La Trobe University PhD Scholarship in Return of Native Title Materials 2026

The return of materials (RoM) from NTRB/SPs to PBCs involves serious consideration of repatriation mechanisms and potential impacts that may follow a repatriation of sensitive materials. This work provides a significant opportunity for promising anthropological post-graduate students to familiarise themselves with, and contribute to, important research in the field of native title anthropology.

Accordingly, FNLRS, in partnership with the Latrobe University Department of Social Inquiry, has successfully sought funding for a post-graduate anthropologist to conduct PhD research on the RoM processes as they are evolving between FNLRS and Victorian PBCs and Traditional Owner Groups (TOGEs) in order to document and analyse the issues of consent and access that are currently emerging. The project also seeks to identify culturally appropriate pathways (and systems) to enable the smooth and efficient repatriation/return of culturally sensitive information held by FNLRS to its rightful owners.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJanuary 11, 2026
• ValueFully Funded
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorLa Trobe University
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

The benefits includes:

• stipend scholarship for three and a half years, with a value of $36,000 per annum, to support your living costs
• a fee-relief scholarship for up to four years
• opportunities to with work La Trobe's outstanding researchers, and have access to our suite of professional development programs
• engagement with a broad range of anthropological and native title-based literature and gain familiarity with native title within the Victorian context
• fieldwork with one or more PBCs and/or Traditional Owner groups within Victoria
• the candidate will develop and co-publish at least one academic article before the completion of the stipend period
• the candidate will be provided with training and development opportunities, mentoring and training within the native title anthropology sector and within academic anthropology

Requirements

To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, applicants must:

• meet the entrance requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy
• not be receiving another scholarship greater than 75 per cent of the stipend rate for the same purpose

In selecting the successful applicant, we prioritise applications from candidates who:

• will be enrolled full-time and undertaking their research at a La Trobe University campus
• have completed a Master's by research or other significant body of research, such as an Honours research thesis, assessed at a La Trobe Master's by research standard of 75 or above
• have a focus on the anthropology of Aboriginal Australia
• have an interest in processes of land rights in Australia
• display a willingness and the ability to conduct primary ethnographic research within the context of native title (or related topics)
• have a willingness to abide by the obligations of legal privilege and confidentiality imposed upon the information contained within FNLRS databases

Check also:
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Application Deadline

How To Apply

• To apply for this scholarship select follow steps 3 and 4 to submit your full application for candidature and scholarship.
• Domestic applicants should select the 'Graduate Research - Specialist Research Scholarship' option when promoted in the application portal, and use the scholarship code SRS-25036.
• International applications should select the 'Other' scholarship option when prompted in StudyLink, and use the scholarship code SRS-25036.
• Please note - as part of your application you are not required to identify a potential supervisor - Dr Raymond Madden is the designated supervisor for this project.
• The successful applicant will be required to hold a Working With Children Check (WWCC) and police check, at their own cost, in order to undertake field work and to be onboarded with FNLRS data systems.
• Short listed applicants may be required to complete an interview.

Contact: Dr Raymond Madden, [email protected]

For more information, kindly visit La Trobe University scholarship webpage.