PhD Scholarship Settlement Agreements between First Peoples and Australian governments

We are currently looking for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander PhD candidate to join our Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project on Settlement Agreements between First Peoples and State governments in Victoria and Western Australia. The primary focus of this role is to develop a distinct PhD topic within the Discovery Project parameters that contributes new and innovative knowledge to the field of agreement-making between First Peoples and Australian Governments.

The Project investigates how Settlement Agreements are negotiated and implemented and explores the various social political and cultural dimensions that shape how they are made and managed.  Success in this role requires engagement with First Peoples groups and governments in Victoria or/and Western Australia and collaboration with a small research team based at Griffith University and James Cook University.

Qualifications :

The selection of the applicant for the award of a Higher Degree Research Scholarship at Griffith University is based on academic merit and research background.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent applicants who identify themselves as such and are accepted by the community with which they are associated with as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

• a Bachelor degree with second-class honours (Division A) or a Masters degree incorporating a significant research component from a recognised institution; or a record of research or a qualification granted by a professional or other body deemed by the Dean Griffith Graduate Research School to be of a standard comparable to a Bachelor degree with second-class honours (Division A).  Refer to the Equivalent Qualifications for HDR Program Admission web page.

Additional Information :

About the scholarship
The 2026 Griffith University Indigenous Australian Postgraduate Research Scholarship has an annual stipend of $55379 (indexed) for a period of up to four years of full-time study. Please see the GUIAPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

What Griffith offers
As a scholarship holder you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University weve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffiths strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science Technology Engineering Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

EoI process
Please do not select the APPLY button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to  or  containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the About you section
• A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template.
• Names and contact details of two referees

Closing date for expressions of interest is: Friday 18 September 2026 5pm AEST

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line

Further information

For project related enquiries please contact:
Emeritus Professor Ciaran OFaircheallaigh
Phone:  0
Email:  

Dr Bartholomew Stanford
Phone:
Email: 

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: 

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time