ARC Linkage Grant success for CASS researchers

The College of Arts and Social Sciences has been awarded four Linkage Grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC) worth a combined $800,000.

The research projects, which start in July this year, are in diverse fields including demography, historical studies, curatorial studies and policy and administration.

The lead project investigators are Dr Louise Hamby of the Interdisciplinary Humanities Group; Dr Will Sanders, Dr Kirrily Jordan and Dr Nicholas Biddle from the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research; Professor James Raymer from the Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute; and Dr Nicholas Brown and Associate Professor Frank Bongiorno from the School of History.

The ARC Linkage Projects scheme supports collaborative research projects between higher education researchers and partner organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. The projects aim to drive innovation and deliver outcomes and solutions to benefit all Australians.

The ANU was awarded seventeen linkage grants and 306 were awarded Australia-wide.

The College’s research projects:

J.G. Crawford: Shaping Australia's Place in the World

Lead investigators: Dr Nicholas Brown, Associate Professor Frank Bongiorno
Partner Organisations: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, The Crawford Fund Limited
Total awarded: $197,580
Project Summary: Through a study of Sir John Grenfell (J.G.) Crawford, this project will examine transformations in Australian policy during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Crawford was a leading member of a generation of public servants who recast the practices of government, in this case through a particular focus on Australia's role in our region and among developing countries.

Improved Indigenous population projections for policy and planning 

Lead investigators: Dr Nicholas Biddle, Professor James Raymer
Partner Organisation: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Total awarded: $244,744
Project Summary: This project will use a range of methods to understand the population dynamics of the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) population. This information will allow policy makers to plan and target resources and help Indigenous organisations understand what is happening to the population in their communities.

The legacy of 50 years of collecting at Milingimbi Mission

Lead investigator: Dr Louise Hamby
Partner Organisation: Museum Victoria
Total awarded: $213,527
Project Summary: This project will bring life to Aboriginal material collections made at Milingimbi, in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. A model for museums and Aboriginal people will be made that will give more Aboriginal authority over collections and benefits the museum's knowledge base.

Implementing the remote jobs and communities program: how is policy working in Indigenous communities? 

Lead investigators: Dr Will Sanders, Dr Kirrily Jordan
Partner Organisation: Jobs Australia Ltd
Total awarded: $160,000
Project Summary: The purpose of this project is to document and assess the implementation of a new government program in the area of Indigenous employment and remote communities. The outcome of this project will be a greater understanding of the potential for such programs to be collaborative with Indigenous communities and integrated across government, while also promoting employment.