Dungala Kaiela Research Fellows Program

Providing a pathway for emerging researchers and leaders working in health to undertake their PhD through the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) at the University of Melbourne  while living in the Goulburn Valley region

A Poche collaboration with the University Department of Rural Health and the Kaiela Institute

Picture: Getty Images

Dungala (‘big water’) is the Yorta Yorta word for the Murray River, and Kaiela (‘father of waters’) is the Yorta Yorta word referencing the Goulburn River.

The use of the words links the program to ‘place’ and its long-standing mobilised leadership and intellectual rigor.

Program aims

  • Foster Indigenous research and researcher development in the Goulburn Valley Region
  • Build Indigenous higher education social capital within Indigenous communities
  • Provide a financially stable and cohort supported research pathway for Indigenous researchers
  • Preserve community-based intellectual pursuits

Once successfully enrolled in the MDHS PhD course, Program Fellows are supported to undertake their graduate research on a Research Fellow Level A salary with a three-year contract.

Find out more

Email Associate Professor Shawana Andrews, Director Melbourne Poche Centre, shawanaa@unimelb.edu.au

What's involved

  • Support by leading Aboriginal academics, Elders and health professionals
    • Report to Associate Professor Shawana Andrews, Director, Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health
    • Receive academic support through the Indigenous Graduate Research Program of the Melbourne Poche Centre
    • Have quarterly meetings with Professor Lisa Bourke, Director, University Department of Rural Health
    • Receive mentoring by Dr Sharon Atkinson-Briggs, Yorta Yorta Elder and PhD graduate
    • Receive mentorship and sponsorship from the Kaiela Institute
  • Be employed to undertake a PhD on Yorta Yorta Country
    • Classification Research Fellow Level A
    • Salary $75,289 - $102,163 p.a.
    • Superannuation Employer contribution of 9.5%
    • Full time (fixed term) position available for three years
    • Fixed term contract type: Research

    A further three-year Indigenous Post-doctoral Fellowship is available, upon application, to extend on the gains made during the PhD. This is paid at a Research Fellow Level B salary.

  • Research and research training
    • Participate in research independently to complete a PhD in a timely manner
    • Work with PhD supervisors from the University of Melbourne and accept feedback to progress PhD studies
    • Prepare and present papers at academic conferences and seminars, including community-based knowledge translation activity through the Kaiela Institute
    • Contribute to publications arising from scholarship and research
    • Occasional contributions to teaching within the staff member’s area of expertise
  • Leadership and service
    • Active participation in the communication and dissemination of research
    • Active participation in the Poche Centre’s initiatives
    • Active participation in the University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) activities, including contributing to UDRH meetings (4 per year) and reporting (twice per year)
  • Engagement
    • Engage with Aboriginal communities, stakeholders and organisations in the Goulburn Valley about the PhD research and present research findings to community members
    • Liaise with external and academic networks to foster collaborative partnerships
    • Engage with colleagues at the Poche Centre and the Department of Rural Health
    • Engage with staff at the Kaiela Institute
    • Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) and Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) responsibilities