Senior Lecturer
Overview
I am a cultural anthropologist with strong interests in medical anthropology, critical public health and gender studies. I have conducted research in eastern Indonesia on health care, reproduction, stigma, and racism. Over the past 15 years I have worked with research teams on studies about HIV/AIDS, hospital birth, and health vulnerabilities in Papua/West Papua. My current research interests focus on how technology and medicine are forging new patterns, opportunities, and forms of violence when it comes to reproductive health care, from the perspective of providers and patients. I lead a study on HIV education looking at how education can address gender and marriage in West Papua (with Dr Els Rieke Katmo, Universitas Papua).
A recently completed study focuses on contemporary understandings and experiences of pregnancy and childbirth in urban Papua and the acceptability of hospital childbirth (forthcoming, The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology). Another recent multi-sited study looks at vulnerabilities in Indonesia with Professor Lyn Parker (University of Western Australia) and others from the UK and Indonesia. The study used ethnography and surveys to understand who is vulnerable, how and why. Forthcoming publications look at education in Papua’s frontier economy, older women’s narratives of economic agency and survivance, and the challenges faced by newlyweds.
I am developing new research on obstetrics and c-sections to understand the impact of new medical expertise and procedures on health and childbirth.
Current and Previous Research
- Frontier obstetrics - Indigenous Papuan experiences of antenatal care and hospital delivery, especially caesarean births (funded by UQ).
- Engaging customary leaders in HIV prevention in West Papua, Indonesia (DFAT-Australia Indonesia Institute, in collaboration with Dr Els Rieke Katmo, Universitas Negeri Papua)
- Health, social and economic vulnerabilities in Indonesia (an ARC Discovery Project with colleagues from UWA and Oxford)
- Papuan experiences of education
- Preventing vertical HIV transmission in West Papua
- Violence, gender and alcohol in Papua
- Newlyweds in Indonesia
- Urban settlements in the Solomon Islands
- Sexual violence and the limits of consent (UQ HASS led by A/Prof Lisa Featherstone)
Some Publications:
- Culture vs Consent: Distrust in doctors’ decision making around c-sections is a key cause of Papuans’ avoidance of hospitals, Culture vs consent - Inside Indonesia
- Global HIV Interventions and Technocratic Racism in a West Papuan NGO, Medical Anthropology, DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2020.1739036
- Dreams made small: The education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia (Berghahn, 2018)
- Let’s talk more about racism in Indonesia, The Conversation
- From 'Stone-Age' to 'Real-Time': Exploring Papuan Temporalities, Mobilities and Religiosities
- Talking Indonesia podcast
I am an experienced PhD supervisor in medical anthropology and gender studies. I am interested in supervising research on health and healthcare in Indonesia or the Pacific region. Research topics I supervise include:
- Intersectionality in Australian domestic violence services
- Changing masculinities in Uzbekistan
- Gender and education in Enga province, Papua New Guinea
- Australian spiritual healing
- Household meat practices in Indonesia and Australia
- Women’s empowerment and energy in South Africa
- Health of Pacific seasonal workers in Queensland Australia
- Carers’ experiences with medicinal cannabis
- Apitherapy in Australia
I teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses on medical anthropology (ANTH2250/7250) and Pacific anthropology (ANTH2020). I also supervise Honours students and co-coordinate HHSS6002 (Honours coursework).
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University
Publications
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Journal Article: “There’s Money but No Work”: diploma disruptions in urban Papua
Munro, Jenny, Parker, Lyn and Baransano, Yohana (2021). “There’s Money but No Work”: diploma disruptions in urban Papua. The Contemporary Pacific, 33 (2), 364-384. doi: 10.1353/cp.2021.0035
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Journal Article: ‘Saving our people’: health workers, medical citizenship, and vernacular sovereignties in West Papua
Munro, Jenny (2020). ‘Saving our people’: health workers, medical citizenship, and vernacular sovereignties in West Papua. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 26 (3) 1467-9655.13318, 633-651. doi: 10.1111/1467-9655.13318
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Journal Article: Global HIV interventions and technocratic racism in a West Papuan NGO
Munro, Jenny (2020). Global HIV interventions and technocratic racism in a West Papuan NGO. Medical Anthropology, 39 (8), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/01459740.2020.1739036
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Journal Article: Indigenous masculinities and the “refined politics” of alcohol and racialization in West Papua
Munro, Jenny (2019). Indigenous masculinities and the “refined politics” of alcohol and racialization in West Papua. The Contemporary Pacific, 31 (3), 36-63. doi: 10.1353/cp.2019.0005
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Book: Dreams made small: the education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia
Munro, Jenny (2018). Dreams made small: the education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia. New York, United States: Berghahn Books. doi: 10.2307/j.ctvw04f91
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Book Chapter: Adding insult to injury: experiences of mobile HIV-positive women who return home for treatment in Tanah Papua, Indonesia
Butt, Leslie, Munro, Jenny and Numbery, Gerdha (2017). Adding insult to injury: experiences of mobile HIV-positive women who return home for treatment in Tanah Papua, Indonesia. Mobilities of return: Pacific perspectives. (pp. 147-170) edited by John Taylor and Helen Lee. Canberra, ACT Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/mr.12.2017.07
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Journal Article: (Not) getting political: indigenous women and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in West Papua
Munro, Jenny and McIntyre, Lynn (2016). (Not) getting political: indigenous women and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in West Papua. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 18 (2), 156-170. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2015.1070436
Grants
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Engaging adat leaders to support HIV prevention and care
(2019–2022) Australia Indonesia Institute
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Indigenous reproductive sovereignty and health services in Indonesia
(2018–2019) UQ Early Career Researcher
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Understanding the Social, Economic and Health Vulnerabilities in Indonesia (UWA led DP)
(2017–2021) University of Western Australia
Supervision
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How culture tunes technology and technology tunes cultures of healthcare: An ethnographic study of rural healthcare and the design and use of artificial intelligent (Ai) technologies
Doctor Philosophy
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Exploring girls' participation in education in the highlands region of Papua New Guinea
Doctor Philosophy
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Domestic Violence & Refugee Resettlement in Australia: How are we 'doing' Intersectionality?
Doctor Philosophy
Publications
Featured Publications
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“There’s Money but No Work”: diploma disruptions in urban Papua
Munro, Jenny, Parker, Lyn and Baransano, Yohana (2021). “There’s Money but No Work”: diploma disruptions in urban Papua. The Contemporary Pacific, 33 (2), 364-384. doi: 10.1353/cp.2021.0035
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‘Saving our people’: health workers, medical citizenship, and vernacular sovereignties in West Papua
Munro, Jenny (2020). ‘Saving our people’: health workers, medical citizenship, and vernacular sovereignties in West Papua. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 26 (3) 1467-9655.13318, 633-651. doi: 10.1111/1467-9655.13318
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Global HIV interventions and technocratic racism in a West Papuan NGO
Munro, Jenny (2020). Global HIV interventions and technocratic racism in a West Papuan NGO. Medical Anthropology, 39 (8), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/01459740.2020.1739036
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Indigenous masculinities and the “refined politics” of alcohol and racialization in West Papua
Munro, Jenny (2019). Indigenous masculinities and the “refined politics” of alcohol and racialization in West Papua. The Contemporary Pacific, 31 (3), 36-63. doi: 10.1353/cp.2019.0005
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Dreams made small: the education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia
Munro, Jenny (2018). Dreams made small: the education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia. New York, United States: Berghahn Books. doi: 10.2307/j.ctvw04f91
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Butt, Leslie, Munro, Jenny and Numbery, Gerdha (2017). Adding insult to injury: experiences of mobile HIV-positive women who return home for treatment in Tanah Papua, Indonesia. Mobilities of return: Pacific perspectives. (pp. 147-170) edited by John Taylor and Helen Lee. Canberra, ACT Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/mr.12.2017.07
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Munro, Jenny and McIntyre, Lynn (2016). (Not) getting political: indigenous women and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in West Papua. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 18 (2), 156-170. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2015.1070436
Book
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Dreams made small: the education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia
Munro, Jenny (2018). Dreams made small: the education of Papuan highlanders in Indonesia. New York, United States: Berghahn Books. doi: 10.2307/j.ctvw04f91
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From ‘Stone-Age’ to ‘Real-Time’: exploring Papuan temporalities, mobilities and religiosities
Martin Slama and Jenny Munro eds. (2015). From ‘Stone-Age’ to ‘Real-Time’: exploring Papuan temporalities, mobilities and religiosities. Monographs in Anthropology, Canberra, Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/fsart.04.2015
Book Chapter
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Facts, feasts, and forests: considering truth and reconciliation in Tanah Papua
Biderman, Todd and Munro, Jenny (2018). Facts, feasts, and forests: considering truth and reconciliation in Tanah Papua. Flowers in the wall: truth and reconciliation in Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and Melanesia. (pp. 205-232) edited by David Webster. Calgary, AB, Canada: University of Calgary Press.
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Butt, Leslie, Munro, Jenny and Numbery, Gerdha (2017). Adding insult to injury: experiences of mobile HIV-positive women who return home for treatment in Tanah Papua, Indonesia. Mobilities of return: Pacific perspectives. (pp. 147-170) edited by John Taylor and Helen Lee. Canberra, ACT Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/mr.12.2017.07
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Gender struggles of educated men in the Papuan highlands
Munro, Jenny (2017). Gender struggles of educated men in the Papuan highlands. Transformations of gender in Melanesia. (pp. 45-67) edited by Martha Macintyre and Ceridwen Spark. Acton, ACT, Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/tgm.02.2017.02
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Slama, Martin and Munro, Jenny (2015). From ‘Stone-Age’ to ‘Real-Time’: exploring Papuan temporalities, mobilities and religiosities – an introduction. From 'Stone-Age' to 'Real-Time': Exploring Papuan Temporalities, Mobilities and Religiosities. (pp. 1-37) edited by Martin Slama and Jenny Munro. Canberra, ACT, Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/fsart.04.2015.01
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“Now we know shame”: Malu and Stigma among Highlanders in the Papuan Diaspora
Munro, Jenny (2015). “Now we know shame”: Malu and Stigma among Highlanders in the Papuan Diaspora. From ‘Stone-Age’ to ‘Real-Time’: Exploring Papuan Temporalities, Mobilities and Religiosities. (pp. 171-196) edited by Slama, Martin and Munro, Jenny. ACT, Canberra: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/fsart.04.2015.07
Journal Article
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Maturi, Jenny and Munro, Jenny (2022). How the ‘Culture’ in ‘Culturally and Linguistically Diverse’ Inhibits Intersectionality in Australia: A Study of Domestic Violence Policy and Services. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/07256868.2022.2102598
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“There’s Money but No Work”: diploma disruptions in urban Papua
Munro, Jenny, Parker, Lyn and Baransano, Yohana (2021). “There’s Money but No Work”: diploma disruptions in urban Papua. The Contemporary Pacific, 33 (2), 364-384. doi: 10.1353/cp.2021.0035
-
‘Saving our people’: health workers, medical citizenship, and vernacular sovereignties in West Papua
Munro, Jenny (2020). ‘Saving our people’: health workers, medical citizenship, and vernacular sovereignties in West Papua. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 26 (3) 1467-9655.13318, 633-651. doi: 10.1111/1467-9655.13318
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#BlackLivesMatter shines a light on webs of racism in West Papua
Munro, Jenny (2020, 06 15). #BlackLivesMatter shines a light on webs of racism in West Papua Indonesia at Melbourne online-online.
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Lessons from HIV/AIDS for the fight against COVID-19 in Indonesia
Munro, Jenny and Richards-Hewat, Sarah (2020, 05 05). Lessons from HIV/AIDS for the fight against COVID-19 in Indonesia The Conversation Indonesia
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Global HIV interventions and technocratic racism in a West Papuan NGO
Munro, Jenny (2020). Global HIV interventions and technocratic racism in a West Papuan NGO. Medical Anthropology, 39 (8), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/01459740.2020.1739036
-
Indigenous masculinities and the “refined politics” of alcohol and racialization in West Papua
Munro, Jenny (2019). Indigenous masculinities and the “refined politics” of alcohol and racialization in West Papua. The Contemporary Pacific, 31 (3), 36-63. doi: 10.1353/cp.2019.0005
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West Papuan refugees in Papua New Guinea: on the way to citizenship?
Munro, Jenny (2016, 07 19). West Papuan refugees in Papua New Guinea: on the way to citizenship? Devpolicy Blog
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Munro, Jenny and McIntyre, Lynn (2016). (Not) getting political: indigenous women and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in West Papua. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 18 (2), 156-170. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2015.1070436
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Munro, Jenny, Patterson, Patrick B. and McIntyre, Lynn (2015). “Your father is no more”: insights on guardianship and abandonment from ultrapoor women heads of household in Bangladesh. Womens Studies International Forum, 53, 43-52. doi: 10.1016/j.wsif.2015.09.005
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The president and the Papua powder keg
Munro, Jenny (2015, 06 24). The president and the Papua powder keg New Mandala
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Politics hinders the fight against HIV in West Papua
Munro, Jenny (2014, 05 01). Politics hinders the fight against HIV in West Papua East Asia Forum
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Munro, Jenny, Parker, Barbara and McIntyre, Lynn (2014). An Intersectionality Analysis of Gender, Indigeneity, and Food Insecurity among Ultrapoor Garo Women in Bangladesh. International Journal of Indigenous Health, 10 (1), 68-82. doi: 10.18357/ijih.101201513202
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Munro, Jenny and Mcintyre, Lynn (2014). Why should I feed her less?: Challenging assumptions on daughter discrimination in the food provisioning values of ultrapoor Bangladeshi female heads of household. Women's Studies International Forum, 45, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.wsif.2014.03.014
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The Violence of Inflated Possibilities: Education, Transformation and Diminishment in Wamena, Papua
Munro, Jenny (2013). The Violence of Inflated Possibilities: Education, Transformation and Diminishment in Wamena, Papua. Indonesia, 95 (1), 25-46. doi: 10.5728/indonesia.95.0025
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"Nobody helps us": insights from ultra-poor Bangladeshi women on being beyond reach
McIntyre, Lynn and Munro, Jenny (2013). "Nobody helps us": insights from ultra-poor Bangladeshi women on being beyond reach. Development in Practice, 23 (2), 157-168. doi: 10.1080/09614524.2013.772118
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Compelling evidence: research methods, politics and HIV/AIDS in Papua, Indonesia
Munro, Jenny and Butt, Leslie (2012). Compelling evidence: research methods, politics and HIV/AIDS in Papua, Indonesia. The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology, 13 (4), 334-351. doi: 10.1080/14442213.2012.694467
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Munro, Jenny (2012). “A diploma and a descendant!” Premarital sexuality, education, and politics among Dani university students in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Journal of Youth Studies, 15 (8), 1011-1027. doi: 10.1080/13676261.2012.693592
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Inclusion and exclusion in mid-life lesbians' experiences of the Pap test
McIntyre, Lynn, Szewchuk, Andrea and Munro, Jenny (2010). Inclusion and exclusion in mid-life lesbians' experiences of the Pap test. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 12 (8), 885-898. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2010.508844
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Rebel girls? Unplanned pregnancy and colonialism in highlands Papua, Indonesia
Butt, Leslie and Munro, Jenny (2007). Rebel girls? Unplanned pregnancy and colonialism in highlands Papua, Indonesia. Culture Health & Sexuality, 9 (6), 585-598. doi: 10.1080/13691050701515324
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Border testimonials: patterns of AIDS awareness across the island of New Guinea
Butt, Leslie, Munro, Jenny and Wong, Joanna (2004). Border testimonials: patterns of AIDS awareness across the island of New Guinea. Papua and New Guinea medical journal, 47 (1-2), 65-76.
Conference Publication
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Home-brewed alcohol, gender and violence in Wamena, Papua
Munro, Jenny (2016). Home-brewed alcohol, gender and violence in Wamena, Papua. International Conference on Social Science and Biodiversity of Papua and Papua New Guinea (ICSBP 2015), Jayapura, Indonesia, 16–17 November 2015. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Knowledge E. doi: 10.18502/kss.v1i1.428
Other Outputs
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Munro, Jenny, Katmo, Els Rieke and Wetipo, Meki (2020, 08 27). Culture vs consent: Distrust in doctors’ decision making around c-sections is a key cause of Papuans’ avoidance of hospitals Inside Indonesia
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Munro, Jenny and Hoffstaedter, Gerhard (2020, 06 22). COVID-19 and “medical citizenship”: How the pandemic is generating new forms of belonging and exclusion ABC Religion and Ethics
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Indigenous Women, Antenatal Care and Childbirth in Papua, Indonesia
Munro, Jenny (2016). Indigenous Women, Antenatal Care and Childbirth in Papua, Indonesia. Canberra, ACT, Australia: State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program, Australian National University.
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‘Luxury’ and ‘Disturbances’: Women’s Views on City Life in Honiara Settlements
Munro, Jenny and Carpenter, Jessica (2016). ‘Luxury’ and ‘Disturbances’: Women’s Views on City Life in Honiara Settlements. Canberra, ACT, Australia: State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program, Australian National University.
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Engaging Indigenous leaders in Tanah Papua’s HIV responses
Munro, Jenny (2015). Engaging Indigenous leaders in Tanah Papua’s HIV responses. SSGM In Brief. 52. Australian National University.
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‘HIV is our problem together': developing an Indigenous-led response to HIV in Tanah Papua
Munro, Jenny (2015). ‘HIV is our problem together': developing an Indigenous-led response to HIV in Tanah Papua. SSGM In Brief. 5. Australian National University.
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Papuan Perspectives on Family Planning, Fertility and Birth Control
Munro, Jenny (2014). Papuan Perspectives on Family Planning, Fertility and Birth Control. SSGM Discussion Paper. 2014/7. Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University.
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Report from the Field: HIV/AIDS in West Papua, July-Sept 2013
Munro, Jenny (2014). Report from the Field: HIV/AIDS in West Papua, July-Sept 2013. SSGM Working Paper. 2014/1. Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University.
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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Engaging adat leaders to support HIV prevention and care
(2019–2022) Australia Indonesia Institute
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Indigenous reproductive sovereignty and health services in Indonesia
(2018–2019) UQ Early Career Researcher
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Understanding the Social, Economic and Health Vulnerabilities in Indonesia (UWA led DP)
(2017–2021) University of Western Australia
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Current Supervision
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How culture tunes technology and technology tunes cultures of healthcare: An ethnographic study of rural healthcare and the design and use of artificial intelligent (Ai) technologies
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Exploring girls' participation in education in the highlands region of Papua New Guinea
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Domestic Violence & Refugee Resettlement in Australia: How are we 'doing' Intersectionality?
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Pacific Seasonal Workers Health and Health Care Access in Australia: An Ethnographic Study of Seasonal Workers in Regional Queensland
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Even 40 Skills Are Not Enough for a Man: Changing Masculinities, Responsibilities, and Moral Landscapes in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Discursive Renderings of Medicinal Cannabis Patients: Policy, Practice, Priorities
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Spiritual healing and its impact on mental health: A comparative analysis of Australia and the Solomon Islands
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Birthing on the margins: An ethnography of homebirthing in Australia
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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The impact of feminism on young Chileans women's corporal practices.
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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The Experience of Domestic Violence Protection Orders in Fiji: lessons from other jurisdictions
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Completed Supervision
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Freedom on a Thread: Living in limbo as part of the Australian ¿asylum legacy caseload¿
(2021) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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(2020) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
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(2020) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
