Intergenerational Healing – A Creative First Nations Approach to Wellbeing

You will be a First Nations researcher or practitioner with a demonstrated passion for creative, community-based or trauma-informed research. You may come from fields such as creative arts, social work, psychology, Indigenous studies, health promotion, education, or community development.

You will have:

• A strong interest in Indigenous healing, creative practice, and community wellbeing.
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Māori, and/or Pacifica communities.
• Eligibility for admission to a Griffith PhD program (first or second-class Honours or a research Master’s degree, or equivalent research experience).

Expressions of interest are welcome from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants within Australia.

Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a bachelors degree with honours equivalent to first or second class honours or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a bachelor honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with the Equivalent qualifications for HDR program admission. For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

The successful candidate will receive a Griffith University Indigenous Australian Postgraduate Research Scholarship (GUIAPRS) with an annual stipend of $55,379 (indexed) for up to four years of full-time study. Additional project support will be provided through the ARC Discovery Indigenous grant, including funds for team based fieldwork, travel, and creative practice activities.

As a scholarship holder at Griffith University, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve 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 People to apply. Griffith's 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).

As a PhD scholar in this project, you will join a First Nations-led interdisciplinary research team generating international collaborative research in trauma-integrated, creative, and community-driven healing. You will receive collaborative and reciprocal mentorship from senior Indigenous researchers and practitioners including Professor Naomi Sunderland, Honorary Associate Professor Caroline Atkinson (We Al-li), Dr Meri Haami (Tū Tama Wāhine o Taranaki, Aotearoa), Dr Rae Cooper (Griffith University), Louise Marra (Centre for Social Impact, Aotearoa), and Dr Angelina Hurley (Griffith University).

For project related enquiries please contact:

Professor Naomi Sunderland

Email: n.sunderland@griffith.edu.au

For administration enquiries please contact:

Griffith Graduate Research School

Phone: (07) 3735 3817

Email: hdr-scholarship@griffith.edu.au

Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to the project leader Professor Naomi Sunderland via email n.sunderland@griffith.edu.au containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Statement regarding the kind of PhD topic and approach you would most like to undertake within this project
• 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 of two referees

The closing date for expressions of interest is: Friday 19 January 2026 at 5 PM AEST.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to discuss the project with the international team. The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line.