Shawana Andrews

Director

Shawana is a Palawa Trawlwoolway woman, Director of the Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, and Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the University of Melbourne.

Shawana has a long history working across Aboriginal communities in Victoria with over 20 years’ experience working in Aboriginal health. Beginning as an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Shawana co-designed the Koori Mental Health Program and the Wadja Aboriginal Family Place acute care case management program, including a comprehensive Aboriginal child outpatient clinic. Shawana has since held policy, project management and teaching roles across the health and higher education sectors.

Shawana has led faculty and university-wide Aboriginal health teaching and learning initiatives, including Billibellary’s Walk and the Health Sciences Indigenous Health Curriculum Framework. Shawana leads our signature programs that focus on Aboriginal doctoral advancement and health leadership including the development of international partnerships and global connections to support this work.

Shawana’s research areas include: Aboriginal graduate research candidate experiences and social capital, place and purpose of Aboriginal health leadership, Aboriginal mothering practices and family violence, Aboriginal feminisms and gendered knowledges, and cultural practice-based methodologies.

Contact Shawana for information about our student, leadership or research programs.

Josh Cubillo

Indigenous Health Leadership Coordinator

Josh is a descendant of the Larrakia and Wadjigan people in the Northern Territory and has extensive experience in secondary and tertiary education.

Beginning as a History teacher who wanted to see more Indigenous content taught in schools, Josh has continued his passion for improving the visibility of Indigenous knowledge in the education sector through his project management roles at non-government organisations and the University of Melbourne.

Contact Josh for information about our student, leadership or research programs.

Amba-Rose Atkinson

Indigenous Graduate Research Program Coordinator

Amba-Rose is a proud Gumbaynggirr nyami (she/her) from the mid-north coast of NSW, and Indigenous Graduate Research Program Coordinator.

Amba-Rose is currently completing her PhD within the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland. Her research looks at the relationship between the health and wellbeing of Country and First Nations communities; as an essential solutions-oriented force in responding to the health impacts of climate change.

Amba-Rose also teaches and tutors students in various capacities at the university.

Emily Munro-Harrison

Indigenous Graduate Research Program Coordinator

Emily (Wiradjuri) is the Indigenous Graduate Research Program Coordinator and is currently completing her PhD within the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health.

Emily’s professional background spans youth and disability support services, policy and evaluation, with 10 years in Indigenous health research. Recent research includes Indigenous youth justice, place-based research, and evaluation of health and wellbeing services and programs.

While Emily is on leave, contact Amba-Rose to find out more about our Indigenous graduate research program.

Warwick Padgham

Manager of Indigenous Student Programs

Warwick Padgham is a Taungurung man and is the Manager of Indigenous Student Programs where he oversees Indigenous graduate research student development.

Over the past decade Warwick has worked in several roles in Indigenous higher education including Associate Director of Murrup Barak, Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development and Program Manager of the Indigenous Law and Justice Hub in the Melbourne Law School. Warwick is currently undertaking his PhD in the School of Population and Global Health, researching how dual delivery health justice service programs in Indigenous community-controlled health organisations give effect to Indigenous self-determination. Warwick also holds a Bachelor of Business from Latrobe University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Melbourne.

Contact Warwick for information about our PhD Familiarisation program and academic pathways.

Jenn Johnston

Executive Assistant

Jenn Johnston oversees the administration for the Melbourne Poche Centre and provides executive support to the Director, Shawana Andrews.

Jenn has over 25 years’ experience with the University of Melbourne, across various centres and departments including the Department of Microbiology, and the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.

Contact Jenn for general enquiries about the Melbourne Poche Centre.

Odette Mazel

Senior Research Fellow

Odette, Senior Research Fellow, is also a PhD student at the Melbourne Law School.

Her research focuses on the rights of Indigenous peoples and LGBTQIA+ people, and the cultural, social and legal avenues used to pursue their rights. Her work draws on a range of critical theories, particularly decolonialism/postcolonialism, feminism and queer theory.

Odette has previously worked with the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network; the Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements (ATNS) Project; and the Australian Government Solicitor in South Australia.

Contact Odette for information about our research projects.

Hannah Fagan

Communications and Projects Coordinator

Hannah (non-Indigenous) is a creative storyteller with experience in employee, customer and digital communications. She uses data-driven insights to drive business outcomes, with a strong focus on the needs of the end user and audience.

Contact Hannah to update your details on the website, share a story or to promote an event, job opportunity or publication.