Creating pathways and raising aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers
Kungullanji is an Aboriginal word from the Yugambeh language that means ‘to think’. Kungullanji challenges students to think about a research topic that interests them, to think about a career in research, and to think about how research can benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Kungullanji Research Pathways Program raises aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students by providing an undergraduate research experience, professional development, and connections to the broader Indigenous research community. The summer research experience provides students with an introduction to research at Griffith and provides valuable skills to start their research journey. With donor support, we can provide more scholarships for our expanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student cohort.
Your contribution to a scholarship will provide invaluable research opportunities, creating a foundation for student growth and open up career and research pathways.
Kungullanji Research Conference
The Kungullanji Research Conference is held at the conclusion of the Kungullanji Research Pathways Program. This conference showcases the research projects and achievements of the summer students. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Honours and HDR researchers are also invited to present their research. All staff and students are encouraged to attend. Summer scholars are also very welcome to be supported by family and friends at the Conference.
Kungullanji Research Pathways Program objectives
Create opportunities and pathways to research
The Kungullanji Program provides students with the opportunity to complete a university-based research placement to introduce students to the diversity of research conducted at Griffith. This gives an opportunity to see first hand the research process and interact with Griffith researchers.
Improve the skills of Indigenous graduates
Kungullanji offers discipline-specific training under the guidance of a research supervisor, alongside research skills training workshops with the summer scholar cohort. This increases the skills and employability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates.
Improve support of Indigenous Researchers
Kungullanji presents an opportunity to investigate how Griffith University can better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, through mentoring, cross-cohort networking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic research training in a culturally supportive environment.
Enhancing the student experience with research
Kungullanji aims to improve the overall student experience with hands-on research training, social and cultural events and student shared experiences (such as tours and presentations). Summer scholars also have the opportunity to present at the annual Kungullanji Conference.
Kungullanji Research Pathways Program Overview
Summer students are placed with an academic supervisor and work on their own research project for eight weeks. During that time, they attend research training workshops and cultural support sessions. At the end of the Program, students present their research at the annual Kungullanji Research Conference.
Program information
Topics and projects can vary depending on research areas. Past summer scholars have worked on literature reviews, analysed data and conducted surveys, completed lab/field work and observational projects. Topics and projects don’t have to be Indigenous in nature; they can be in any area that a supervisor is able to provide supervision for and interests the summer scholar. However, many of the previous summer scholars worked on Indigenous topics or expanded an existing study to focus on an Indigenous perspective or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander population or people.
Summer scholars and their supervisors usually discuss potential projects, interests and goals before research begins. The project should be able to be completed over an 8 week period, if the project is larger you can apply to complete the project over multiple summers or continue the project during the year. Some summer scholars have even had their work published in journals and community publications.
Examples of previous projects:
- A review of Indigenous Resilience in the Literature
- Uluru Statement from the Heart
- Using new technologies to preserve Indigenous heritage places
- Barriers to effective water management in remote communities
- The couple rule: Social Security law, domestic violence and women’s incarceration in Australia
- Use of mobile applications in Indigenous businesses
- Indigenous youth suicide prevention
- The voices of Aboriginal foster carers
- Evaluating the relative importance of local natural resources to food security of Torres Strait Islander communities
- What are Educators doing to Ensure the Success of Indigenous Children in Early Childhood Education?
- How does the lack of a birth certificate or birth registration link to increased incarceration rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders?
- The microbiological and immunological effects of Manuka Honey
The Program starts in early November each year, but the dates of the research placement depend on the supervisor and summer scholar availability. Some summer scholars start later or earlier, depending on their supervisor’s leave arrangements, project requirements, summer course load and other factors. The Program can be flexible around work and travel plans.
It is expected summer scholars will work approximately 20-25 hours a week to produce a significant research project as part of the Program. Days and times will depend on the nature of the research. It is also expected that the summer scholars and supervisors meet at least once a week to check in on progress, discuss any issues with the project and answer questions. Students are also expected to attend compulsory orientation activities, research skills workshops, and present at the annual Kungullanji Conference in February.
Research placements can be based at any Griffith campus, but research workshops are held primarily at the Gold Coast and Nathan campuses. It’s preferred that summer scholars and their supervisors are from the same campus. Supervisors often arrange for a desk for the summer scholars in their corresponding research centre or institute, but this is not essential as the summer scholars can also work from the GUMURRII Student Success Unit facilities, the library or computer labs. Projects may also include field work which could include travel for site visits.
Each year we assess the applications and award scholarships to summer scholars to assist with living expenses while working on their projects. As many of the summer scholars give up work to participate in the Program, the scholarship is intended to assist with living expenses and act as an incentive for students to apply for the Program. The scholarship is not paid as a stipend or salary and is not intended to cover costs associated with the research itself. The number of scholarships awarded can vary and is usually dependent on the funding for that year.
The summer research scholarships are paid in three instalments. The first payment is normally received in December, the second in late January and the third following the student presentation at the Conference. Payments are conditional on students achieving milestones throughout the Program including:
- a completed scholarship form submitted before the payment deadline
- the summer scholar has attended compulsory orientation and research skills workshops
- the summer scholar has completed an eight-week placement to the satisfaction of the supervisor and program coordinator
- the summer scholar has presented their research at the Kungullanji Research Pathways Conference
The 2022-23 Kungullanji Research Pathways Scholarship will be $3000, paid in 3 instalments of $1000 to students who fulfil the Program requirements.
Students
The Program is open to Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students studying an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework program at Griffith University who have completed at least 80CP or 1 year of their program and are in good academic progress.
Benefits:
- A summer scholarship if you fulfil the requirements of the Program
- Gain research skills in your discipline area as well as transferable. skills, including project design, reviewing the literature, understanding research methods and presentation skills.
- Participate in social/cultural activities and network with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers.
Supervisors
The Kungullanji Program is beneficial for supervisors as it provides an opportunity to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, include cultural perspectives in your research and network with other researchers from various research centres, institutes, and schools.
Supervisors are responsible for providing discipline-specific training, guidance and mentoring, and ensuring any workplace health and safety requirements are met. Supervisors and students should meet regularly to ensure adequate progress is made on the project.
How to Apply
If you are an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander undergraduate student interested in applying for the Kungullanji Research Pathways Program please complete the application form via the link below:
* Applications are now closed*
Application timeline:
- Applications open - Closed
- Offers are sent out - Closed
- Orientation Program - Closed
- Projects commence - Closed
Kungullanji mentors are a vital part of the Program providing advice and support to the summer students during the Program.
Mentor applications are open to students who have already completed the Kungullanji Program. If you wish to apply to be a mentor please complete the application form below. You can apply to be a mentor and a summer scholar.
Academics and researchers with research projects suitable for an undergraduate or Masters by Coursework student to complete in eight weeks are invited to express interest in participating in the Program. If you do not have a specific project but are interested in supervising a student you can submit your research expertise and you may be matched with a student who has developed their own project in that area.
Registration does not guarantee we can provide a student, as the Program is dependent on the number of student applications we receive as well as matching students’ research interests/abilities with suitable supervisors and projects.
Supervisors can lodge their projects/research interests any time of the year and will be matched with appropriate students in October prior to the Program commencement. To register your project or interest in supervising, please complete the expression of interest form below:
