معرفی
Professor Gary Foley is a distinguished Gumbainggir scholar, activist, and academic currently serving at Victoria University's Moondani Balluk Indigenous Academic Unit since 2008. As Director of the Aboriginal History Archive, he oversees a collection of over 80,000 items documenting Aboriginal rights struggles in Australia. His career spans decades of political activism alongside academic achievement, including completing his PhD in History at the University of Melbourne in 2012.
Education:
- BA in History and Cultural Studies, University of Melbourne (1996-2000)
- PhD in History, University of Melbourne (2005-2013)
Professor Foley's research interests focus on Indigenous history and political activism, particularly the Black Power Movement and the 1972 Tent Embassy. His work centers on documenting Aboriginal resistance and self-determination, challenging historical narratives that portray Aboriginal people as powerless victims. Through the Aboriginal History Archive and Koori History Website, he has created vital resources preserving primary source materials about Australia's Indigenous rights movement, emphasizing community control of historical narratives and the importance of oral history in decolonizing academic practice.
Scientific Awards:
- Chancellor's medal for PhD dissertation
- Australia Council's Red Ochre Award (2015)
- Jerusalem (Al Quds) Peace Prize for advocacy work (2021)
- Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities (2024)
As a PhD supervisor and academic, Professor Foley has mentored numerous students in Indigenous studies and history. His work extends beyond traditional academic boundaries, integrating activism with scholarship. The Aboriginal History Archive he directs serves as both a research collection and community resource, reflecting his commitment to making historical materials accessible to Indigenous communities. His recent work includes developing an autobiographical account of the Black Power Movement and the 1972 Tent Embassy.
Professor Foley directs the Aboriginal History Archive at Victoria University's Moondani Balluk Indigenous Academic Unit, which houses over 80,000 unique primary source materials related to the struggle for Aboriginal rights in Australia. This archive represents one of the most comprehensive collections of its kind, created through decades of activist work and community engagement. His Koori History Website, established in 1994, was the first Aboriginal-owned and operated website and remains a vital educational resource.
