In 2013 the University of Melbourne formally established the Research Unit for Indigenous language (RUIL) in the School of Languages and Linguistics. This research unit is the first of its kind in Australia and draws on a wide range of varying expertise from linguists. Its overarching focus is to undertake research relevant to understanding:
What is the nature of Indigenous language in Australia
in all of its forms, across generations and communities, and how can we identify and address the needs of Indigenous people and their languages into the future? The research unit is centred around a team from the School of Languages and Linguistics with an exemplary record in research on the languages of Australia’s Indigenous communities. The University of Melbourne is the national (and global) leader in this important area of research. Over the last 10 years the team has held 10 Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project grants in the area, including five held currently, has graduated eight PhD students working specifically in the area of Indigenous languages, and currently supervise a further six PhD students and two Masters students working on Indigenous language related topics. The staffing of the research unit revolves around four key staff with different but complementary expertise, associated research only staff, and external collaborators with whom the core staff work very closely. The key staff associated with the research unit all have substantial track records of publications and ARC and other competitive grants in the area, and an established history of collaboration. The establishment of this research unit places the Faculty of Arts and The University of Melbourne at the forefront of this research domain, with its recognized importance for government policy, education, and the health and well-being of Australia’s indigenous population. The research unit is also guided and advised by an external Steering Committee that includes experts from a range of organisations across the country, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
