First Nations hub

PhD Opportunities

Our Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) opportunities provide First Nations students a unique opportunity to develop their basic research, academic leadership, and research innovation skills with access to the world-leading researchers and clinicians.

Current First Nations PhD Candidates

Joel Liddle

Joel Liddle is an Arrernte man from Central Australia. His father’s family ties to the Uremerne, Mparntwe/Tyuretye and Irlpme traditional estates. Joel's mother’s family is non-Indigenous and they first arrived in Victoria on the ill-fated 'Sacramento' in 1853. Joel has a Bachelors Degree in Sports Science, a Post Graduate Degree in Indigenous Knowledges and has worked for the last 10 years in various roles engaging with remote communities across Central Australia, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia. Joel is a competent speaker, reader and writer of Central/Eastern Arrernte, a language dialect of the Arandic language cluster from Central Australia. Joel is a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne and his studies focus on the importance of Central Australian religion, social structures, intellect and language and their importance in improving mental health outcomes for young men in the region.