Since its formation in 2010, Northern Institute has become a regional leader in high-quality social and public policy research. We aim to understand regional development and provide strong evidence for policy development and capacity building whilst responding to the needs of governments and communities.
Northern Institute researchers are recognised nationally and internationally for their innovative methodologies and research outcomes. They collaborate through partnerships with local and international context experts to bring together a deep understanding of people, policy and place.
Research areas
Research teams
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Demography and Growth Planning Team
Our research focuses on demographic modelling and forecasting, socioeconomic impacts, and population change across Northern Australia and sparsely populated areas.
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Realist Research, Evaluation and Learning Team
RREALI researchers contribute to the effectiveness of policies and programs by developing, teaching, using and promoting realist research and evaluation methodology and methods.
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Ground Up Team
GroundUp is a research and service delivery approach that develops tools, methods, understandings and practices appropriate for the people, places and organisations we work with. The research team specialise in co-design and is committed to working collaboratively on the ground, taking seriously the knowledge and governance of Aboriginal people.
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Top End Language Lab
TELL is dedicated to investigating oral language learning, processing, and maintenance. They create social and technological innovations for linguistic and cultural vitality.
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Landscape Knowledge Visualisation Lab
The LKV Lab develops high-resolution 3D printed tiles to create all terrain landscapes over which projected spatial data, landscape process animations and simulations are displayed.
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CSIRO partnership
The CSIRO partnership supports research in health, land management and training, biosecurity and systemic approaches to policy in remote regions.
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Affiliated centres and networks
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First Nations Sovereignty and Diplomacy Centre
The FNDC team coordinates and develops short courses, modules, and immersive workshops aimed at introducing the cultures of Indigenous sovereignties in Australia and their distinct ways of making diplomacy in traditional and contemporary ways. FNSDC is a ‘dual academy’ led, operated and guided by Yolŋu elders in collaboration with non-Indigenous academics.
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Centre for Creative Futures
CCF draws on First Nations knowledge systems and, under Indigenous leadership, supports arts-based research projects that use performance, images, music, dance and digital storytelling to expand CDU’s “two-way” research capacity.
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Top End STS Network
TopEndSTS are a group of scholars and practitioners who regularly come together to share stories, insights and collaborations. They associate with the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS), an orientation to inquiry that works to unpick some of the assumptions embedded in modern knowledge traditions and provides resources for new forms of situated interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research work.
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NI acknowledges the Larrakia Nation (Saltwater People), the Traditional Custodians of the region where our NI Research Support Services are located and their continuing governance and care for community, land and waters. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and elders past and present. We stand with Indigenous struggles for social justice, empowerment and equity in Australia and globally.
⚠️ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website, linked publications and content may contain images, voices and names of people who have died.