ECU PhD graduate Dr Charmaine Green recognised for efforts with inaugural Kurongkurl Katitjin Research Medal

Geraldton artist, author, poet and academic Dr Charmaine Green has continued her trailblazing ways, winning an inaugural honour for her PhD.

The Wajarri, Badimaya and Wilunyu woman of the Yamaji Nation, and research fellow with Geraldton’s WA Centre for Rural Health, has become the first PhD graduate through the Kurongkurl Katitjin, Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research.

She became the first Kurongkurl Katitjin Research Medal recipient for 2022, recognising her academic excellence and outstanding applied efforts undertaking the Neil Thomson Scholarship.

In her thesis, Dr Green explored ways that cultural knowledge can assist to understand pathways to health and social transformation.

“I feel very honoured and somewhat surprised to be the first Kurongkurl Katitjin PhD graduate and hope for many more to come through this school,” Dr Green said.

Dr Green also completed a Master of Arts in Indigenous Sector Management and a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Sector Management.

Professor Neil Drew, director of ECU’s Australian Indigenous Health Infonet, said Dr Green’s was a lovely success story.

“Dr Green’s research is a testament to herself and her community for it embodies the common goal of achieving the best health and wellbeing outcomes for Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” he said.

Professor Sandra Thompson, director of the WA Centre for Rural Health, said she was always impressed at Dr Green’s talent as a poet, author, artist, photographer, storyteller, social science researcher and academic.

“We are so proud of her achievement in completing her PhD and we know what incredible tenacity and hard work it took,” she said.

“Her thesis is impressive and stands as testimony to what a deep and original thinker she is and I congratulate ECU in recognising this by the award of the Kurongkurl Katitjin Research Medal.”

ECU director of Aboriginal research Professor Dan McAullay said he was humbled to learn that Dr Green was the first Aboriginal student to receive this accolade through Kurongkurl Katitjin.

“To date, ECU has had nine Aboriginal PhD graduates across various schools and disciplines. As a first for Kurongkurl Katitjin, Dr Green has now been etched into our story as an outstanding personal and community achievement,” he said.