The Mabo Centre, an Indigenous-led partnership between the University of Melbourne and the National Native Title Council (NNTC), is preparing to deliver on an ambitious research program in 2026.
Established in March 2025, the Centre exists to advance Indigenous leadership and enable better economic outcomes for Indigenous communities through leveraging land and sea rights.
With plans to develop a national database and undertake research projects that will help to shape land rights policy nationally, the Centre’s research team is set to expand.
In addition to traditional academic appointments, the Mabo Centre is seeking First Nations leaders to contribute to its research program and ensure Indigenous voices remain embedded in the Centre’s work.
By bringing a deep understanding of community needs, Indigenous leaders will have the opportunity to help strengthen and shape land rights justice nationally by leading research projects conducted by the Centre.
The Centre’s innovative approach to prioritising First Nations expertise ensures that its work remains grounded in Indigenous knowledge, is responsive to community needs, and is guided by Traditional Owner-led decision making.
After an initial establishment phase, the Centre is continuing to build on a foundation of First Nations knowledge and experience.
As the Mabo Centre enters a period of growth, ensuring that it remains responsive to the needs of Traditional Owners and their communities is a key priority.
Governed by an Advisory Board of Indigenous leaders and economic experts, led by Co-Chairs Professor Marcia Langton, Associate Provost of the University of Melbourne, Jamie Lowe, CEO NNTC, and Paul Kofman, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Melbourne, the Centre’s research program will contribute to a best practice model for agreement making that is grounded in principles of self-determination and sustainable economic development.
For more information about the Centre’s research program and to find out more about the Centre’s research roles, visit:
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Beth Cesarin – Communications Manager
E: beth.cesarin@unimelb.edu.au
About the Mabo Centre – www.mabocentre.com
Established in 2025, the Mabo Centre is an Indigenous-led partnership between the University of Melbourne and the National Native Title Council. The Centre exists to empower Indigenous leaders and Traditional Owner representative groups to maximise the economic, social and cultural benefits of land and sea rights through research translation, structured training, and knowledge exchange.
The Mabo Centre honours the legacy of Eddie Koiki Mabo and his fight for greater land and sea rights justice, and acknowledges the significant contributions of Meriam men Reverend David Passi, Sam Passi and James Rice, and Meriam woman Celuia Mapo Sale to advancing land rights justice in Australia.
The Mabo Centre is located on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the unceded lands we work and live on and recognise 65,000 years of continuous connection to culture and Country. We pay respect to the Ancestors and Elders whose strength and wisdom guides our work, and to the young people who are the future caretakers of Country.
December 9, 2025