Clare Land

Dr. Clare Land is an Academic/Researcher at Victoria University's Moondani Balluk Indigenous Academic Unit, where she serves as Director of Research since January 2021. A non-Aboriginal person descended from Anglo settlers, she has established herself as a significant contributor to Indigenous studies and decolonization scholarship in Australia.

Dr. Land earned her BA(Hons)/BSC from the University of Melbourne in 2001 and completed her PhD in Social Work from Deakin University between 2006-2011, with her thesis focusing on "The politics of solidarity with indigenous struggles in Southeast Australia" under the supervision of Professor Bob Pease.

Her research interests center on Indigenous Studies, decolonization, and solidarity work with Aboriginal communities. Dr. Land is particularly known for her book Decolonizing Solidarity: Dilemmas and Directions for Supporters of Indigenous Struggles (Zed Books, 2015), which she authored in association with Professor Gary Foley and Robbie Thorpe. Her work interprets colonial history and Australian political history while promoting educational equity, with significant focus on the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Movement and historical Aboriginal education initiatives like the Northlands Secondary College.

Dr. Land's publication portfolio demonstrates a consistent focus on Indigenous history, decolonization, and community-led initiatives. Her recent works (2021-2025) show an increasing emphasis on creative and community-based approaches to truth-telling, including projects like "This Full Agency, This Decolonised Spirit: Talking Blak to Cooks' Cottage" (2025) and multiple components of the "Fight for Survival" series related to Northland Secondary College. These works blend academic research with community engagement, archival work, and creative expression to advance decolonization efforts.

• Co-founded the Decolonizing Solidarity Book Club Project (2017)
• Member of the Police Stop Data Expert Working Group (2016-2018)
• Mentor in The Change Agency's Community Organising Fellowship (2019)
• Volunteer at 3CR community radio (2001-2016), co-presenting "Fire First" with Robbie Thorpe (2002-2014)
• Member of ANTaR Victoria Committee of Management (2006-2012)
• Member of Woor Dungin Committee of Management (2017-2021)

Dr. Land actively supervises research students in areas including Indigenous education, decolonial praxis, creative practice for social change, and Pacific language preservation. She has been instrumental in major funded research projects including multiple ARC grants related to the Aboriginal History Archive and Aboriginal health services.