Casey Haseloff has successfully completed his year-long internship with the ARDC’s HASS and Indigenous Research Data Commons. The Indigenous Internship program is a key part of our program to enhance digital research skills in the HASS and Indigenous research sectors.
During his internship, Casey was hosted by the Indigenous Data Network at the University of Melbourne. The Indigenous Data Network leads the project Improving Indigenous Research Capabilities as part of the HASS and Indigenous RDC. He also worked with the technical team of another focus area of the RDC, the Language Data Commons of Australia (LDaCA).
Casey contributed to several key projects over the course of his internship, including:
Jenny Fewster, Director of the ARDC HASS and Indigenous RDC, said, “We’re thrilled Casey was able to participate in such diverse activities related to Indigenous data in the community, research and government contexts. We’ve all admired Casey’s enthusiasm to bring his data science skills into new areas. A big thank you to Casey for his enthusiasm and insightful contribution to research data infrastructure in Australia.”
Associate Professor Kristen Smith, Indigenous Studies Unit (IDN), University of Melbourne, said, “Casey has made an outstanding contribution to the Indigenous Data Network. His curiosity, discipline and generosity in collaborative work have been evident across all aspects of his role, from digitisation fieldwork in Yirrkala to technical development with other partners in the HASS and Indigenous Research Data Commons. Casey approaches data with a depth of thought well beyond his career stage, particularly in recognising the responsibilities that accompany work with Indigenous knowledge holders and communities of origin. It has been a privilege to support his development, and I look forward to seeing the impact he will continue to have as he advances in his data science career.”
Casey reflects on his diverse experiences, what he learned about Indigenous Data Governance, his time in the Northern Territory, and the connections he will take away from this incredible year. He is now preparing for another big year as he returns to his Master of Data Science degree and joins the Indigenous Studies Unit (IDN) as their Data Officer.
The internship has had a major impact on my understanding of data, particularly in shifting my focus from the data itself to the governance that surrounds it. Working day-to-day with Laureate Professor Marcia Langton AO and Associate Professor Kristen Smith at the Indigenous Data Network has given me a deeper perspective on how data can be used to empower communities, especially within the context of Indigenous Data Governance.
Through this experience, I have engaged with a wide range of experts across disciplines, ranging from archivists, linguists and anthropologists to data analysts and data engineers. These conversations broadened my understanding of how different fields approach data and reinforced the importance of high-quality metadata in supporting the FAIR and CARE principles.
The internship has strengthened my soft skills. Attending conferences and datathons required me to communicate effectively with people from diverse professional backgrounds, helping me develop greater confidence in collaborative environments.
I collaborated with the LDaCA technical team to build a decentralised dashboard summarising collected fieldnotes. The project integrated tools such as RO-Crate, CADRE (REMS) and the LDaCA Data Portal, strengthening my understanding of how technical infrastructure supports responsible and interoperable data governance.
Adjusting to the different ways of working in each area was initially challenging. However, these experiences helped me develop a diverse and adaptable skill set, while reinforcing the importance of tailoring my attitude and approach to different environments. I found each domain became rewarding once I invested time and effort and approached the work with a genuine willingness to learn.
It’s hard to choose just one experience from such an incredible year, but the month that I spent in the Northern Territory will stay with me for a long time. During that time, I attended the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF), PULiiMA Indigenous and Technology Conference, and spent two weeks in Yirrkala.
At the conclusion of DAAF, I attended the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, which was a powerful celebration of artists from communities across Australia. It was also rewarding to see the work of colleagues from the Indigenous Data Network (IDN), who ran workshops during the DAAF. The PULiiMA conference was an inspiring introduction to language materials and the diverse journeys that communities and organisations are navigating through their data.
The highlight of the trip was my time spent in Yirrkala. I spent two weeks working alongside volunteers and the IDN team on a digitisation project at the Yirrkala School’s Literature Production Centre (LPC). The bilingual school has produced an extraordinary body of knowledge over the past 50 years, and contributing to its preservation through digitisation was a deeply meaningful experience.
Reflecting on my internship experience, the main takeaway for me will be the connections I have made. These relationships span the many disciplines I was exposed to throughout the year, broadening both my professional network and my understanding of how different fields intersect. I look forward to continuing and strengthening these connections throughout the rest of my career as I turn my focus back to my Master of Data Science degree. Another takeaway is the exposure that I have had to different data concepts that I didn’t know before, and taking that into my masters research project.
Another important experience I will take away from my internship has been the exposure to a range of data concepts that were previously unfamiliar. Engaging with these ideas has not only expanded my technical understanding but also shifted the way I think about data and its applications. I now find myself approaching problems with a broader perspective, and I am looking forward to carrying these insights into my master’s research project, where they will meaningfully shape the way I frame questions and design my work.
Learn more about the HASS and Indigenous Research Data Commons.
The ARDC is enabled by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) to support national digital research infrastructure for Australian researchers.
