Institute for
Social Science Research

ISSR recognises the significant contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, organisations, and community have made and continue to make to UQ, Australia and our global society. Our vision is to build a strong sense of belonging and inclusivity that works respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, staff, and communities, in learning, research, and collaboration.

Since 2023, ISSR has made significant progress in raising cultural awareness within the Institute and effected transformative change in our approach to Indigenous engagement. Our first RAP Implementation Plan 2023–24 incorporated 17 Actions and outlined our commitment to advancing our reconciliation journey and ISSR has made significant progress across the actions, with all but four achieved.

We are particularly proud that 75% of our staff have completed the first three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Core Cultural Learning Modules, and 50% have completed all 10 Modules – UQ currently only requires staff to complete the first two Modules.

ISSR also renewed its Advisory Board in 2024, with inclusion of Indigenous Board member representation for the first time. We have initiated a strong research portfolio in engagement with First Nations communities – engaging with six Indigenous research partners and completing nine related projects in 2024. Notably, the Institute contributed seven research papers on the historical context of Indigenous affairs in Queensland to inform the submission of the Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts to the Queensland Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry.

ISSR has also led the evaluation of the Joint Decision-Making processes adopted by the Empowered Communities partnership for the National Indigenous Australians Agency, which involved working with ten Indigenous communities, and a wide range of community leaders, organisations, and researchers.

ISSR’s commitment to improving the wellbeing of Indigenous people and communities is central to our future priorities, with Indigenous engagement established as one of five priority pillars in our new Strategic Intent. We remain committed to reconciliation, supporting constitutional recognition, truth telling and healing, and a path to treaty – all while recognising that this will require continuous and ongoing learning.

In 2025 we will develop our implementation plan to support UQ’s new Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (January 2025 to December 2027) and its vision of a fair, equal and inclusive society in which both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are united for a better future.