Australia’s chief scientist will meet with Indigenous experts within weeks to begin work on how the government can help elevate and protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems.
The work, to be led by First Nation Australians, will form the basis for new plans to increase engagement with the systems, with the options developed to eventually land on the Prime Minister’s desk.
It comes after the Albanese government elevated Indigenous knowledge to a National Science and Research Priority last year, a move experts welcomed but said must be followed by policy action.
The government’s policy advice on the new Indigenous knowledge priority is being led by the National Science and Technology Council, which is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes the Chief Scientist as executive officer.
A month ago, the council approached the market through the Department of Industry, Science and Resources for experts to lead the work, which will now begin eight months after the priority was announced.
One of five new National Science and Research Priorities, the elevation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems includes landmark commitments to weave the systems into contemporary practices as well as preserving them.
Indigenous scholars last year told InnovationAus.com that the Indigenous systems have typically not been well integrated into extractive western research systems, and that policy and investment must come with the Albanese government’s aspirations.
The new national priority commits to more research led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including how to preserve languages and adapt to climate change in remote communities, as well as changes to the education system. But the details will come from the implementation plan the government has put to market.
The outsourced work has been broken into three parts, starting with a short report providing an overview of the literature on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems over the past 30 years.
This report will then inform an implementation plan for the new national priority, including mechanisms for co-design and a timeframe. Communication products will also be developed for the general community, science and research communities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The tender closed on Monday and a supplier is expected to be chosen quickly, with a meeting between them and a project sponsor from the National Science and Technology Council to be held in mid-May.
The literature review will land in June, and the proposed implementation plan and communication strategy by September.
The timeline means government policy could be developed later this year and potentially receive funding in next year’s Budget.
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