Indigenous rights and cultural heritage in the Australian resources sector.

This PhD scholarship opportunity is offered as part of the Australian Research Council's Industrial Transformation Training Centre program (ARC ITTC), which brings together industry and research partners in a highly collaborative, cohort based environment. 

A core aim of the program is to support the development of a connected community of researchers and industry professionals through shared training, mentoring and engagement activities.

The ARC ITTC is hosted by Flinders University in collaboration with The University of Queensland and Southern Cross University.

This PhD (as 1 of 4) is run from UQ and it is part of a larger cohort of 13 PhDs, across the three universities. https://www.archaeologytrainingcentre.org

Part of the ARC’s purpose is to:

• Collaborate to create best practice cultural heritage management frameworks relevant to all phases of a mine’s life.
• Pioneer new ways of communicating the significance of archaeology and cultural heritage. 

This PhD research project, based at the University of Queensland, will explore how Indigenous peoples rights feature in archaeology, social performance and cultural heritage management (CHM) policy and practice in the resources sector, and what needs to change.

You will undertake in-depth research with one or more of the Training Centre’s industry Partner Organisations or other organisations to explore how Indigenous rights and interests are understood and enacted. You will analyse what factors influence engagement with the discourse of rights at a local level and how this translates to the mobilisation of rights within industry standards and policies, and in practice.

Australia endorsed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2009. Up to this point, the Racial Discrimination Act (1975), the Native Title Act (1993), and state and federal cultural heritage legislation were the baseline legal frameworks driving compliance for industry in relation to Indigenous rights and interests, including those relating to cultural heritage.

The UNDRIP considerably widens the responsibility of parties that have endorsed it and Australia continues to fall short. Of serious concern throughout Australia, and central to this PhD project, is the question of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) as it relates to the decision-making rights and impacts on lands. This concept of FPIC is often conflated with the ‘social license to operate’ under the native title act (1993).   

This research has the potential to enable the mining industry to improve their performance in cultural heritage protection, respect for Indigenous peoples’ rights and interests, and socially responsible mining. 

• Unparalleled networking opportunities and research training within and across diverse organisations.
• Deep disciplinary expertise in archaeology enabling interaction in cultural knowledge exchange.
• Opportunities to contribute to the evolution of archaeology in the resources sector and Traditional Owners, and the broader field of social performance in mining.
• Holistic training for the next generation of archaeologists and social scientists strongly desired by employers worldwide.
• Placement with a partner organisation: A 12-month placement with a partner organisation provides practical insights and professional development.

You will be based at the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) at UQ:  
https://smi.uq.edu.au/csrm

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history.

A working knowledge of applied cultural heritage protection and the resources sector would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the fields of social sciences: anthropology/archaeology political science/human geography and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of Indigenous Australia and the resources sector, as well as experience working in remote areas and a current driver's licence, are highly desirable.

Equity criteria

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply 

You must submit an expression of interest (EOI) by 16 August, 2026 16 August, 2026.

Before you apply

1. Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
2. Prepare your documentation.
3. If you have any questions about whether the project is suitable for your research interests, contact Associate Professor Sarah Holcombe (s.holcombe@uq.edu.au).

When you apply

To apply, submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the program. You don't need to apply separately for the project or scholarship. How to submit an EOI

In your EOI, complete the ‘Scholarship/Sponsorship’ section with the following details:

1. Are you applying for an advertised project: 'Yes'
2. Project: 'Research project scholarship'
3. Scholarship Code Listed in the Advertisement: INDIGENOUS-HOLCOMBE
4. Link to Scholarship Advertisement: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/indigenous-rights-and-cultural-heritage-australian-resources-sector

Submit an EOI