Meet our HDR candidates
We are very proud of our continually growing HDR cohort and the extraordinary breadth of research that the group is undertaking. We work in collaboration with GGRS and GUMURRII to support the social and emotional well-being of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HDR candidates.
HDR candidates
Julie Ballangarry
Julie is a PhD student at the School of Government and International Relations. Prior to commencing her PhD Julie completed a Bachelor of Education with Honours (Class 1) and spent several years working in Remote and Low SES community schools. As a proud Gumbaynggirr/Dunghutti women, she is passionate about Indigenous issues especially in regards to education and public policy. Her current research seeks to explore why Indigenous education policies are continually failing by investigating the current approaches to policy-making in this arena. Julie’s research interests include: Public policy; Indigenous education; Indigenous affairs and policies and Black politics.
Tonia Chalk
Examining the inquest files of Aboriginal females whose deaths occurred during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Qld, Tonia's research will investigate how coronial investigations into Aboriginal female deaths supported the settler colonial project in Qld during this period, in relation to ‘half castes’ and domestic servants, as well as providing a new way of thinking about the archival record in Aboriginal family stories.
Cynthia Coyne
Cynthia is a Yawuru-Djukun and Jaru woman who has principally lived and worked in various communities in Northern É«ÇéÍøÕ¾. Cynthia has worked in several different areas, including Indigenous education, arts and land and sea management with the aim of supporting the empowerment of Indigenous knowledges. Cynthia is a PhD candidate in the School of Engineering and Built Environment, associated with the RACE-2030 Industry PhD Program researching into developing appropriate and robust community management strategies to support successful renewable microgrid energy solutions for off-grid Indigenous communities.
Andrew Gall
As a pakana from lutruwita, the continuum and maintenance of Culture, are the motivation behind Andrew’s research and practice. Climate change tightens its grip on our world, the preservation of culture for future generations is a must!
Richard Gallaher
Richard is undertaking his PhD program in the School of Government and International Relations investigating "Artificial Intelligence effect on the liberal international order".
Sharon Hayes
Research interests: Looking at barriers to student participation in traditional Work Integrated Learning (WIL), and using simulated on-campus WIL to improve the work-readiness of commerce graduates entering into a small to medium accounting firm.
Leah Henderson
Leah is a proud Wiradjuri woman and Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology candidate. Her PhD is investigating cultural connectedness as a protective factor for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Leah's research interests include developmental psychology, cultural psychology, and First Nations mental health.
Michelle Hobbs
Michelle is an Associate Lecturer and PhD candidate at É«ÇéÍøÕ¾n Rivers Institute, researching the ecology and cultural values of freshwater mussels. She has experience in environmental consulting, Water Policy and Wildlife Conservation at state government, and is interested in interdisciplinary education inclusive of culture, arts and science, and has studied at Griffith’s Queensland College of Art and Design.
Angelina Hurley
Angelina's doctorate involves an exegesis entitled Pointing the Funny Bone: Blak Comedy and Aboriginal Cultural Perspectives on Humour, and a set of scripts for an Aboriginal comedy show. The study is an insight and investigation into the comedy and humour of Aboriginal peoples, and how Indigenous peoples worldwide utilise it.
Greg Kitson
Greg's research forms part of an ARC Linkage project: Being ‘On Country Off Country’. His research's overarching theme is to validate and value urban & peri-urban Aboriginal Peoples connections and relationships with ‘Country’. Greg aims to improve understanding of the needs of these groups with respect to planning and ‘Country’ and raise the profile of Indigenous Community Planning as a contemporary land use planning theory and practice.
Eden Little
Eden is a Gamilaroi yinaar and scientist at the Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security. Eden's research investigates natural product chemistry and bioactivity of Aboriginal bush medicine. Her doctorate research will focus on the Gamilaroi/Gomeroi medicine Gumby Gumby.
Madeleine Pugin
Madeleine is a Kombumerri woman of the Gold Coast. Her research is focusing on the UNDRIP, specifically cultural rights, and the struggle of identity and recognition of her people as the Traditional Custodians of their Country. As a previous high school English Teacher, she is interested in Indigenous education as well as Aboriginal history and Indigenous politics.
Dale Rowland
Dale is a proud Biripi and Wiradjuri man from NSW. Dale is enrolled in Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology. His research focus is on the dissemination and implementation of virtual reality interventions for emotional disorders (i.e. anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, PTSD, OCD). Dale is interested in transdiagnostic approaches to treatment and interventions that consumers can access remotely.
Joel Spence
Joel is a musician, music educator and social worker. His current research contributes to a fellowship based at Queensland Conservatorium titled Creative Change: The Role of Community Music in Addressing Social Inequalities in É«ÇéÍøÕ¾. Joel’s research will contribute to the field of Community Music with the aim of producing new ways of supporting better quality of life outcomes. A particular area of his research will be focused in Roebourne (Ieramugadu) Pilbara region, Western É«ÇéÍøÕ¾, where the New Roebourne project is currently delivered by arts and social change organisation Big hART with local communities.
Venessa Starzynski
Venessa Possum Starzynski is a Dharug-Dharawal artist, born in Sydney and she also acknowledges her Irish ancestry. Her topic, experiencing duality as murura gurugali and colonial time is in harmony with her outdoor studio practice and archival research.
Eddie Synot
Critiquing the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout É«ÇéÍøÕ¾n history and most recent attempts to achieve recognition in the É«ÇéÍøÕ¾n Constitution, Eddie examines the rights discourse of recognition and sovereignty prevalent in liberal constitutionalism and recognition theories and practices. He asserts that without substantial structural reform the violence and exclusions of the past will be repeated.
Marianne Wobcke
Marianne is an Indigenous midwife, nurse & artist born on Turrbal land with connections to Girramay mob through her maternal lineage & a Stolen Generations’ legacy. She received 1st class honours for her work: ‘Perinatal Dreaming’ & ‘Understanding Country’. Marianne’s PhD research explores the relationship between contemporary emerging fields of neurosciences, epigenetics, mindfulness & quantum physics in relation to the traditional Indigenous Knowledges connected to Kanyini and Dadirri. She is focused on promoting & developing ‘Kanyini’ and ‘Dadirri’ for first time, urban Indigenous mums employing a diverse range of holistic practices to engage, enrich & integrate individual’s creative experiences of their unique dreaming, promoting health and wellbeing.
Recent HDR completions
Supervisors: Professor Sarah Baker and Associate Professor Michelle Whitford
Dr Candace Kruger for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for her thesis entitled: Yarrabil Girrebbah Singing Indigenous Language Alive. (2022)
Dr Mandy Quadrio for the degree of Doctor of Visual Arts for her thesis entitled: . (2021)
- Supervisors: Professor Susan Best and Dr Laini Burton
Ms Jane Hogan for the degree of Master of Medical Research for her thesis entitled: . (2021)
- Supervisors: Associate Professor Gary Grant and Dr Fiona Kelly
Dr Kyly Mills for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for her thesis entitled: . (2021)
- Supervisors: Dr Amanda Carter, Emeritus Professor Debra Creedy, Associate Professor Naomi Sunderland, Dr Jyai Allen and Dr Stephen Corporal
Mr Henry Hopwood for the degree of Master of Medical Research for his thesis entitled: . (2021)
- Supervisors: Associate Professor Clare Minahan, Dr Matthew Bourne, Dr Phil Bellinger and Dr Heidi Thornton (External)
Dr Rae Cooper for the degree of Doctor of Visual Arts for her thesis entitled: . (2021)
- Supervisors: Dr Laini Burton and Professor Andrew Brown
Ms Rebecca Cook for the degree of Master of Education and Professional Studies Research for her thesis entitled: . (2021)
- Supervisors: Dr Alison Sammel and Dr Sue Whatman
Dr Leda Barnett for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for her thesis entitled: . (2020)
- Supervisors: Professor Elizabeth Kendall, Professor Heidi Zeeman and Dr Harry Van Issum
Dr Stephen Corporal for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for his thesis entitled: . (2020)
- Supervisors: Associate Professor Naomi Sunderland, Professor Patrick O'Leary and Dr Tasha Riley
Dr Grant South for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for his thesis entitled: . (2020)
- Supervisors: Associate Professor Naomi Sunderland, Professor Lesley Chenoweth, Dr Anthony Attwood and Dr Maddy Slattery
Ms Eden Little for the degree of Master of Science for her thesis entitled: . (2020)
- Supervisors: Professor Yun Feng, Professor George Mellick and Dr Stephen Wood
Dr Clinton Schultz for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for his thesis entitled: . (2020)
- Supervisors: Professor Susan Best and Ms Judith Watson
Dr Robert Andrew for the degree of Doctor of Visual Arts for his thesis entitled: . (2019)
- Supervisors: Professor Rosemary Hawker and Professor Derrick Cherrie
Dr Dale Harding for the degree of Doctor of Visual Arts for his thesis entitled: . (2019)
- Supervisors: Professor Susan Best and Professor Derrick Cherrie
Dr Carol McGregor for the degree of Doctor of Visual Arts for her thesis entitled: . (2019)
- Supervisors: Professor Susan Best and Ms Judith Watson
Dr Tristan Schultz for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for his thesis entitled: . (2019)
- Supervisors: Professor Susan Best and Ms Rebekah Davis
Ms Michelle Vlatkovic for the degree of Master of Arts Research for her thesis entitled: . (2018)
- Supervisors: Professor Nigel Krauth and Associate Professor Patricia Wise
Dr Bianca Beetson for the degree of Doctor of Visual Arts for her thesis entitled: . (2018)
- Supervisors: Professor Susan Best and Emeritus Professor Patricia Hoffie
Ms Angela Leitch for the degree of Master of Education and Professional Studies Research for her thesis entitled: . (2018)
- Supervisors: Professor Greer Johnson and Professor Ciaran O'Faircheallaigh
Dr Fiona Foley for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for her thesis entitled: . (2018)
- Supervisors: Professor Ross Woodrow, Professor Janette Younger and Dr Ashley Whamond
Dr David Jones for the degree of Doctor of Visual Arts for his thesis entitled: (2017)
- Supervisors: Professor Ross Woodrow, Ms Judith Watson and Mr Russell Craig
Mr Mitchell Rom for the degree of Master of Education and Professional Studies Research for his thesis entitled: . (2017)
- Supervisors: Dr Madonna Stinson and Dr Harry van Issum
Ms Candace Kruger for the degree of Master of Arts Research for her thesis entitled: . (2017)
- Supervisors: Professor Sarah Baker and Dr Catherine Grant
Dr Vanessa Lee for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for her thesis entitled: (2016)
- Supervisors: Professor Clare Tilbury, Professor Deborah Black and Ms Fiona Rowe Minniss
Dr Ryan Presley for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy for his thesis entitled: (2016)