ARC Linkage Project LP240200939
Bridging Worlds.Integrating Australian Indigenous Knowledges into how we lead.
A three-year research partnership developing leadership grounded in the world's oldest living knowledge systems.
3 years
ARC Linkage research partnership
$2.97m
Total project value
6
University, industry & community partners
3
On-Country regions — with more relationships being nurtured
Our central research question
How can Indigenous Knowledges and practices be integrated into contemporary leadership to create more inclusive, sustainable, and effective ways of leading?
How the project works
The Roadmap
01
Research
Working on Country with Indigenous leaders to understand how Indigenous Knowledges shape leadership.
02
Education
Turning Indigenous Knowledges into a real leadership program and university-backed credential.
03
Development
Embedding Indigenous Knowledges into corporate, government, and community practice across Australia.
Why it matters
Leadership built on connection, story and understanding
Australia has a rare opportunity to shape leadership that draws on the depth, sustainability, and collective wisdom of the world's oldest living knowledge systems. Bridging Worlds works alongside Indigenous leaders and communities to realise that opportunity — building leadership grounded in connection to people, place and Country, for the benefit of all Australians.
For centuries, Indigenous cultures have practised leadership rooted in connection to land, community, and intergenerational wisdom. This project works to bring that knowledge into how Australia leads — not as an add-on, but as a foundation in its own right.
The offer
The program at a glance
A leadership development pathway shaped with Indigenous knowledge holders, tested on Country, and credentialled through the University of Melbourne.
Who it's for
Leaders and teams across any organisation, school, or community ready to lead differently — the application is far-reaching, from corporates and government to education and grassroots groups.
How it's delivered
A blend of On-Country cultural immersion, online learning, and workplace-based sessions. The exact shape of delivery is still being co-designed with partners.
What you take away
More than an understanding — the embedding of knowledge from the world's oldest living culture, and new ways of knowing, being and doing that reshape how you lead.
Credential
A University of Melbourne micro-credential — currently in development as the education pathway for the program.
Cultural protocol & ethics
How we protect knowledge
Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property always remains with the relevant Traditional Custodians. Program materials are jointly owned with the Indigenous knowledge holders and partner organisations who help create them, and every use follows Free, Prior and Informed Consent and cultural protocol.
Our approach is aligned with the University of Melbourne's Charter for Research with Indigenous Knowledge Holders (MPF1320) and set out in plain language in our working framework.
Read our working framework
The partnership
Working together
Six partners spanning universities, industry, and Indigenous community organisations — each contributing knowledge, place, and practice.
The living record
Latest activity
July 2026
Podcast in planning
The Bridging Worlds podcast is in planning, with a launch scheduled. A first block of episodes will share the stories and thinking behind the project.
July 2026
Project website goes live
The official Bridging Worlds project website goes live.
July 2026
Micro-credential planning commences
Initial micro-credential planning and mapping commences — the first step in shaping the project's education pathway.
Get in touch
For organisations and individuals ready to lead differently.
Whether you're exploring the leadership program, considering partnership, or interested in the research, we'd be glad to hear from you.