The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
The transnational history of the Chinese Nationalist Party. First the project contributes to better understanding of Australia's region, secondly it enhances understanding of the place of international Chinese communities in world politics, trade, and migration, thirdly it contributes to Australian understanding of the ties linking the Chinese diaspora in Australia to other Chinese communities around the world and in China, fourth it contributes to important international debates on migration an ....The transnational history of the Chinese Nationalist Party. First the project contributes to better understanding of Australia's region, secondly it enhances understanding of the place of international Chinese communities in world politics, trade, and migration, thirdly it contributes to Australian understanding of the ties linking the Chinese diaspora in Australia to other Chinese communities around the world and in China, fourth it contributes to important international debates on migration and ethnic politics over the course of the 20th century, and fifth it confirms Australia's international standing as a site of innovation and excellence in research on the Asian and Pacific regions.Read moreRead less
Elephants in the sacred grove: a transcultural history of Thomas Jones and the Calvinistic Methodist mission to the Khasi Hills. This project will assert the central role of religion in shaping cultural, political and ethnic identity, through an analysis of the Christian evangelical encounter in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, India, and in particular the work of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist missionary Thomas Jones (1810-1849). It will challenge current views of the simplistic relationship between m ....Elephants in the sacred grove: a transcultural history of Thomas Jones and the Calvinistic Methodist mission to the Khasi Hills. This project will assert the central role of religion in shaping cultural, political and ethnic identity, through an analysis of the Christian evangelical encounter in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, India, and in particular the work of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist missionary Thomas Jones (1810-1849). It will challenge current views of the simplistic relationship between missions and colonial order, exploring missionaries' spiritual, modernising and imperialist ideologies, as well as indigenous negotiations and adaptations of the missionary project. This will provide a significant new base for understanding the historical trajectory of Christianisation and acculturation, and inform contemporary debates about reconciliation and decolonisation.Read moreRead less
Indonesian labour migration to north Australia, 1880-1972. This study of mobility between Indonesia and Australia provides a historical context for understanding Australia's relations with Indonesia and the complex history of our shared maritime border. Exploration of Indonesian immigration experiences will add to current political debate over temporary labour migration. This project demonstrates the importance of cross-border research as a means of enriching Australian history and enhancing our ....Indonesian labour migration to north Australia, 1880-1972. This study of mobility between Indonesia and Australia provides a historical context for understanding Australia's relations with Indonesia and the complex history of our shared maritime border. Exploration of Indonesian immigration experiences will add to current political debate over temporary labour migration. This project demonstrates the importance of cross-border research as a means of enriching Australian history and enhancing our cultural capital in relation to our northern neighbours. This detailed study of our multi-ethnic northern communities from which came the first Indonesian-Australian citizens makes a significant contribution to our knowledge of Australia's Asian diaspora.Read moreRead less
Immigration Restriction and the Racial State, c. 1880 to the present. Legislating the specific criteria by which people are refused entry into sovereign territory has posed critical problems for policy and law from the late nineteenth century to the present day. By analysing the long history of medico-legal border control in the Asia-Pacific region, the project will uncover previously forgotten legal and policy links and will analyse a history of mutual influence between Australia and neighbouri ....Immigration Restriction and the Racial State, c. 1880 to the present. Legislating the specific criteria by which people are refused entry into sovereign territory has posed critical problems for policy and law from the late nineteenth century to the present day. By analysing the long history of medico-legal border control in the Asia-Pacific region, the project will uncover previously forgotten legal and policy links and will analyse a history of mutual influence between Australia and neighbouring nations. This will productively assist a policy environment (both national and international) primed for ever more intense border control. Read moreRead less
Selling their Souls: Between bound and free labour/imperial capital and the late colonial state in Asia and Australia. The role of unfree labour has been central to the debate on colonialism and the spread of global trade in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Much has been written about particular colonies, but little examines colonial labour as part of a global phenomenon. This project does so by comparing companies, workers and the state across a number of European colonies. It a ....Selling their Souls: Between bound and free labour/imperial capital and the late colonial state in Asia and Australia. The role of unfree labour has been central to the debate on colonialism and the spread of global trade in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Much has been written about particular colonies, but little examines colonial labour as part of a global phenomenon. This project does so by comparing companies, workers and the state across a number of European colonies. It asks theoretically innovative questions, syntheses extant research, and requires new archival research. Findings, to be published in international journals and monograph series, will contribute to historical and contemporary debates on the impact of globalisation on labour.Read moreRead less
GENDER IDEOLOGY, RACIAL MYTHOLOGY AND THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF CHILD REMOVAL IN COLONIAL BURMA, CAMBODIA AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 1886-1947. The project aims to further understanding of colonial policies, missionary practices and public discourses supporting the removal of mixed-race children from Indigenous mothers and milieu. Its significance lies in its comparison of three diverse colonial regimes: British Burma, French Cambodia and Western Australia. Equally significant is its analysis of t ....GENDER IDEOLOGY, RACIAL MYTHOLOGY AND THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF CHILD REMOVAL IN COLONIAL BURMA, CAMBODIA AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 1886-1947. The project aims to further understanding of colonial policies, missionary practices and public discourses supporting the removal of mixed-race children from Indigenous mothers and milieu. Its significance lies in its comparison of three diverse colonial regimes: British Burma, French Cambodia and Western Australia. Equally significant is its analysis of the transcolonial traffic in ideologies of race and gender and the contingent development and deployment of such universalizing tropes as the "Half-Caste Woman" to rationalize policies of child removal. The final outcome will be a book. Interim outcomes include a graduate workshop, an international conference and journal articles.Read moreRead less
The Construction of Race and Racial Identity at the Antipodes of Empire, 1788-1840. The view that Australia was always a racially based society, pursuing racial policies to the detriment of indigenous Australians and our Asian neighbours, is subject to rancorous national debate. Polemical assertion by high profile journalists that race was never a driving force in Australian history is not conducive to understanding complex history, nor are derogatory attacks on historians helpful in explaining ....The Construction of Race and Racial Identity at the Antipodes of Empire, 1788-1840. The view that Australia was always a racially based society, pursuing racial policies to the detriment of indigenous Australians and our Asian neighbours, is subject to rancorous national debate. Polemical assertion by high profile journalists that race was never a driving force in Australian history is not conducive to understanding complex history, nor are derogatory attacks on historians helpful in explaining the past to our neighbours. Whether colonial Australia was a race-based society remains to be established. With indigenous uncertainty over the demise of ATSIC and rising antagonism among our Islamic neighbours, there is need, as never before, for dispassionate scholarship to provide a complex interpretation of Australia's past.Read moreRead less
Moral Panics and the Law in Eighteenth-Century England. This project will reveal the origins of a phenomenon that is ubiquitous in modern western society. By doing so it will attract international attention from academic historians and sociologists. It will also contribute to Australia's reputation for producing high-quality intellectual products, and further enhance its standing as a leading centre for the study of Britain in the eighteenth century. Because of its contemporary relevance the stu ....Moral Panics and the Law in Eighteenth-Century England. This project will reveal the origins of a phenomenon that is ubiquitous in modern western society. By doing so it will attract international attention from academic historians and sociologists. It will also contribute to Australia's reputation for producing high-quality intellectual products, and further enhance its standing as a leading centre for the study of Britain in the eighteenth century. Because of its contemporary relevance the study will provide a critical perspective on modern politics, especially the perception that governments legitimise their authority by helping to constitute popular anxiety about threats to moral and personal security.Read moreRead less
Recovering the Experience of the Indigenous Evangelist in the Expansion of Christianity during the late Colonial Era. The relationship between religion and society is an issue of outstanding contemporary interest to Australians. The project will provide important comparative illustrations for the national current debate on the role of religion in society. Tolerance of social difference is at the heart of the historical spread of religions and their success in converting people from different cul ....Recovering the Experience of the Indigenous Evangelist in the Expansion of Christianity during the late Colonial Era. The relationship between religion and society is an issue of outstanding contemporary interest to Australians. The project will provide important comparative illustrations for the national current debate on the role of religion in society. Tolerance of social difference is at the heart of the historical spread of religions and their success in converting people from different cultures to share basic beliefs whilst continuing to embrace and celebrate cultural difference.
Australia's already strong international research profile in the field of mission and postcolonial studies will be further enhanced by the resulting publications with leading journals and international publishing houses.
Read moreRead less
Religion and Imperialism in Australia from Colony to Nation. In international contexts, imperialism and religion have been recognised as two of the most powerful forces for social cohesion, identity, transformation and conflict. The preliminary work undertaken for this project indicates that Australia has not been immune from these significant historical forces. This project will be of national benefit in providing insight into the historical pattern of imperialism on the formation of religious ....Religion and Imperialism in Australia from Colony to Nation. In international contexts, imperialism and religion have been recognised as two of the most powerful forces for social cohesion, identity, transformation and conflict. The preliminary work undertaken for this project indicates that Australia has not been immune from these significant historical forces. This project will be of national benefit in providing insight into the historical pattern of imperialism on the formation of religious and cultural values. By contributing to the education of the scholarly and general public on religious issues, this project seeks to contribute to the quality of public debate and policy analysis in this key emerging field of national and international significance.Read moreRead less