Professor Heidi Norman
PhD History & Anthropology (USyd)
I am a researcher in the field of Aboriginal political history and a descendant of the from north western NSW. My research sits in the field of history and draws on the cognate disciplines anthropology, political-economy, cultural studies and political theory. I seek to contribute to understandings of Aboriginal social, cultural, economic and political history. My research addresses questions of power in relation to Aboriginal citizens, the state and settler society and Aboriginal land justice. At the heart of my research, is my support for Aboriginal peoples’ rightful place in the nation, especially within political institutions, in society and the economy as landholders.
In 2018, I am the founding Director of the Indigenous Land and Justice Research Group, which sits within Humanities & Languages in Arts, Architecture and Design. From 2020-2023, I was the Associate Dean (Indigenous) in the at the and Director of the , where I hold an.
My past research has included: a history of the NSW Annual Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout; the ; study of economic change over time and relationship to Aboriginal lives in cities. In 2015, I published a book based on my PhD research titled, . This book is the first-ever study of land rights in NSW. I documented the land rights and how the laws changed relationships between Aboriginal people, the state and one another. From 2018-2023, I conducted of the social, economic and cultural benefits of Aboriginal land repossession in NSW.
My research and teaching has been recognised for scholarly and real-world impact. I was a finalist for the UTS Chancellor's Medal for Research Excellence in 2021, received the UTS Research Excellence Medal for Collaboration in 2015 and the National Teaching Excellence Award for my work in Indigenous studies in 2016. I was the(2017-18) and was named one ofin 2018. Over the last decade, I have won three ARC grants ($1.3million) and secured more than $400,000 in research consultancies from the NSW and Federal government.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
- 2021: Finalist, Chancellor's Medal for Research Excellence, University of Technology Sydney.
- 2018: Discovery Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award, Australian Research Council.
- 2018: ABC's Top 5 Humanities Researchers
- 2015: Vice Chancellor's Medal for Research Excellence through Collaboration, University of Technology Sydney.
- 2015: National Award for Teaching Excellence: Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education, Australian Commonwealth Government.
- 2014: Delegate, United Nations Permanent Forum on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- 2012: Best Paper, International Australian Studies Association Conference.
- 2004: Teaching Award for creating new dialogues about race, power, subjectivity, and intercultural communication, University of Technology Sydney.
My current research projects are:
- An Research Project, titled which examines how self-determination has been enacted as a policy, mode of governance, ideology and narrative by government from 1980 until today
- A focused on enabling NSW Aboriginal landholders to participate in climate adaptation and mitigation funded, which received top-up funding from .
Current service
- 2023-Present: Member,
- 2021-Present: Member,
- 2020-Present: Collaborating Scholar,Research Centre for Deep History, Australian National University
Past service
- 2021-2023: Reviews Editor, AIATSIS
- 2021-2023:Judging Panel,
- 2020-2021: , State Library of New South Wales
- 2018-2023: Member, , NSW Aboriginal Affairs
- 2018-2023: Member, , Government of New South Wales