenous health and wellbeing, genomics, languages, repatriation, data sovereignty and First Nations gender justice. Ensuring the institutional architecture for support and recognition reaches the whole University.
4. Indigenous leadership model and accountability: Consideration of a Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) position, in line with other leading Australian universities. A ‘Hub and Spokes’ model, connecting a central Indigenous leadership function with Indigenous-led centres and researchers across the University, was discussed. Development of a funded implementation plan with clear responsibilities, monitoring and evaluation, and regular reporting against defined measures of success.
5. Indigenous research: recognition and investment: Several submissions recommended positioning Indigenous-led and engaged research as the primary pathway for implementing its Indigenous commitments.
6. Data, measurement and Indigenous Data Sovereignty: Establishing a baseline of Indigenous research, student and staff data at School and College level, and embedding Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance Protocols.
7. People: Recruitment, Retention and Career Pathways: University-level frameworks for Indigenous HDR students, early career researchers and emerging leaders, including dedicated funding and the strengthening of proven pathways.
8. Education and Curriculum: Indigenous content and Indigenous-led teaching to be expanded and clearly articulated across all levels and disciplines.
These key considerations are a starting point for discussion, not a rigid scope. Participants are welcome to raise matters beyond this list.
Detailed summaries of the 2018 and 2026 community consultations can be found below:
1.
2.
Recording and consent
Each workshop will be recorded and transcribed using a confidential AI transcription tool, coordinated with the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Centre for Indigenous Genomics (NCIG). Transcripts will be used only for the analysis described below. Findings will be reported thematically, and particular comments will not be attributed to named individuals.
If you would prefer not to be recorded, please let us know and we will arrange an alternative way for your feedback to be captured.
Desired outcomes
The Research Forum will deliver the following outcomes:
- A thematic analysis report of community feedback gathered across the workshops. This will be presented to the ISSC to inform the Committee’s advice to the University Executive on the implementation plan. The report will also be shared with workshop attendees as a record of what was discussed.
- Clear and practical advice on the support Indigenous researchers needs, and the mechanisms required to deliver that support.
- Defined accountabilities, including what the University and any future Indigenous leadership position should be responsible for delivering, and how progress will be measured and reported.
- A University response to the findings, stating what will be done following the Forum and what support will be provided. The mechanism for delivering the University response, including who is accountable and how progress will be reported, will need to be determined in advance for accountability.
The Forum is designed to lead to action. The community has given generous feedback through previous consultations. The measure of success is whether this feedback translates into tangible support and measurable change.
Registration
The Research Forum will be held across three small, facilitated workshops. Each workshop will cover the same core discussion areas and so participants only need to attend one session. When you RSVP, you will be able to choose the workshop date and time that works best for you.
Workshop options:
- Session 1 [In-person]: Tuesday 29 Sep 2026 9am - 1pm
- Session 2 [In-person]: Wednesday 30 Sep 2026 9am - 1pm
- Session 3 [Online via Teams]: Thursday 1 Oct 2026 9am - 1pm
In-person Location: First Nations Portfolio Conference Room, Level 3, John Yencken Building (Building 45)
Catering: Morning tea will be provided
Please RSVP by Friday, 11 September 2026 via . If you have any accessibility or dietary requirements, please let us know through the RSVP form.
If you have any questions, please contact Azure, Sarah, or the organising team at FNP by emailing IRF26@anu.edu.au.