Indigenous Data Network

The Indigenous Data Network

The Indigenous Data Network (IDN) was established in 2018 to support and coordinate the governance of Indigenous data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to decide their own local data priorities. Led by a Steering Committee of experts and stakeholders and the founding partnership between the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University and the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), the IDN is a national network of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, university research partners, Indigenous businesses and government agencies and departments.

The IDN works to engage with and leverage internationally leading developments in the data sciences to maximise the optimal collection, access and use of data resources for community empowerment. Functions of the IDN include providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations access to research expertise to facilitate their data priorities; supporting access to data held by others; and to build data capacity within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia. The IDN continues to form new partnerships and to grow the network nationally, connecting more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations, universities, and government agencies and departments.

Email the Indigenous Data Network at data-indigenous@unimelb.edu.au. Find out more about our work at the Indigenous Studies Unit website or on Twitter.

Our people

Indigenous Data Sovereignty Symposium: The importance of data sovereignty for communities

Partnering with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), the University of Melbourne hosted the Indigenous Data Sovereignty Symposium on 11 and 12 October 2017 at the Parkville campus.

Specific aims of the Symposium included:

the development of a nationwide network to empower Indigenous organisations and communities to take advantage of developments in data science and maximise the use of their data resources for community benefit;
increasing awareness of the importance of Indigenous data sovereignty for local Indigenous communities, researchers, government and other related stakeholders;
providing information on custodianship, management of, and reporting and presentation of data, including models of monitoring and evaluation;
outlining specific strategies and approaches to make better use of data that Indigenous people already have undisputed sovereignty (e.g. the information held by the Indigenous land councils, medical services, legal services etc.); and,
providing information on custodianship, reporting and presentation of data.

Symposium convenors

Professor Marcia Langton, Associate Provost, Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies
Professor Shaun Ewen, PVC (Indigenous), Director, Melbourne Poche Centre of Indigenous Health
Professor Janet McCalman, MSPGH
Dr Nikki Moodie, CSHE
Dr Kristen Smith, MSPGH
Dr Len Smith, ANU

For more information please contact Indigenous Studies: indigenous-studies@unimelb.edu.au