Researchers

Professor Coffin is a prominent Aboriginal researcher with research expertise in cultural security, education and research across a diverse range of interests including chronic diseases, nutrition, contextualising bullying, and health promotion. She holds a Bachelor of Education, a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (with distinction) and a PhD with an award in excellence. Professor Coffin has a keen interest in Aboriginal languages and ways of learning and combines her education and cultural learnings to deliver outstanding translation of research into practice.

Dr Walker is committed to Aboriginal community engagement and empowerment for positive social change. She is involved on several research projects focused on improving Aboriginal mental health and social and emotional wellbeing outcomes in maternal health and early childhood development and supporting resilience and wellbeing in young people. She has extensive experience in qualitative, community based participatory action and mixed methods research approaches with a focus decolonising and empowering Indigenous research methods and methodologies

Dr Kotz as a nationally endorsed nurse practitioner, midwife, child health nurse and senior researcher fellow, is committed to enhancing social justice and health equity. Dr Kotz has worked extensively alongside First Nations and Aboriginal women, families, and communities, supporting physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, and enhancing self-efficacy and social change.

Dr Adane is an epidemiologist with a research focus on maternal and child health over the life-course, including perinatal mental health issues, adverse perinatal outcomes, child health and development. He received a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Queensland, and an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and a Bachelor’s in Public Health from the University of Gondar, Ethiopia. Previously, Dr Adane held a Postdoc Research Officer (Epidemiologist) position at Telethon Kids Institute and was a lecturer at the University of Gondar.

Associate Professor Caroline Nilson commenced her academic career at Murdoch University in 2005, and has thirty years of clinical nursing and midwifery experience in Africa, England and Australia. As an Associate Professor in the Discipline of Nursing, she has developed, coordinated and taught units in both the Undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing program and the now obsolete Postgraduate Master of Midwifery program. Caroline’s research interests are in health promotion and health education with Indigenous communities to improve food literacy for long term health and well-being outcomes.

Trish Ratajczak is Palawa woman from Lutruwita (Tasmania) with connections to descendent Mannalargenna chief of the Pairrebeene/Trawlwoolway Clan. Trish is a senior research officer for the 'Baby Coming You Ready' program. Trish is a registered clinical midwife of 13 years in the tertiary setting and has been a strong advocate and educator for upcoming health professionals on Aboriginal health and cultural security for the past 13 years in the universities in Western Australia. Trish is also an early childhood educator and is committed to supporting positive impact and change with Community.

Sharmila Vaz has a BSc (Occupational Therapy), an MClinSc (Occupational Therapy Major) and a PhD (Occupational Therapy) and is a passionate clinical researcher with interests spanning diverse fields, including child and family studies, wellbeing, healthy ageing, implementation science and health promotion. Sharmila brings expertise in research governance, intervention design and program evaluation. At Ngangk Yira, Sharmila works closely with Professor Juli Coffin to build the evidence base of the Yawardani Jan-ga (‘Horses Helping’ in Yawuru language) Equine Assisted Learning Program (EAL).

Bridgette Kelly is an Indigenous woman of Kamilaroi group (Inverell, NSW) working at Ngangk Yira as an Aboriginal research officer. She is currently completing an accelerated Master’s in research with a focus on the use of 'Baby Coming You Ready' in child health settings with an aspiration to create change in the practice of offering culturally secure community health services. Her life passion is working with Aboriginal families to provide and assist in accessing the best holistic health outcomes.

Janinne is a proud Badimia, Yamatji and Ballardong, Nyoongar senior woman appointed as a Senior Aboriginal Research Fellow for the FEALING Program at the Ngangk Yira Institute for Change, Murdoch University WA. Following a 35-year public service career in housing and health fields, has joined the Institute to drive the changes needed in maternal and infant/child healthcare.