Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Liaison

Published February 2021

The objective of this project was to employ an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Liaison who would:

  • act as a conduit between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and project members
  • liase with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in order to facilitate involvement of these communities in identified research projects.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Liaison Research Assistant was appointed at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) from 26 July 2017 to 10 July 2019. They worked with the School Years Program Director, the Research Associate and the Program researchers across various projects. The primary responsibility of the role was to act as liaison with community elders, leaders and members of school communities. This included working with students and staff on the QUT Indigenous Vacation Research Experience Scheme (IndigiVRES); with students at Autism CRC project schools, and facilitating communications with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team at Positive Partnerships and community organisations.

The partnerships resulted in the Autism CRC school years research that was inclusive, productive and engaging for the benefit of Indigenous students, families, teachers, educators and education staff more broadly.