Guidelines for Best Practice for Research Higher Degree Candidates Undertaking Research Involving Indigenous People or Matters

Background

The JCU Strategic Plan ‘JCU In the Third Millennium...strategic directions for our future 2005-2010’ emphasises the need for JCU graduates to have an understanding of Indigenous Australian issues and cultures. Many Research Higher Degree candidates undertake research projects that include research involving Indigenous people or matters. The fact that many students come to JCU for the purpose of researching issues of concern to Indigenous communities is a strength of the University. These Guidelines for Best Practice for Research Higher Degree Candidates Undertaking Research Involving Indigenous People or Matters have been developed in parallel with the JCU Policy on Indigenous Research to provide guidance for research students and their supervisors as to how they might learn to conduct their research in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner.

Objective

To ensure that Research Higher Degree candidates undertaking projects that include any research involving Indigenous people or matters and their supervisors understand how to how to conduct their research in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner.

Strategies

1. 1.

   That the Graduate Research School ask:

1. i)

   Research Higher Degree candidates whether they wish to identify as Indigenous in their letter of offer; and

2. ii)

   Heads of School to identify on the Research Higher Degree candidate’s application approval form whether or not the proposed research project will include any research involving Indigenous people or matters.

1. 2.

   That via Student One, the Graduate Research School keep registers of:

1. i)

   Research Higher Degree candidates who identify as Indigenous;

2. ii)

   Research Higher Degree Candidates undertaking research projects that include any research involving Indigenous people or matters.

1. 3.

   That Research Higher Degree Candidates undertaking research projects that include any research involving Indigenous people or matters be encouraged to have an Indigenous staff member on their supervisory team to:

1. i)

   Provide assistance with completion of ethics forms, and

2. ii)

   Advise as to appropriate conduct of research behaviours

3. iii)

   Ensure that adequate advice has been given to the Research Higher Degree candidate to undertake research in Indigenous contexts.

4. iv)

   Refer the Research Higher Degree candidate to relevant Indigenous Research Methods literature.

5. v)

   In consultation with the other supervisor(s) provide assistance where needed

1. 4.

   That the contribution of the Indigenous staff member be recognised by allocating a fraction of EFTSL for this purpose.

2. 5.

   That Indigenous research protocols workshops be coordinated by SIAS to educate Research Higher Degree candidates and their supervisors as to how they might conduct their research in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner, and that :

1. i)

   these workshops be listed in the annual program of Research Skills workshops

2. ii)

   attendance at least one workshop be encouraged for all Research Higher Degree candidates undertaking any research involving Indigenous people or matters

3. iii)

   attendance of Research Higher Degree candidates and their supervisors be monitored through the Confirmation of Candidature process

4. iv)

   that issues of ethics be covered in these workshops (NHMRC Guidelines)

5. v)

   that Research Students undertaking research involving Indigenous people or matters be encouraged to attend the School of Indigenous Australian Studies monthly research seminar series.

1. 6.

   That all Animal and Human Ethics Application Forms ask whether the project includes any research involving Indigenous people or matters and that such projects be monitored by an Indigenous Staff member prior to their being submitted to the relevant Ethics Committee.

2. 7.

   That the current practice of having an Indigenous member of the JCU Ethics Committee read and approve those ethics applications to do with Indigenous research be continued.

3. 8.

   That Research Higher Degree Candidates undertaking projects that include any research involving Indigenous people or matters be allocated a Research Student Monitor from the School of Australian Indigenous Studies or an RSM who is an Indigenous staff member from another school.

4. 9.

   That these policies be monitored through the Confirmation of Candidature process by adding appropriate questions to the Confirmation of Candidature documentation.