HASS and Indigenous Research Data Commons Summer School 2026

Australian Research Data Commons

The HASS and Indigenous research data community is invited to learn hands-on digital skills, network and inspire new research outcomes.

Federation University Australia, SMB Campus

The Summer School aims to empower participants with practical knowledge, build digital skills, and help inspire new research outcomes within the humanities, arts, social sciences (HASS), and Indigenous fields of study. Participants will collaborate in an interactive group setting while networking with like-minded researchers and subject matter experts.Ballarat is a 90 minute train or car journey from the Melbourne CBD, so it is easy to <a href="https://www.visitballarat.com.au/plan-your-trip/getting-to-ballarat" title="https://www.visitballarat.com.au/plan-your-trip/getting-to-ballarat" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">plan your trip</a>.Over 2 days, participants will be involved in interactive workshops, discussions, mentoring, networking and formal presentations to:<ul><li>learn skills to use digital research tools</li><li>discover frameworks and workflows for impactful digital research</li><li>build networks for future collaborative projects using HASS and Indigenous Research Data Commons infrastructure.</li></ul>The Summer School is free of charge for researchers based in Australia thanks to the support of the ARDC HASS and Indigenous Research Data Commons. Lunch and morning and afternoon tea are provided each day. Travel and accommodation must be covered by the participants. 8 travel bursaries of $800 each are available, with applications closing on Tuesday 6 January 2026 - see below for more information.<h3> </h3><h3>Who should attend?</h3>Researchers in humanities, arts, social sciences and Indigenous domains, especially higher degree researchers (HDRs) and early to mid- career researchers (EMCRs). <h3>Program and workshop information</h3>Download the <a href="https://ardc.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/program-and-workshop-streams.-hass-i-rdc-summer-school-2026.pdf" title="https://ardc.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/program-and-workshop-streams.-hass-i-rdc-summer-school-2026.pdf" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Program and workshop details. </a>This may change closer to the event. <h3>Find out what to expect at Summer School 2026</h3>An hour long webinar about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAhMUm_3IVM" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAhMUm_3IVM" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">What to Expect at the ARDC HASS and Indigenous Summer School 2026</a> was run on 18 November. It outlined everything you need to know about Summer School, what a previous attendee experienced and included workshop leaders talking about what will be covered. Attendees asked questions like "Is it easy to get to Ballarat?" (A:Yes!) and "Will I be able to attend all workshop streams with a really old laptop?" (A: Yes for all), and more.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAhMUm_3IVM" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAhMUm_3IVM" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The recording</a> is now available on the ARDC YouTube channel.<h3> </h3><h3>What will participants do at Summer School?</h3><ul><li>Participate in networking, mentoring and plenary sessions</li><li>Hear case studies about the "Shock of the New in Adelaide" theatre project and using AI to identify handwritten text in digitised botanical samples.</li><li>Attend <a href="https://ardc.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/program-and-workshop-streams.-hass-i-rdc-summer-school-2026.pdf" title="https://ardc.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/program-and-workshop-streams.-hass-i-rdc-summer-school-2026.pdf" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">4 hands-on workshops </a>in a single research stream over 2 days.</li><li>Share your expertise or request topics led by fellow participants in the Explore and Expand sessions.</li></ul> <h3>What is in the workshop streams?</h3>Streams run concurrently. There are 4 workshops in each stream over the 2 days. You will select one stream when you register for your ticket, and complete the workshops for that stream.Before you select "register", please read the <a href="https://ardc.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/program-and-workshop-streams.-hass-i-rdc-summer-school-2026.pdf" title="https://ardc.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/program-and-workshop-streams.-hass-i-rdc-summer-school-2026.pdf" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Program and workshop details </a>document, which provides more detail about each workshop and the preparation required.Stream A: Working with Indigenous dataA hands-on introduction to the key tools, frameworks, and principles for working with Indigenous data in your research.Led by Andrea Clarke(University of Melbourne), Kristen Smith (University of Melbourne) and Nic Car (KurrawongAI)<ul><li>Workshop A1: Onboarding and Indigenous data, FAIR and CARE</li><li>Workshop A2: Introduction to metadata for Indigenous data</li><li>Workshop A3: Creating and applying metadata</li><li>Workshop A4: Contributing to the Indigenous Data Network Catalogue</li></ul>Stream B: Sustainable data for Humanities and Indigenous Studies researchersA practical introduction to basic ideas of data management in line with two important sets of principles, FAIR and CARE.Led by Simon Musgrave and Rosanna Smith (University of Queensland)<ul><li>Workshop B1: Onboarding and data management for sustainability</li><li>Workshop B2: Metadata for sustainable data</li><li>Workshop B3: The importance of licences</li><li>Workshop B4: Using Crate-O to describe data and build a crate</li></ul>Stream C: Collecting and analysing data from social media platformsTools and practices for collecting and analysing research data from social media platforms.Led by Bogdan Mamaev (Deakin University), Amanda Lawrence (RMIT), Robert Fleet (QUT) and James Li (QUT)<ul><li>Workshop C1: Onboarding and using social media platforms in research</li><li>Workshop C2: Browser-based tools to collect data</li><li>Workshop C3: Data download packages to collect data</li><li>Workshop C4: Data dashboards to analyse textual data</li></ul>Stream D: Answering social science questions using administrative data with RA hands-on introduction to working with and analysing government administrative data using R, with a focus on answering social science research questions.Led by Matthew Curry and Mahnoosh Hassankhani (University of Queensland)<ul><li>Workshop D1: Onboarding and Introduction to R, RStudio, and government data</li><li>Workshop D2: Using R to explore administrative data</li><li>Workshop D3: Manipulating data and data sets in R</li><li>Workshop D4: Regression analysis and interpreting results in R</li></ul> <h3>Expand and Explore Session</h3>For the last one-hour session of day 1, Summer School participants will run sessions they would like to see or share. We will decide what these will be together in the plenary session. Want to expand on something from your workshop? Have a research problem you would like help with? Want to share your research project and hear about others? You can <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uEa8cvMr6iek9if35pwgVKwdpq432pJBUinH6uOWrCs/edit?usp=sharing" title="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uEa8cvMr6iek9if35pwgVKwdpq432pJBUinH6uOWrCs/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">see and register potential topics here</a>. <h3>Dietary requirements</h3>We will do our best to cater for dietary requirements. Our cutoff date for notifying caterers is 23 January. If you register after this we cannot guarantee that your preference will be accomodated.<h2> </h2><h2>Important</h2>Code of Conduct. To make this a welcoming and friendly event for all, participants are expected to be aware of and follow the <a href="https://ardc.edu.au/resource/code-of-conduct-for-ardc-activities/" title="https://ardc.edu.au/resource/code-of-conduct-for-ardc-activities/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Code of Conduct for ARDC Activities</a>Bring a laptop. Summer School is an in-person event. Workshops will require laptop computers (PC or Mac). Devices such as mobile phones and tablets will NOT be suitable for the workshops. Please bring your own laptop and charging cords.Workshop preparation. You will select one stream of 4 workshops that build on each other over 2 days. Each stream starts with an introductory workshop to find out what participants would like to learn, explain key concepts and ensure everyone is set up with any software or logins they need. The <a href="https://ardc.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/program-and-workshop-streams.-hass-i-rdc-summer-school-2026.pdf" title="https://ardc.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/program-and-workshop-streams.-hass-i-rdc-summer-school-2026.pdf" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Program and workshop details </a>outlines what you will learn and any equipment you need or set up to do beforehand. Please make sure you are prepared for the workshops you will attend.Food. Light refreshments and lunch will be provided.Recording. Parts of this event may be recorded and published by the ARDC. This may include your contributions during a session. ARDC respects the privacy of individuals. Information collected is in accordance with the ARDC<a href="https://ardc.edu.au/privacy-policy/" title="https://ardc.edu.au/privacy-policy/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> Privacy Policy</a>Cancelling/modifying your attendance. We understand that plans change, and you may need to cancel or modify your attendance at the Summer School. If you need to make changes, please let us know via the <a href="https:// the cancellation form" title="https:// the cancellation form" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">cancellation form</a>. <h2>Will the session be recorded?</h2>The Day 1 morning plenary and Day 2 cases studies will be recorded and published online.Other sessions rely on face-to-face communication and collaboration, so they will not be recorded.<h2> </h2><h2>About the ARDC</h2>At the <a href="https://ardc.edu.au/" title="https://ardc.edu.au/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC)</a>, we’re accelerating Australian research and innovation by driving excellence in the creation, analysis and retention of high-quality data assets. We partner with the research community and industry to build leading-edge digital research infrastructure to provide Australian researchers with competitive advantage through data.The ARDC is enabled by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).<h2> </h2><h2>About the ARDC’s HASS and Indigenous Research Data Commons</h2>In collaboration with Indigenous Australians, the research community, industry and government, the HASS and Indigenous Research Data Commons (HASS and Indigenous RDC) is harnessing research data to enhance Australian social and cultural wellbeing, and help Australia understand and preserve our culture, history and heritage.New digital platforms and data directories are improving how researchers discover and access Australia’s rich humanities, arts, and social science (HASS) and Indigenous data and innovative analysis tools. The program is also upskilling researchers to use data-driven approaches to HASS research and apply Indigenous data governance principles.As an engine for research translation, the HASS and Indigenous RDC enables researchers to develop and sustain cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary data collaborations at a national scale through federated models. It integrates the ARDC’s services for compute, storage infrastructure, persistent identifiers and data discovery with analysis platforms and tools that are supported by expertise, standards and best practices.Learn more about the <a href="https://ardc.edu.au/hass-and-indigenous-research-data-commons/" title="https://ardc.edu.au/hass-and-indigenous-research-data-commons/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">HASS and Indigenous Research Data Commons</a>. Further Resources<ul><li><a href="https://ardc.edu.au/article/recap-of-the-2025-hass-and-indigenous-research-data-commons-summer-school/" title="https://ardc.edu.au/article/recap-of-the-2025-hass-and-indigenous-research-data-commons-summer-school/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Read about the 2025 Summer School</a></li><li><a href="https://ardc.edu.au/hass-and-indigenous-research-data-commons/" title="https://ardc.edu.au/hass-and-indigenous-research-data-commons/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">HASS and Indigenous Research Data Commons</a></li><li><a href="https://ardc.edu.au/researcher/accelerate-your-hass-and-indigenous-research/" title="https://ardc.edu.au/researcher/accelerate-your-hass-and-indigenous-research/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Resources for HASS and Indigenous research</a></li></ul><h3> </h3><h3>Have questions?</h3>Email contact@ardc.edu.auTo keep up-to-date on the latest digital research news and events, <a href="https://ardc.edu.au/subscribe/" title="https://ardc.edu.au/subscribe/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">subscribe</a> to the <a href="https://ardc.edu.au/subscribe/" title="https://ardc.edu.au/subscribe/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">ARDC Connect newsletter</a>. Please note that this event may be recorded and published by the ARDC. This may include your contributions during the session. Attendees are expected to comply with the <a href="https://bit.ly/3JCeRNo" title="https://bit.ly/3JCeRNo" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Code of Conduct for ARDC Activities</a> during this event. ARDC respects the privacy of individuals. Information collected is in accordance with the <a href="https://ardc.edu.au/privacy-policy/" title="https://ardc.edu.au/privacy-policy/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">ARDC Privacy Policy</a><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1736671213349/" title="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1736671213349/">.</a>

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