Research at Ngangk Yira Institute for Change is informed by Aboriginal people for the benefit of Aboriginal people.
It is endorsed by the Elders Council and led by Aboriginal investigators and researchers in partnership with non-Aboriginal colleagues and allies and the close involvement of community and other stakeholders.
Our team of researchers has deep experience, understanding and ability to work with Aboriginal people to address complex issues in Aboriginal health and social equity.
Professor Rhonda Marriott AM
Pro Vice Chancellor, Ngangk Yira
Professor Rhonda Marriott AM
Pro Vice Chancellor, Ngangk Yira
The Ngangk Yira Institute for Change is led by Professor Rhonda Marriott AM, a renowned leader in the field of Aboriginal health and equity research with extensive experience in both clinical and academic roles.
Born in Derby, Western Australia, Professor Marriott AM is a descendent of Kimberley Nyikina Aboriginal people and has devoted her adult life to nursing and midwifery.
Academic profile
Professor Juli Coffin
Centre Director, Yawardani Jan-ga Centre and Ellison Professor
Professor Juli Coffin
Centre Director, Yawardani Jan-ga Centre and Ellison Professor
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.
Professor Roz Walker
Centre Director, Coolamon Research and Advocacy Centre
Professor Roz Walker
Centre Director, Coolamon Research and Advocacy Centre
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 Jayne Kotz
Senior Research Fellow
Dr Jayne Kotz
Senior Research Fellow
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
Researcher
Associate Professor Caroline Nilson
Researcher
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.
Academic profile
Trish Ratajczak
Senior Research Fellow
Trish Ratajczak
Senior Research Fellow
Trish is a Palawa woman from Lutruwita (Tasmania) with connections to descendent Mannalargenna chief of the Pairrebeene/Trawlwoolway Clan. Trish is a Stan Perron Charitable Foundation Senior Research Fellow in the Yorga, Maaman and Koolanga Centre within Ngangk Yira Institute for Change and a registered clinical midwife of 13 years in the tertiary setting. She has been a strong advocate and educator for upcoming health professionals on Aboriginal health and cultural security. Trish is also an early childhood educator and is committed to supporting positive impact and change with community.
Dr Sharmila Vaz
Senior Research Fellow
Dr Sharmila Vaz
Senior Research Fellow
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
Researcher
Bridgette Kelly
Researcher
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 Gliddon
Senior Research Fellow
Janinne Gliddon
Senior Research Fellow
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.
Paola Vàsquez
Research Fellow
Paola Vàsquez
Research Fellow
Paola Vasquez MPH., MBA., RN., MW, is a registered nurse and midwife from Chile with over 20 years of experience working in community healthcare and government settings. She has been involved in developing and implementing healthcare policies aimed at improving access and quality of care for vulnerable populations. Currently, she is working for the Replanting the Birthing Trees Research Project at the Ngangk Yira. Her passion and commitment is to reduce healthcare gaps in equity and quality, with the ultimate goal of contributing to society, especially for those who are more vulnerable.
Rohan Collard
Principal Research Fellow
Rohan Collard
Principal Research Fellow
Rohan Collard is a Wadjuk Ballardong man with cultural authority and strong community connections to the Nyungar nation.
Rohan has held Senior Executive roles over the last 20 years with extensive experience in the Public Sector, Community Sector, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation sectors in the human services field. Rohan has extensive strategic leadership experience and high-level consultancy skills with a focus and impact on service delivery for Aboriginal people.