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Dr. Benjamin Jones

PhD ANU, MTeach (Secondary) WSU, Ba (Hons) WSU.
Senior Lecturer - History
School of Education and the Arts
Rockhampton North
32 - 1.26
About Me

Dr Benjamin T. Jones is a historian with expertise in Australian political history, especially republicanism and national identity. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Studies Institute, and has served as National Secretary of the Australian Historical Association. He joined the School of Education and the Arts at CQU in 2019. Previously, he was an Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow in the School of History at the Australian National University. Along with the ANU, he has taught history at the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, and Western Sydney University. He has held Visiting Fellow posts at the University of Cologne, Indiana University, and Durham University. He has also worked as a historian at the Museum of Australian Democracy.
 
Dr Jones is the author or editor of Australia on the World Stage (Routledge, 2022), History in a Post-Truth World: Theory and Praxis (Routledge, 2020), This Time: Australia's Republican Past and Future (Redback, 2018), Elections Matter: Ten Federal Elections That Shaped Australia (Monash UP, 2018), Atheism for Christians: Are there lessons for the religious world from the secular tradition? (Wipf & Stock, 2016), Republicanism and Responsible Government: The Shaping of Democracy in Australia and Canada (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2014) and Project Republic: Plans and Arguments for a New Australia (Black Inc, 2013). Dr Jones was the lead researcher of the Alternative Australian Flag Survey.

General
Universities Studied At

* Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University, 2012.
* Master of Teaching (Secondary), University of Western Sydney, 2012.
* Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours, University of Western Sydney/Saint Mary’s University, Canada, 2007.

Universities Worked At

* Australian National University, 2008, 2016-2019

* Western Sydney University, 2013-2015

* University of New South Wales, 2013

* University of Sydney, 2011 

Awards

* Elected National Secretary of the Australian Historical Association, 2022.

* Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Australian Studies, Universität zu Köln, 2022.

* Elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, 2021. 

* Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Excellence (mid-career), 2020.

* Invited to speak at the University of Hawaii and surrounding high schools about the Stolen Generations and reconciliation, 2019.

* Most recent book, Elections Matter, was launched by Michelle Grattan. I organised and secured funding for a symposium in support of this book with Antony Green as keynote speaker.

* Foundation Fellow of Australian Studies Institute, 2018.

* Invited speaker at University of the Third Age in support of This Time, 2018.

* Keynote speaker at Politics in a Post-Truth World conference at Collegium Civitas, Warsaw, Poland, 2018.

* Book, This Time, was launched in Sydney by Peter FitzSimons and in Canberra by Matt Thistlewaite MP.

* Awarded a Visiting Fellowship at the University of Durham in November 2017.

* Awarded a Visiting Fellowship at Indiana University in September 2017.

* Delivered the 2017 Daniel Deniehy Oration.

* Personal website, Thematic Musings, was archived by the National Library for being of national significance, 2016.

* First book was launched at parliament house by Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and opposition frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull, May 2013.

* Nominated for Best Doctoral Thesis in Canadian Studies by the International Council for Canadian Studies, 2012.

* Selected as one of two inaugural Summer Scholars at the Museum of Australian Democracy, 2008.

Media Citations

I have appeared on several television news programs as an invited expert including Channel Seven’s Sunrise program, SBS News, Sky News, Win News and News Asia in Singapore. I have also taken part in dozens of radio interviews on local and international stations including with Phillip Adams on Late Night Live, ABC Radio National, Triple M, and several local stations. 

I currently have over 20 published articles for The Conversation. I was an invited expert to write the explainer on the White Australia Policy. (https://theconversation.com/profiles/benjamin-t-jones-111186/articles)

I have published three articles for ABC’s The Drum (https://www.abc.net.au/news/benjamin-t-jones/4959894) and 46 for Independent Australia (https://independentaustralia.net/profile-on/dr-benjamin-t-jones,21).

Other mainstream publications include:

‘An Australian republic: 150 years in the waiting’, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 February 2018.

‘Now or never: what's holding Turnbull back from a republican referendum?’, The Guardian, 31 July 2017.

‘Australia Needs Soft Power as Asia’s Strategic Balances Shift’, The Diplomat, 9 April 2016.

‘We need to get serious about connecting with Asia’, The Australian, 24 June 2015.

‘Every vote counts, so don't make an ass of yourself’, Sydney Morning Herald, 4 September 2013.

I also engage with colleagues and the general public through my blog, Thematic Musings, and my social media platforms.

Previous teaching

As convener

HIST8024 Seminar in Advanced Historiography – ANU 2018

HIST8015 Colonial Australia in an Imperial World – ANU 2017

HUMN8029 Debates and Issues in the Humanities – ANU 2016

HIST4012 Topics in Australian History: Colony to Nation – ANU (course was designed but withdrawn)

 

As sessional tutor and guest lecturer

101999 Twentieth Century Australia – UWS 2015

101957 The Asian Century – UWS 2015

101910 Global History – UWS 2015

100958 Australia and the World – UWS 2013 -2015

101263 Education and Transformation – UWS 2014

ARTS2271 Australia 1901-2008: From Federation to the Apology – UNSW 2013

HSTY2677 Nation and Politics – Usyd 2011

HIST1204 Riots and Rebellions – ANU 2008

Professional Memberships

Fellow of the Royal Historical Society

Fellow of Advanced Higher Education Academy 

Foundation Fellow of Australian Studies Institute

Member of Australian Historical Association

Key Achievements

* Elected to National Committee of Australian Republic Movement, 2023

* Elected National Secretary of Australian Historical Association, 2021

* Keynote speaker at ANZSANA annual conference, University of Guadalajara, 2020. 

* Invited to speak at the University of Hawaii and surrounding high schools about the Stolen Generations and reconciliation, 2019.

* Elections Matter, was launched by Michelle Grattan. I organised and secured funding for a symposium in support of this book with Antony Green as keynote speaker.

* Foundation Fellow of Australian Studies Institute, 2018.

* Invited speaker at University of the Third Age in support of This Time, 2018.

* Keynote speaker at Politics in a Post-Truth World conference at Collegium Civitas, Warsaw, Poland, 2018.

* Book, This Time, was launched in Sydney by Peter FitzSimons and in Canberra by Matt Thistlewaite MP.

* Awarded a Visiting Fellowship at the University of Durham in November 2017.

* Awarded a Visiting Fellowship at Indiana University in September 2017.

* Delivered the 2017 Daniel Deniehy Oration.

* Personal website, Thematic Musings, was archived by the National Library for being of national significance, 2016.

* First book was launched at parliament house by Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and opposition frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull, May 2013.

* Nominated for Best Doctoral Thesis in Canadian Studies by the International Council for Canadian Studies, 2012.

* Selected as one of two inaugural Summer Scholars at the Museum of Australian Democracy, 2008.

Recent Research Projects
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Research Supervision
Accreditation

I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:

  • 4408 Political Science
  • 4303 Historical Studies
  • 4303 Historical Studies
  • 5002 History and Philosophy of Specific Fields

At the level of Principal Supervisor


Current Capacity
I am currently available to supervise more research candidates
No Supervisions to display.
Research Interests
Education

Specialist Studies in Education - Comparative and Cross-Cultural Education

History And Archaeology

Historical Studies - Australian History (excl. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History)

Publications
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Teaching
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