Research & Evidence
The evidence produced through rigorous research — on design performance, health outcomes, energy savings, employment and governance — makes every subsequent iteration of the KINRA model cheaper, faster and more effective. The knowledge belongs to the community.
CRC RACE for 2030
CRC RACE for 2030 is Australia's largest cooperative research centre focused on the transition to a zero-carbon future — $70 million in funding bringing together universities, industry and community organisations.
A window of approximately six months is open now for developing new three-year research projects running to June 2030. Net-zero housing in remote Indigenous communities, with solar and battery integration, prefabricated construction and community governance, sits squarely within CRC RACE's mandate.
The KINRA team — with Curtin University CUSP, Adelaide University and industry partners Prefab Australia and Horizon Power — is developing a research proposal now. This is a time-critical opportunity.
"KINRA generates knowledge as well as housing. The evidence produced makes every subsequent iteration of the model cheaper, faster and more effective. The knowledge belongs to the community."
Research Questions
What net-zero design standards are appropriate and achievable for remote tropical Indigenous housing in the Kimberley? What are the measured energy performance outcomes? How do passive design, solar PV and battery storage combine for maximum impact in Derby conditions?
How do solar and battery integrated prefabricated housing systems perform in remote Kimberley conditions? What is the cost-benefit profile relative to conventional construction and grid-only supply? What is the VPP revenue potential for the community trust?
What governance structures most effectively support community-controlled housing precincts in remote Indigenous communities? How do the sixteen First Nations groups in Derby navigate shared governance? What makes an Indigenous Corporation in this context sustainable?
What are the measurable health, educational and economic outcomes associated with improved housing quality in Derby over three years? Can KINRA demonstrate a statistically measurable reduction in Strep A and RHD incidence? What is the economic return per dollar invested?
PhD Scholarships
At least two PhD scholarships, supervised jointly through Curtin University and Adelaide University, will be embedded in the Derby community. Candidatures are open to Kimberley people. The research belongs to Country — designed from the outset to inform replication across remote and regional Australia.
Net-zero housing design, solar-battery integration and energy performance in remote tropical conditions. Supervised jointly Curtin CUSP / Adelaide University. Open to Kimberley candidates.
Indigenous governance models for community-controlled housing precincts. Health, education and economic outcomes measurement. Open to Kimberley candidates.
Curtin CUSP · Adelaide University · Notre Dame University (Prof. Poelina) · Bankwest Economics Centre (Prof. Dockery) · NHMRC (health research dimensions) · Australian Research Council
Five Working Groups
Five working groups are advancing specific project dimensions simultaneously, each with named leads and structured outputs feeding into the pre-feasibility study.
Led by Professor Peter Newman AO and Victor Hunter. Includes JP Grosser (Curtin Research Office), Damien Crowe (Prefab Aus) and Professor Anne Poelina (Notre Dame). Output: site layouts, schematic designs, cost estimates, feasibility analysis.
Led by Professor Mike Dockery (Bankwest Economics Centre) and Declan Harwood (Derby Chamber of Commerce), with CRC RACE representation. Output: market analysis, financial models, revenue projections, funding strategy, risk assessment.
Led by Victor Hunter with Bishop Tim Norton (Catholic Diocese of Broome), Luke Lawrence (Derby Shire), State Member for Kimberley and local Indigenous representatives. Output: stakeholder engagement findings, culturally informed needs assessment, community-driven priorities.
Led by Warren Phillips (ex-Development WA) with Development WA, Landgate, Kimberley Development Commission and ILO network. Output: institutional arrangements, legal and land tenure frameworks, governance agreements.