2021 CACHE ECR Indigenous Australian Research Fellow Zac Roberts

CACHE welcomes Zac Roberts as one of our 2021 ECR Indigenous Australian Research Fellows. Zac is a Yuin scholar and PhD candidate in the Department of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University conducting transdisciplinary research across the fields of history, archaeology, and Indigenous studies.

Zac’s fellowship project will consider approaches towards an Indigenist model of research in Australian archaeology. This work extends upon his Masters of Research thesis, completed at Macquarie University in 2020, which presented an Indigenist critique of noted mid-20th century anthropologist Frederick McCarthy and his rock art research at Mount Grenfell, NSW. Through this study, Zac identified limitations in current approaches to archaeological research of Indigenous ancestral sites. Despite recent efforts to centre Indigenous peoples, understandings, and concerns in Australian archaeological practices, Zac found that Indigenous contributions are under-theorised and Western archaeological knowledges remain dominant. His fellowship provides the opportunity for him to explore these issues in more depth and present through publication a research model that allows for the assertion of Indigenous sovereignty and not just Indigenous collaboration.

During the course of his undergraduate and postgraduate studies, Zac has been active in pursuing his transdisciplinary interests. Between 2017–2019, he was involved in a number of museum-based initiatives at Macquarie University, including the Museum of Ancient Cultures Education Programs Report with A/Prof. Yann Tristant (formerly of the Department of Ancient History), the Hidden Figures in STEMM photographic exhibition for Gender Equity Week 2018 with Prof. Lesley Hughes (Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research Integrity and Development), the Animals in Ancient Cultures exhibition with Penny Edwell and Dr Eve Guerry at the Macquarie Ancient Cultures Museum, and the Macquarie University Heritage Collection Project at the Australian History Museum again with A/Prof. Yann Tristant. Since 2020, Zac has taught multiple units in Indigenous studies at both the University of Wollongong and Macquarie University. He is currently undertaking both a Graduate Certificate in Archaeology at the University of New England and a PhD at Macquarie University exploring Indigenous and Jewish relations in Australia from 1788.

His achievements have been recognised through several commendations, including the Walanga Muru Deadly Award for Leadership at Macquarie University and the Out for Australia LGBTIQ Student Role Model Award in 2018, as well as the Flinders University Archaeology Society Award for Most Promising Research Presented at the National Archaeology Student Conference in 2019. He is also recipient of an Indigenous Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship.

CACHE is excited to be supporting Zac in his work towards promoting Indigenous archaeologies. See his Macquarie University profile for more about his publications and projects, and engage with him through Twitter and LinkedIn.