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PARIS 2024 - ACADEMIE DU CLIMAT

It was an honour and privilege to be invited to the Académie du Climat in Paris to be part of a speakers’ panel organised by the Université du Bien Commun (University of the Common Good) and the City of Paris: “From the Martuwarra to the Rhône: Vitality of Rivers and First Peoples”, showcasing the voices of Yi-Martuwarra people and the amazing work of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, including Professor Anne Poelina, Marlikka Perdrisat, and Jeannie Warbie. My thanks go to the amazing Barbara Glowczewski, anthropologist, professorial researcher at the French Scientific Research Center, CNRS, and member of the Laboratory of Social Anthropology at the College de France.

You can watch the video recording of the panel here:

Annonce Programme

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New Publication

Our paper, "Martuwarra Fitzroy River Watershed: One Society, One River Law", has been published today! You can read it here. Incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to co-author this open access paper for PLOS Water with my amazing colleagues and friends, Professor Anne Poelina, and Marlikka Perdrisat, with the Martuwarra, RiverOfLife, duly acknowledged as the First Author, given agency as a Living Ancestor Being, creator of First Law, Warloongarriy Law.

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New Role!

I am very excited to share that I am starting a new position as Manager, Education Partnerships, with our 8 SAE Global Partner Campuses! I look forward to working with international academic teams and leaders in creative media education. I am also sad, of course, to be leaving my wonderful Canberra team from ACAP Professional Year, but grateful for everything I have learned this past year in my role as Campus Manager, and for all the amazing, supportive colleagues I have worked with.

A beautiful farewell card from my colleagues

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UNITED NATIONS: Special Rapporteur on Toxics

Professor Anne Poelina addressed the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Mr Marcos Orellana, during his visit to Australia in September 2023. She presented the content of our written submission to the United Nations, The Impact of Toxics on Indigenous Australian People, at the event, regarding the impacts of herbicides 2,4D and 2,4,5-T on young Kimberley Aboriginal men in the 1980s (see our latest documentary, On Australian Shores, Survivor Stories).

In his public End of Mission Statement, Mr Marcos Orellana states the following:

Respect for human rights is a critical step in healing open wounds of past environmental injustices. The loss of life resulting from exposure to hazardous pesticides, such as 2, 4-D distributed by the State Government in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the Kimberley region in the north of Western Australia, is still an open wound in the community’s memory 

OHCHR Official Press Release

You can read the full press release of the UN Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights here.

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Canberra Calling...

It is with a mixture of excitement and sadness that I share the news that my time at SAE Institute is coming to an end this week. I am immensely grateful for the opportunities I was given to work with wonderful teams at a local, national, and international level as Film Department Coordinator in Perth, National Film Course Committee Chair, and this past year, as the Academic Coordinator of SAE Jakarta. I have certainly enjoyed every minute of it and learned a lot, in the company of the most experienced, creative and passionate educators and industry practitioners I have ever worked with, as well as amazing students!

I am looking forward to taking up the position of Campus Manager for Navitas Professional and ACAP at the beginning of October in Canberra, my old stomping ground, and to working with a new team, whilst still working as Project Manager for the Amplifying Indigenous News Project at the University of Canberra!

The fantastic SAE Perth Team above, and the amazing SAE Jakarta team below, who I will miss so much!

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A New Role...

I am excited to begin a new part-time role for the next six months as the Project Manager of the Australian Research Council grant Amplifying Indigenous News, with the University of Canberra. During this time I will still be working part time as the Academic Coordinator of the SAE Jakarta campus. I am incredibly grateful for this amazing opportunity to further my research management skills on a topic that is very close to my heart!

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United Nations Submission

I was honoured to co-write a submission with Professor Anne Poelina and Dr Alexander Hayes recently for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, based on the research we carried out for our documentary - On Australian Shores, Survivor Stories. You can read it here.

The submission addresses the terrible impacts of the use of 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D herbicides in the 1970s and 1980s, which, combined, are also known as Agent Orange, on the population of the Kimberley region in Western Australia, under the auspice of operations for the Agriculture Protection Board (APB).

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Screenings

Our film, Our Commons and Shared Future was screened on 5th May 2022 at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney as part of their 100 Climate Conversations initiative.

Martuwarra Fitzroy River of Life, a compilation of conversations with Yi-Martuwarra Traditional Owners about the importance of the Martuwarra, Fitzroy River, directed by Dr Magali McDuffie and Stephanie King, was showcased at the Indigenous Knowledge Film Festival in Melbourne as part of Melbourne Knowledge Week on May 14th 2022.

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On Australian Shores: Survivor Stories

On Australian Shores: Survivor Stories - Film Poster.

Our latest documentary, On Australian Shores: Survivor Stories, will be screening nationally on NITV and SBS on Demand, after SBS bought the licence rights from June 2022 for three years.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Kimberley Aboriginal workers were involved in weed spraying campaigns organised by the Agricultural Protection Board of Western Australia. They received no training or protection equipment. They were told the chemicals they were mixing and spraying by hand were safe to use. Unbeknownst to them, they were spraying Agent Orange - a mixture of 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D herbicides. The film retraces their stories of loss, grief and inter-generational health impacts of this terrible negligence.

I was interviewed by Paul Gregoire, journalist for Sydney Criminal Lawyers, about the documentary, the research behind it, and the reasons why it is so important those voices be heard. You can read the interview here.

This story was also featured in the NACCHO Bulletin (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation) - you can read it here.

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Forum on Contemporary Theory

I was delighted to be invited to present one of our films at the Forum on Contemporary Theory, XXIV International Conference in Goa, India. The theme of the conference was “Environmental Humanities: Living in Critical Times”. Professor Poelina and myself presented one of our films, Multispecies Justice for Land, Living Waters, and Indigenous Peoples Wellbeing, and spoke about the importance of protecting the Martuwarra, Fitzroy River, for future generations of the world. Our presentation focused on the importance of collaborative creative projects and academic writings in giving the River its own voice as a Living Ancestor Being.

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SENIOR FELLOW (HEA)

I received news today that my application to become a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) was approved. According to the University of Leeds (UK):

“Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Authority (SFHEA) is awarded to professionals who demonstrate they meet the criteria of Descriptor 3 (D3) of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) for teaching and supporting learning in higher education.

Senior Fellows are recognised for their influence and impact on their colleagues’ student education practice. They have a breadth of knowledge and expertise covering all dimensions of student education – design, delivery and assessment – and exemplify inclusive and evidence informed approaches in developing and evaluating education.”

University of Leeds (2022), available here.

I am grateful to Navitas and SAE Australasia for the opportunity to apply for this fellowship.

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Academic Coordinator, SAE Indonesia

As of 11th October 2021, I am officially the Academic Coordinator for SAE Indonesia, working remotely from Perth with the SAE Jakarta faculty, on a secondment position for the next six months. Looking forward to this unique opportunity to meet new colleagues and gain more experience and insights at an international level!

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