The Directorate of Research and Civil Affairs (DORCA) was a mysterious and difficult-to-categorise think tank and possibly an intelligence organisation within the Australian Army during World War II.
[citation needed] It is difficult, if not impossible to categorise, having clearly involved at least in some sense in intelligence work.
[2][3] Some of the work achieved during its short, wartime life included: making good the shortfall of no adequate military maps for the Northern Territory; finding substitute sources for quinine when Australia’s quinine suppliers came under Japanese control; preparing reports on Army health and nutrition, battlefield terrain, dietary standards for Papuan carriers and trends in international relations.,[2] but its most important role was in developing policy advice on the post-war governance of Pacific territories after the anticipated allied victory.
[2][4] Conlon gave himself a broad policy canvas, which included anticipating and providing for PNG’s independence.
[5] The wartime involvement of DORCA in training people to be administrators in Papua New Guinea led directly to the advocacy for, and creation of, the Australian School of Pacific Administration (ASOPA) with John Kerr (Conlon's 2IC at DORCA) becoming its principal.