Indigenous Engagement

A Guidance Through Time by Quandamooka artists, Casey Coolwell and Kyra Mancktelow. The complete artwork represents reconciliation at UQ and elements champion UQ values and connections between Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous peoples.QAAFI is committed to working respectfully and reciprocally with Indigenous peoples and communities, on the unceded Indigenous lands upon which we undertake our work.

We acknowledge the problematic histories and legacies of colonial agriculture and land management practices in Australia, and the negative impacts that unsafe academic research has had on Indigenous peoples, knowledges, and cultural heritage. As a research institute, we are dedicated to being a leading example of working meaningfully and collaboratively with community, including benefit sharing, and finding ways to support Indigenous peoples’ needs and aspirations within the food and agriculture sector. 

QAAFI works in accordance with the high standards outlined in UQ’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). We have significant expectations for Indigenous Engagement and employment within both our operations and research teams. As we undertake this future-centred work, we are growing our community of Indigenous researchers and professional staff, and are continually seeking opportunities for community-led and engaged projects.

We value the enormous contributions that Indigenous peoples and perspectives bring to the broader UQ and QAAFI community. If you are an Indigenous person looking to connect with QAAFI for either employment, future study pathways or to be involved in community projects, please add your contact details to our database or be in touch with our Indigenous Engagement Team.

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Research in collaboration with First Nation's people

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Uniquely Australian Foods

Celebrating Australia's unique food identity

QAAFI's Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences (CNAFS) supports enhanced health outcomes and economic benefits for Australia, by conducting integrated fundamental and applied research to improve the taste, quality, appearance, nutritional value and safety of food. We aim to understand the fundamental characteristics of food that influence processing, food quality, consumer perception and nutritional value.

Sitting within CNAFS is the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods, which aims to change the way Australians – and the world – thinks about Australia’s cuisine and food products. They do this by partnering with and supporting Australia's First Nation's people, the traditional custodians, of native foods and plants. We are collaborating with First Nations communities across Australia, food industry entrepreneurs with a research team spanning law, engineering, food science and the social sciences, to promote research and development on uniquely Australian foods.

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Recent QAAFI Indigenous Events

On 17 May 2023, the QAAFI Operations team traveled down to Native Oz Bushfoods in Ropeley for a one-of-a-kind cultural immersion day tour.
Staff and students from the Uniquely Australian Foods centre were excited to welcome fifteen Indigenous year 11 and 12 school students from Acacia Ridge’s Aboriginal and Islander Independent Community School, ‘Murri School’, for an engaging and hands-on day at the UQ Elkhorn facility.