Dr Emma-Jaye Gavin

Portrain photograph of Dr Gavin

Position: Professor of Indigenous Truth-telling Research

Area: National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice

Biography:

Professor Emma-Jaye Gavin, PhD is a Garrwa Aboriginal woman from Northern Territory, Australia.

Professor Gavin has a Bachelor of Arts, a Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations, and a PhD in Indigenous Politics.

Professor Gavin began her academic career as a Political Science and International Relations Teaching Associate at Monash University.

She then moved to Swinburne University of Technology, as a Lecturer specialising in Indigenous Knowldeges and Politics. Professor Gavin was then internally promoted to Senior Lecturer and Academic Director of Indigenous Teaching and Learning. Professor Gavin then took up an Associate Professor and Associate Dean position at Monash University.

In February 2024 Professor Gavin took up a position with the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, as a Professor of Indigenous Truth-telling Research, the first position of its kind in Australia.

Professor Gavin’s research focus is on truth and politics work, with First Nations and working-class communities across Australia and globally.

Qualifications:

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Indigenous Politics - Swinburne University of Technology
  • Master of International Relations - Monash University
  • Bachelor of Arts - Monash University

Areas of expertise:

  • Truth-telling & Decolonisation
  • Politics & International Relations
  • Class Studies

Professional Associations:

  • Alliance of Working-Class Academics, Worldwide (AWCA) – Oceania Co-Lead
  • Co-Ground - Board Director

Selected Research Grants:

  • Gavin, EJ, 2024, ECR Grant, Federation University, $9900.
  • Heckenberg, S., Heckenberg, R., Gilbey, K. and Gunstone, A & Gavin, EJ 2023-25. ‘Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Girls, Changing Communities’. Australian Research Council Linkage Project. $733,396.
  • Gavin, EJ, 2023, Monash University, Faculty of Education, School of Curriculum, Teaching and Inclusive Education, $4000.
  • Gavin EJ, Reupert A, Berger E, Patrick P, & JM Carter 2023, Beyond Blue (Be You), $147,471.59.

Selected publications:

  • Brewis, G & Gavin, EJ 2025, ‘Contextual Explorations of the interconnections of ‘Class’, ‘Race’, and ‘Place’ as they relate to education in Glasgow, Scotland and First Nations Australia, Special Issue Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, vol. 28, no. 1-2.
  • Gavin, EJ & Roberts, S 2025, ‘Entangled Inequalities: First Nations, Working-Class and Global Perspectives on Race, Class, and Justice’, Special Issue Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, vol. 28, no. 1-2.
  • Gavin, EJ 2023, ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Storytelling, Resistance, Reclamation and Education through Film’, Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, vol. 26, no. 3-4.
  • Gavin, EJ & Holt, J 2023, ‘Decolonising research and publication methods: Using audio visual literacy to aid decolonisation efforts in education settings’, CILECT 2023: Building Audiovisually Literate Audiences, Rome, Italy, 5-10 November.
  • Gavin, EJ & Holt, J 2023, WHERE WE STAND [Film], Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM). [IN PRESS].
  • Gavin, EJ 2023, ‘The Voice Referendum: Moving Reconciliation Forward’, Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, vol. 26, no. 1–2 (2023): 37–40. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.235397605122282
  • Gavin, EJ 2023, “A Collective-Reflective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Degree Research (HDR) Experiences in so-Called Australia.” Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, vol. 25, no. 3–4 (2022): 44–57. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.881911494592521.
  • Gavin, EJ 2022, 'Where We Stand: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Researchers within Western Academic Systems", PhD thesis, Swinburne University of Technology.
  • Dyson, C, Gavin, EJ, Robinson, V & Ikeda R 2021, ‘In Conversation: Impact of Anti-Racist Pedagogy’, Swinburne Adobe Creative Campus: In Conversation Series. https://researchbank.swinburne.edu.au/items/5b543a2f-603b-45e1-afeb-cd9928bf03ce/1/