The Northern Institute undertakes research relevant to peoples’ lives and policy. This research provides innovation and change in complex environments. This research takes a positive view of living in remote and regional contexts, recognises the leadership that people in the region diverse lives and knowledge systems and appreciates the value of understanding diversity is a strength. Indigenous people are a significant population in the Northern Australia, manage a large proportion of land and sea country in the region and reflect a high social and economic investment of high priority. Issues that are a priority for Indigenous people such as sustainable livelihoods, knowledge systems and their relationships to policy development, implementation and investment are key areas of research for CDU researchers and Indigenous partners.
Our Research Themes
CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE & GOVERNANCE
The Contemporary Indigenous Knowledge & Governance group attends to organisational knowledge and culture practices in the process of designing new institution and governance practices.
DEMOGRAPHY & GROWTH PLANNING
The Demography & Growth Planning team builds knowledge and expertise on the relationships between the dynamic populations of remote and sparsely populated areas to economic, social and political conditions in those regions.
EVALUATION & KNOWLEDGE IMPACT
The Evaluation & Knowledge Impact team specialises in conducting evaluations that help understand the ways policy and community partnerships are utilised to improve outcomes from public service delivery strategies.
REGIONAL, ECONOMIC & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
The Regional, Economic & Workforce Development theme explores the questions, issues, challenges and opportunities for planning, developing, implementing and supporting integrated and sustainable regional and economic development in diverse contexts.
Cross Thematic Groups
CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH GROUP
The Central Australian Research Group (CARG) undertakes interdisciplinary research in areas of social and public policy in regional and remote contexts that are critically important to central Australia and its near neighbours.
NORTHERN AUSTRALIA RESEARCH GOVERNANCE GROUP
The Northern Australia Governance Research Group are researchers and practitioners who share a commitment to collaborative research in designing just and equitable futures for the North, placing the Northern Institute and its collaborators at the forefront of research and development opportunities in the region.
INDIGENOUS ENTERPRISE HUB
The Indigenous Enterprise Hub partners with Aboriginal organisations in remote and urban areas of northern Australia to provide the basis of creating organisational development and sustainable models for Indigenous enterprises that are based on socially, culturally, economically and environmentally sustainable livelihoods.
REGIONAL & REMOTE SERVICE DELIVERY INITIATIVE
The Regional and Remote Service Delivery initiative aims to support agencies working to improve service delivery by providing accurate and relevant data analysis and research on sensitive topics and in complex contexts.
NI INTERNATIONAL
NI International provides global mobility to support NI researchers, students and research collaborators to create international links and access international resources. It builds on the Northern Institute’s international reputation and networks, to facilitate access to international expertise and research resources.