NATSIPA and CAPA call for research classification system to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Postgraduate Association (NATSIPA) and the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) are calling for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research to be correctly categorised under the research classification system, in their joint submission to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) review.
The ANZSRC Fields of Research system captures all research and development activity undertaken in Australia and New Zealand. All research is assigned a six-digit “Fields of Research” code, which is categorised under a four-digit research “group”, which then feeds into a two-digit “division”. For example, a researcher may be working on the field Animal Behaviour (060801), which is categorised under the Zoology group (0608), which is then categorised under the Biological Science division (06) at the top level.
However, the existing codes do not allow for easy categorisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research. There are only 15 six-digit codes for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research, and no four-digit or two-digit codes. This results in much Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research being incorrectly coded, as well as being invisible at the group and division level.
Due to the importance of the Fields of Research system in directing funding, NATSIPA and CAPA believe it is necessary to correctly categorise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research.
NATSIPA and CAPA are therefore calling for the creation of at least one four-digit code for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research, as well as additional six-digit codes to capture the breadth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research.
NATSIPA President, Jahmillah Johnson, says: “It is vital to correctly categorise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research and create additional codes of classification. Doing so will not only ensure that research funding is appropriately allocated but will ensure that as the field of research expands, we are not continually encountering the same problem.”
CAPA President, Natasha Abrahams, says: “The research classification system must be amended so that researchers working on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues are not disadvantaged when it comes to funding decisions.”
The joint NATSIPA and CAPA submission can be viewed here.
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For comment:
NATSIPA National President Jahmillah Johnson
M: 0420 361 365
E: president@natsipa.edu.au
CAPA National President Natasha Abrahams
M: 0430 076 993
E: president@capa.edu.au
