Research in and teaching of rock art and archaeology at UWA are complemented by a network of collaborative Industry, government and philanthropic partners.
Industry Connections provide resources while close-links to government ensures best practice outcomes in our collaborative research with communities. Students benefit from these partnerships which generate ‘live’ applications for rock art research and heritage management.
CRAR+M has two endowed Chairs of Rock Art Studies resulting from these partnerships: the Rio Tinto Chair of Rock Art Studies and the Kimberley Foundation Ian Potter Chair of Rock Art Studies .
Best-practice collaborative projects arising from these links include:
- The annual rock art recording field school on Murujuga (Burrup Peninsula) funded by Rio Tinto Iron Ore, and run in collaboration with Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation
- The Port Hedland Conservation Management Plan funded by BHP Billiton being developed with the Kariyarra Community
- The Masters of Professional Archaeology course funded by BHP Billiton, which teaches best practice archaeology, rock art and heritage management skills
- The Murujuga: Dynamics of the Dreaming Project, funded by Rio Tinto Iron Ore and the National Heritage List Conservation Agreement and in collaboration with Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation
- Lifeways of the first Australians; an ARC Linkage Project with partner organisations of the Kimberley Foundation of Australia, the West Australian Museum and the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities
- Dating Kimberley rock art: an ARC Linkage Project with partner organisations of the Kimberley Foundation of Australia, ANSTO, Archae Aus and other Chief Investigators from Melbourne and Wollongong Universities
- Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area rock art recording and dating and decorated shelter excavation programme, being run with IPA Rangers in collaboration with Central Desert Native Title Services.