Research — Dilin Duwa

Dilin Duwa Research

Indigenous business research can strengthen Indigenous enterprises in every sector of the Australian economy to create an economically powerful Indigenous business sector.

To do so, we harness our strengths as an academic institution and leverage our relationships with business, government, and community to grow a greater understanding of what works for the sector.

Our research falls into three themes.

The Indigenous economy
Policy and Indigenous economic empowerment
Socio-economic and cultural legacies and impacts

The Indigenous economy

The Indigenous Economic Power Project (IEPP)

The IEPP is a long-term commitment to build a national Indigenous business and economic dataset to produce longitudinal Indigenous business statistics to inform the sector and its stakeholders. Read more about the Indigenous Economic Power Project and Snapshot 3.0 report here.

Funded and led by Dilin Duwa, in partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Indigenous Business Data Custodians.

The Work Futures Hallmark Research Initiative

This research initiative develops our understanding of how work, workplaces and working lives are being shaped by rapid digital and technological change now and into the future. It brings together leading experts across six faculties and schools within the University across three key areas: (1) the digital distribution of work; (2) the spatial distribution of work; and (3) the social and economic impact of technology on work futures.

In partnership with The University of Melbourne.

Policy and Indigenous economic empowerment

Evaluating the impact of Indigenous preferential procurement programs (IPPPs)

This project evaluates the implementation and impacts of IIPPPs on Indigenous businesses, Indigenous communities, and procurers’ operations. It also aims to highlight ways in which IPPPs can be best designed to help guarantee positive effects on Indigenous businesses and communities.

In partnership with the Australian Research Council plus Linkage partners the Australian Bureau of Statistics, FMG, Procurement Australasia, Minerals Council of Australia, Storey and Ward, National Indigenous Australians Agency.

Socio-economic and cultural legacies and impacts

Historical frontier violence: drivers, legacy, and the role of truth-telling

This study will build data to identify the historical factors that incited frontier violence. Researchers will quantify the impact of that legacy on communities today and investigate how historical trauma is transmitted across generations. New knowledge will be developed on the circumstances and legacy of settlement and the origins of gaps in life prospects between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

In partnership with the Australian Research Council.

Wealthing out of Identity? Indigenous Peoples, Entrepreneurship and Social Mobility 

This longitudinal study investigates Indigenous social mobility and the impact on Indigenous connections to community and culture. The project will (1) document and measure key indicators of intergenerational social mobility; (2) re-measure Indigenous and non-Indigenous social and cultural capital and business performance, and (3) the impact of intergenerational social mobility on these forms of capital. The research will also investigate forms of capital, and social mobility characteristics. Read more about this project here.

In partnership with Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada.

Decolonizing education in business leadership

This research investigates how graduate business schools are working with Indigenous peoples to promote Indigenous business student success in the Indigenous territories of Turtle Island (Canada and the United States), Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Australia.

In partnership with the Spencer Foundation.

Aboriginal Exemption: Truth-telling, History, and Healing

This project aims to develop accessible, Indigenous-led knowledge about little-known twentieth-century Australian policies that caused pain and dislocation in Indigenous communities. It will empower descendants to access archival information about exemption in culturally safe ways and demonstrate a model of collaboration in which Elders lead Indigenous and non-Indigenous historians to undertake urgent history-making.

In partnership with La Trobe University and the Australia Research Council.