National Archives of Australia, in partnership with the Australian Historical Association (AHA), is proud to announce the successful applicants for the 2023 NAA/AHA Postgraduate Scholarships.

The four scholarship recipients will undertake exciting and diverse research projects on topics such as intercultural relationships between Asian War Brides and Australian Servicemen from the Vietnam war period, and the experience of Jewish refugees’ movements from Europe to Australia.

All projects will draw on the national archival collection of Australian Government records.

Niamh Hanrahan, PhD candidate at the University of Manchester, will explore records relating to Holocaust era Jewish refugees who made the journey from Europe to Japan to escape Nazi persecution. Through her research Niamh will look at the migration of these refugees and identify the aid networks that assisted the process.

Elysha Rei, PhD candidate at Queensland University of Technology, is a Japanese Australian artist exploring narratives of cultural identity. Elysha's research investigates transcultural identity after migration from Japan, looking at the materiality of paper and its connection to paper records and historical documents.

Anna Wilkinson, PhD candidate at Deakin University will look at the history of marriages and intercultural relationships between Asian War brides and Australian servicemen from the Vietnam war period.

And, PhD candidate at the University of Wollongong, Renzhe Zhang aims to analyse the transformation of Chinese-Australian identity with the influence of White Australia and Chinese patriotism from 1910 through to the 1930's.

National Archives Director-General, Simon Froude says the calibre of scholars and their research continue to impress.

'Each year we are fascinated by the projects undertaken by scholarship awardees, and this year is no different. The diversity of research topics stands as testament to the enduring interest in extracting meaning from the past.'

'National Archives is honoured to support these scholars in their exploration of such diverse and significant areas of history.'

Professor Frank Bongiorno AM, President, Australian Historical Association says the scholarships continue the Association's long-standing and much-valued partnership with National Archives of Australia.

'The Australian Historical Association congratulates this year's four excellent recipients of the NAA/AHA Postgraduate Scholarships. These projects promise to extend Australia's scholarly and public historical knowledge and, the records that will be digitised as a result, will be of immense benefit to the community.'

'I am delighted to see such a strong emphasis on transnational and multicultural histories, and especially Australia's rich and complex relations with Asia. On behalf of the AHA, I thank National Archives of Australia for its support of these fine emerging historians, and we look forward to seeing the results of these four exciting projects,' said Professor Bongiorno.

National Archives provides recipients with priority access to records through support for digitisation and ongoing assistance from dedicated reference officers.

Since commencing in 2011, the NAA/AHA Postgraduate Scholarship Program has supported more than 46 Australian and international scholars with significant research projects.

For more information visit:

Postgraduate scholarships | naa.gov.au