Torres Strait Islander History: Sport, Culture and Identity

ARC Discovery Project

Research Team: A/Prof Gary Osmond, Prof Murray Phillips, Mr Al Harvey

Funding Body: ARC Discovery Project

Years: 2023-2025

This project aims to investigate sport as a means of understanding the cultures, identities and history of Torres Strait Islanders. Through a community-centred approach, and a project team including Torres Strait Islanders, the project challenges versions of Australian history that marginalise the Strait or conflate Islanders with Aboriginal people.

Expected outcomes of this project include a more nuanced history of Indigenous Australia, a significant body of repatriated resources on Islander sport and increased involvement of Islander communities in the history making process. Anticipated benefits include a multifaceted contribution to reconciliation and better understanding of our unique and complex national identity.

Project members

Associate Professor Gary Osmond

Associate Professor
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences

Professor Murray Phillips

Professor
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences