Our team

Professor Kathleen Clapham leads the Ngarruwan Ngadju research program. Kathleen is an Aboriginal Australian; a descendent of the Murrawarri people of north-western NSW.

Kathleen holds a BA (first class honours) and PhD in Anthropology from the University of Sydney. She is an Honorary Professorial Fellowship in the Injury Division of The George Institute for Global Health.

Within the broad area Indigenous health research Kathleen has a strong research interest in improving the safety, health and wellbeing of Indigenous children and young people, research targeting the social and cultural determinants of health, and health services research aimed at improving the health of Indigenous people across the life span. Community based participatory action research projects which she leads involve with Indigenous people in urban, regional and remote communities, collaborations with research, government and non-government organisations.

Kathleen has been chief investigator on 12 NHMRC and ARC funded studies and has led or contributed to government funded health services research, with grants totalling more than $17.5 million. Based at the University of Wollongong she has developed strong collaborative partnerships with Aboriginal community organisations across south eastern NSW. She currently leads an ARC research project focused on developing a place based model for community led solutions to complex health and social issues. She also leads a collaboration addressing Aboriginal community research and evaluation capacity building.

She is guided by a strong commitment to social justice, health equity and Indigenous human rights. She brings specific expertise and skills in Indigenous research methodologies, qualitative research methods, ethnography, and evaluation of community interventions. She employs a critical Indigenous research methodological approaches in which community engagement, sustainable partnership, research benefit to Aboriginal communities and capacity building are crucial components.

Through her work, Kathleen has achieved tangible benefits to Aboriginal people through undertaking research which will have impacts in terms of reduced harm, social and health improvements, and capacity development. She has specific skills and expertise in community engagement and translation research.

View Kathleen Clapham's UOW Scholar profile

Ms Darcelle Douglas is an Indigenous Associate Research Fellow who is currently enrolled in a PhD in Nursing (Thesis domain: Dementia and Indigenous Australians) at the University of Wollongong. Darcelle has a longstanding interest in aged care, particularly dementia from an Indigenous perspective, and has an interest in using her knowledge of diverse art mediums to engage people with dementia. Darcelle has experience as an Indigenous Link Worker with the Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service in partnership with Alzheimer’s Australia NSW (Dementia Australia).

Darcelle has completed a Bachelor of Public Health (Distinction) and a Bachelor of Bachelor of Medical and Health Science Honours (First Class). Her honours thesis involved the development, implementation and evaluation of an innovative approach, using dance, in order to explore the different facets of wellbeing amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Darcelle has previously worked on multiple projects including Global Challenges – Caring for Community and the Re-Focus project, and is currently working on the Aboriginal Healthy Hearts and Ironbark research projects.

Liz Dale is a Worimi Woman and Doctor of Psychology whose work involves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ lived experience of eating disorders and body image concerns, as well as Aboriginal approaches to wellness and care. Liz is a Senior Lecturer and Academic Program Director of MEDI839 Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Trauma Recovery Practice.

Bronte is a Wiradjuri and Murrawarri women from Western NSW and works as a Project Coordinator assisting with various projects at Ngarruwan Ngadju. She has a Bachelor of Health Science (Indigenous health) and is currently undertaking a Masters of Indigenous Health at University of Wollongong.

Fiona joined the team at AHSRI in February 2020. Fiona is a Dunghutti woman. Fiona is enrolled as a PhD candidate in psychology at the University of Wollongong.

Prior to joining the Institute Fiona completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Hons). Fiona has also worked within community and has 7 years’ experience. She has volunteered and worked within multiple settings including alongside the police in forensic settings, in social community settings and within out of home care services.

Fiona’s PhD will be focused on researching Indigenous community organisations (ACCHOs). Fiona is particularly interested in health psychology with aspirations to become a clinical psychologist and researcher. 

Georgia Stewart is a Ngiyampaa woman and works as an Associate Lecturer at the School of Medicine, Indigenous and Health Sciences. She has completed a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics and Bachelor of Nutrition Science (Distinction) at the University of Wollongong. Georgia has previously worked with Ngarruwan Ngadju as a Research Assistant since February 2020.

Prior to transitioning into a career in health, Georgia had extensive experience working within various administrative roles across the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and the then NSW Department of Education and Training.

Georgia is interested in public health nutrition, specifically early childhood, and hopes to utilise her skills and learnings in these areas.

Michael is an Aboriginal man from Ngemba and Ualarai north-western NSW. He will be working on the Community Youth Greening project as a Project Coordinator. Prior to working at UOW Michael has previously worked as a manager at the Illawarra Koori Men’s Support Group and has close connections with the local Aboriginal community.

Bio coming soon

Professor Helen Hasan has expertise in Information systems (IS), Knowledge Management and Human Computer Interaction. Helen manages a Usability Laboratory (ATUL) and the Social Innovation Network who’s ‘Grey’ and ‘Green’ Themes dominate her current interests.

Helen Hasan's UOW Scholar profile

Peter is a Wulli Wulli/Wakka Wakka man from Queensland. He has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health for over 12 years in government and universities. He recently completed his PhD examining alcohol use and related harms among Indigenous and non-Indigenous university students. Peter has a Bachelor of Health Science, Master of Public Health and Grad Dip Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Kate Senior is a medical anthropologist with extensive experience working with remote Aboriginal communities, with an emphasis on understanding the way that people live and conceptualise health and well-being and the barriers they face when accessing health services. Recently Kate's research has focused on the health and well-being of Indigenous adolescents, and in 2012, Kate was awarded an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship to explore young people's lived experiences of the social determinants of health. Kate's work has also explored young people's understanding of sexual health and relationships.

Kate Senior's UOW Scholar profile

A/Prof Kelly is an Associate Professor based in the School of Psychology, University of Wollongong. He is a registered Clinical Psychologist and has been awarded membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) College of Clinical Psychologists. He has extensive clinical and research experience working with individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness and substance abuse problems.

Patricia is a National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellow in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, where she co-leads the Child and Adolescent Health theme. She is also an Honorary Research Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health. 

Patricia's research centres on strengthening health pathways for people who are disproportionately impacted by injury, violence and trauma with a focus on integrating trauma-informed care in health settings. Aligned with national priorities and recommendations for addressing trauma and violence, her research is informed by people’s preference to seek support in health settings and responds to services and peak bodies who have described a lack of coordination between sectors, and the need for enhanced workforce support to deliver optimal care. Patricia is leading a review of family and intimate partner homicide cases in NSW from the National Coronial Information System to understand the trajectories of violent deaths and opportunities for health system intervention. 

Committed to research translation and uptake, Patricia was awarded the 2017 Sax Institute Research Action Award in recognition of research that has significant impact on policy and practice. She has co-authored reports, including government and NGO commissioned reports, multiple submissions to parliamentary enquiries and shared her research in media and social journalism outlets including Sydney Morning Herald and Croakey.

Valerie Harwood is a Professor of Sociology and Anthropology of Education and an Australian Research Council Future Fellow. Valerie’s research is centred on a social and cultural analysis of participation in educational futures. This work involves learning about collaborative approaches and in-depth fieldwork on educational justice with young people, families and communities.

Profile coming soon.