My research examines Indigenous cultural approaches to professional practices, in health, health management and law.  I have always been compelled to use evidence informed by disparate experiences, disciplines, and worldviews to create and advocate for workable solutions.  My fields of expertise constantly overlap in my work, study, and life as I navigate the complexities of creatively working with and within mainstream social institutions to improve services.

I completed my BCom (HR management and Indigenous Organisation Management) in 2005 and LLB in 2007 at the University of New England, Armidale.  In 2008 I commenced practice as a solicitor in Queensland, and have continued working across the legal, government and business management fields whilst obtaining my MBA in 2019 and MPhil (Indigenous) in 2022 from James Cook University. 

As a PhD student and practitioner I am continuing to work within the space between equitable intention and standard practice, as it applies to mainstream health facility management and Indigenous people.  My project seeks to examine questions about ontological and epistemological rigidity within professions and professional organisations, and the discursive processes which enable or constrain change opportunities at individual, structural and cultural levels.  My project aims to contribute to understanding about how and when Indigenous cultural approaches can influence organisational morphogenesis. 

Supervisory team

A/Prof Dr Felecia Watkin

Dr Vincent Backhaus

Research Grants

James Cook University Higher Degree Research Scholarship

Publications

Exploring Indigenous Cultural Competence in legal practitioner client relations.  Master of Philosophy (Indigenous) thesis, 2022.

Links

Orcid:                    0000-0001-9849-5934